Fig. 440.
Fig. 441.
They will be seen to be of a very different form to those of the preceding era. One has calkins, but the other is without, and both are even on the outer edge, not “bulged,” as those of Roman times are. In illustration of this matter, I am enabled, through the courtesy of my friend Mr. Fleming, to give the accompanying engraving from his admirable work on “Horse-shoes and Horse-shoeing,” to which I would direct the attention of all who are interested in this branch of archæological inquiry. The engraving represents the contents of a grave-mound excavated at Selzen, on the Rhine, by Lindenschmidt, in which, along with the skeleton of the warrior, were the skull and other remains of his horse, with portions of horse-shoes, as well as some urns of good character, and of close resemblance to those of our Anglo-Saxon period. Tumuli containing the remains of horses are of unfrequent occurrence in England, and therefore this example becomes interesting as an illustration for comparison.
Fig. 442.
CHAPTER XV.
Anglo-Saxon Period—Fibulæ—Enamelled circular Fibulæ—Gold Fibulæ—Pendant Cross—Cruciform Fibulæ—Penannular Fibulæ—Irish and English examples—Pendant Ornaments, etc.
The fibulæ of the Anglo-Saxon period are the most remarkable, perhaps, of any of the products of the grave-mounds of that people. They are of extreme interest, not merely from their design and the excellence of their workmanship, or from their various forms and styles of ornamentation, but because by their varieties the different races to which they belonged can, in great measure, be determined.