The Lake Dwellings of Ireland: Or ancient lacustrine habitations of Erin, commonly called crannogs.Wood-Martin, W. G. (William Gregory)
History
The Lake Dwellings of Ireland: Or ancient lacustrine habitations of Erin, commonly called crannogs.
Wood-Martin, W. G. (William Gregory)
Lake-dwellers and lake-dwellings -- Ireland
inserted into the holes at the ends.”[159]
[Illustration: Plate XXXIV.
Miscellaneous Articles found in Crannogs.]
A pair of scales were found at Loughtarmin, and several at Lagore.
At the latter place were also a number of sewing-needles, composed
of various materials: the majority were of bone, about six or eight
of iron, and four or five of bronze. Those made of metal were
comparatively small and fine. Needles of the same kind have been met
with in the great crannogs of Ardakillen and Ballinderry.
At Lagore was found a bronze object, use unknown, fig. 196. In one
part it is ornamented with a beautiful chased design, once probably
enamelled. In the same crannog there was a square iron pipe, 2½ inches
in length, to which a long hook was attached.
[Illustration: Fig. 196.--Bronze Object found at Lagore. Full-size.]
[Illustration: Fig. 197.--Iron Pipe with Hook, from Lagore. Full-size.]
All the articles figured on plate XXXV. were found in the crannog of
Cloonfinlough, and are now in the British Museum. No. 1 (one-fourth
real size) represents a leaf-shaped dagger, skean, or knife, of an
extremely early type; it is a characteristic specimen of its class.
Similar weapons have, in Ireland, frequently occurred in company
with socketed celts, paalstaves, spear-heads, and other implements
of the so-called “Bronze Age.” The handle is very small, perforated
for insertion of a rivet, and probably the haft had been originally
prolonged by the addition of a piece of bone, horn, or wood, secured
to the bronze by means of the rivet. No. 2 (full-size) is an _eo_ or
brooch of bronze of a not unusual design, having a long pin and broad
flat ends, with a sunk lozenge in each, filled with a hatched pattern.
This form of dress-fastener must have remained unchanged during many
ages, for whilst it seems to have been common in the later “Iron
period,” it has also occasionally been found under circumstances which
point to much earlier days and usages. One example was discovered in
a cinerary urn amongst calcined bones. No. 3 (full-size) is a pin of
bronze with a crozier-like termination, ornamented with a series of
minute indentations, arranged without any regular pattern. A number
of these objects have been discovered in Christian cemeteries in
Ireland--as at Clonmacnoise and the Arran Islands. No. 4 (full-size)
is a very small arrow-head of iron; traces of a rivet hole are yet
discernible. No. 5 (one-third real size) is a ring made from the crown
of a stag’s horn, and polished on the interior; its use unknown. No.
6 (one-third real size) represents a double-bladed axe-head; similar
implements occurred at Lagore and at Drumdarragh; they belong to the
late “Iron period,” and vary greatly in dimensions. No. 7 (one-third
real size) is a single-piece shoe of leather, joined at the heel and
toe; at each side is a slit for a thong or strap to be brought over
the instep. Articles of this kind were used amongst the Irish down to
a very late period.
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