It also occurs on the famous Newton stone, along with two inscriptions, one of which is written in "Roman minuscular letters of an exceedingly debased form," and the other in Ogham characters, as well as on several other monuments of Christian time.
According to Dr. Joseph Anderson, although of Pagan origin, the fylfot has become a Christian symbol from the fourth to the fourteenth or fifteenth century.—(Scotland in Early Christian Times, vol. ii. p. 218.)
It is seen also in a mosaic pavement in the recently explored Roman villa in the Isle of Wight. (See Report by Cornelius Nicholson, F.G.S.)
[28] See Nathusius, Schweineschädel, 1864, p. 147; Rütimeyer, Basel. Gesell. Naturforscher, 1864, p. 161; Naumann, Archiv für Anthrop. viii. p. 23, 1875; Stüder, Zürich. Mittheilung., Pfahlbauten, 1876, xix. 3, p. 67.
[29] For reference to the bibliography of prehistoric Swine, see Linnean Soc. Trans., ser. ii., Zool. vol. i. 1877, p. 272.
[30] For reference to the history of this variety of sheep, see British Barrows, p. 740.
[31] As the articles found on the occasion here referred to, as well as the bronze armlet returned by Mr. MacFadzean, have been misplaced, and, in the absence of Sir James Fergusson, could not be found so as to be described and figured in the general notice of Lochspouts, I may state that they were as follows, viz., a hammer-stone, a chisel, two bronze armlets, two pointed implements of deer's horn, a granite quern-stone, several bruising-stones, together with a large quantity of bones.
[32] Regarding the suggestion that these polished stone discs might have been used as mirrors, see Notes by Mr. Joseph Anderson, Proceed. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. x. p. 717.
[33] In case K, in the York Museum, which was constructed in 1872-3, to hold the specimens of Roman Metal Work, Implements, and Ornaments of Bone, Jet, etc., are:—Four keys almost identical with that figured above; several articles of bronze of a similar type with the object represented by Fig. 175; a small circular bronze brooch with transverse grooves like Fig. 241; three small bifurcated objects like Fig. 240; harp-shaped fibulæ, like those from Lochlee; besides many bone pins and combs, jet rings, beads, etc., all of which are wonderfully like the corresponding articles found on the crannogs.
[34] Since writing the above I understand that the natural basin of Lochspouts is about to be converted into a reservoir for supplying the town of Maybole with water, and that, in order to make it suitable for this purpose, according to the engineer's report, it will be necessary to clear away the whole of the lake sediment, including the crannog, at an expense of some £900. As no explorations directed from an archæological point of view could be more satisfactory than these contemplated operations, we may expect, in the course of their execution, to find not only additional relics that may have dropped into the surrounding lake, but to secure absolute accuracy regarding several doubtful points, such as the dimensions and mode of structure of the island, etc. See Appendix.