Fig. 107.—Lough Gur. Stone Mould, 6½ x 2½ x 1¾ inches.
"Three bronze celts with loops on the sides, and the remains of the stick were found in one of them; a very perfect small dagger of bronze, one foot in length; two bronze arrow-heads, double pointed; a bronze gouge or chisel, rarely found in Ireland; the head of a bronze hunting-spear; part of a bronze sword or dagger; a bronze cap, apparently the end of a wooden hilt of some weapon; the bronze handle of a javelin or spear, with loop attached; the boss of a shield of bronze; a bronze knife which appears to have been gilt; a bronze knife or dagger, measuring 10½ inches in length; a smaller one 7 inches in length; a bronze bolt, with loop, measuring 16½ inches in length—this was found sticking in the mud, close to the island on Lough-na-Glack; another, 12 inches in length, has been since found in the island itself. Of bronze ornaments found on these islands there are the following: Several bronze rings of different sizes, two of them with transverse spring openings, others hollow, and probably parts of armour or horse trappings; two bronze needles, one of them with the eye entire; a bronze pin, the head hollowed like a cup, and bearing a striking resemblance to the ends of the golden ornaments often found in Ireland; several bronze pins like modern shirt pins; parts of several bronze fibulæ or brooches, with fragments of several bronze instruments, rivets, etc.; a small circular bronze bell, like a sheep-bell; three harp keys of bronze of different sizes. Of other ornaments found on the island on Lough-na-Glack I may particularly mention several amber and blue glass beads, three bone pins, and a comb apparently of ivory. Of iron instruments, an iron dagger, measuring with the hilt 15 inches; several iron coulters of ploughs of very primitive form, 7 inches in length; parts of iron instruments the use of which it is impossible to determine; a long gun-barrel, 3 feet 8 inches in length, of that sort, I believe, formerly called a calliver; part of the lock of a pistol; many large bullets of lead were also found. I may add to this list a pair of quern stones, found on the Monalty Island; some burnt corn; remains of coarse broken earthenware vessels, and bits of thick dark glass; an earthen pot, shaped like a hat; another of Dutch manufacture, with the figure of a man's head below the spout, used in Ireland during the seventeenth century, and called grey-beards; some small Dutch tobacco pipes; cut oval stones, apparently intended for pounding in mortars; several circular stones, with holes in the centres, often found with ancient remains, and considered in Ireland to belong to the ancient spinning wheels; also several stones, or hones, of different shapes and sizes, for sharpening weapons and tools; a brass token, nearly defaced, probably of the reign of Charles II." (B. 9, p. 44.)
In 1845, when the lake of Corcreevy, county of Tyrone, was drained, its crannog was examined by Mr. Burnside, when the following articles were recovered from among its remains:—A pair of bronze and iron manacles, an ornamental comb of bone, parts of a musical instrument, an arrow-head, a spear-head, and a hammer-stone.[73]
Fig. 108.—Ballinderry. Bone Comb (2⁄3), 3 Bone Pins, length 3⅓, 4½, and 5½ inches, and Bronze Tweezer (1⁄2).
Fig. 109.—Ballinderry. Stone Amulets.