Fig. 6. Fig. 7. Fig. 8. Fig. 9. Ornamentation on Bone from Lagore. Real size.
Fig. 10. Fig. 11. Fig. 12. Ornamentation on Bone from Lagore. Real size.
Decorated Bones from the Crannogs of Ardakillen and Lagore. Use unknown.
Another carved leg bone of a deer ([plate XXXII.]), [fig. 2], is stained a dark brown colour, probably by lying in peat; its polished surface shows how much it had been handled. Upon the surface of this bone there are various devices traced with a graver or other sharp tool. [Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9], represent these (full size), and [figs. 10, 11, 12], are characteristic of Celtic animal ornamentation.
Fig. 189. Fig. 190. Fig. 191. Fig. 192. Fig. 193.
Plates of Bone, decorated, use not known.
In the Museum, R. I. A., there are eight thin plates of bone, varying in length from 1 to 5½ inches; they are of every variety of shape—square, triangular, irregular, but the majority oblong. In some respects they resemble in form, size, and ornamentation, the class of small stone articles supposed to have served as toys, amulets, or in some kind of game. According to Wilde, however, their more probable use was either for the decoration of small caskets, or for dress fasteners. They are generally perforated in several places, and the foregoing illustrations display great variety of outline. Their outer surface, smooth and convex, was more or less decorated with a number of circular indentations and dotted lines. Most of the specimens were found in the crannogs of Ballinderry and Ardakillen.