[35] In the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy I noticed several knives precisely similar to those here figured, which were found on the crannog of Ballinderry.
[36] J. Romilly Allen, Esq., C.E., F.S.A. Scot., who first recognised this object as part of an ancient padlock, is presently preparing a paper on barbed locks, with special reference to their presence in crannogs, which will be read at an early meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Meantime he writes as follows:—"Padlocks with barbed bolts are almost the only kind used all over China and India at the present day, and it is only reasonable to suppose that they are of Eastern origin. They have been found in England in connection with Roman remains (see paper on Locks found at Great Chesterfield, Essex, by the Hon. R. Cornwallis Neville, Archæolog. Journal, vol. xiii. p. 7); and I think it probable they were introduced into this country by the Romans. Their use in this country continued to mediæval times, after which they disappeared before improved locks of more modern construction."
[37] In Prehistoric Annals of Scotland, vol. i. p. 474, is figured a spiral bronze ring, of three twists, found during the construction of a new road leading from Granton Pier to Edinburgh, in a small stone cist, distant only about twenty yards from the seashore, which has called forth the following remarks from its learned author: "Examples of the spiral finger-ring have been repeatedly found in Britain with remains of different periods. They are also known to northern antiquaries among the older relics of Denmark and Sweden. This may indeed be regarded as among the earliest forms of the ring, since it is only at a comparatively late period that traces of any knowledge of the art of soldering among native metallurgists became apparent. A silver ring of the same early type formed one of the celebrated Norrie's Law hoard, found on the opposite shore of the Firth of Forth." Dr. Schliemann, in giving an account of the discovery of a treasure in a tomb at Mycenæ, writes as follows: "There were further found four spirals of wire, five plain gold rings, and a similar one of silver, of which a selection is represented under No. 529. I remind the reader that similar spirals and rings of thick gold wire occur in the wall paintings of the Egyptian tombs. They are supposed to have served as presents, or perhaps as a medium of exchange."—(Mycenæ and Tiryns, p. 354.) Judging from the paucity of gold spiral finger-rings in our Museums they appear to have been rare. Among the collection of antiquities in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy, so rich in gold articles, I find only one, thus referred to in Wilde's Catalogue, "a five-sided bar of gold, flat on the inside next the finger, and angular externally, weighing 1 oz. 12 dwt. 6 grs. It may be denominated a torque-ring" (see page 82, fig. 610, Catalogue). In the Belfast collection I also noticed a gold finger-ring with five twists, and having the two ends flattened.
[38] Mr. Dunlop, the finder of the coin, and Mr. John Borland, F.C.S., F.R.M.S., Kilmarnock, analysed this substance, and both pronounced it to be a salt of copper.
[39] Along with a few other relics here exhibited (most of which, I believe, were taken from the Buston crannog) were—the bone pin represented by Fig. 212, a small bronze ring, an iron knife-blade, and a fragment of pottery which was found to fit exactly into that represented by Fig. 251.
[40] Caledonia, Book iii. chap. v. pp. 358 et seq.
[41] Amongst the donations to the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, I find various vessels of brass found in marshy ground near Balgone, East Lothian (also deer's horns and bones of animals.—Proceed. vol. vi. p. 174), by Sir George Grant Suttie, Bart., which are at least suggestive of the former existence of a lake and a crannog in the locality.
These vessels consist of—
A large bronze (brass) tripod pot, with loops at the neck for handle, 13 inches across the mouth, 151⁄2 inches high, and circumference round the middle 45 inches.
Three other bronze (brass) pots of similar type, varying in size.
A bronze (brass) pot (measuring, etc.).
Shallow bronze (brass) basin, etc.
Portion of a larger bronze (brass) basin.
Bronze (brass) tripod vessel, with spout and looped handles, etc.
Bronze (brass) tripod vessel with straight spout, etc.