east-lothian-1924/05-180

Transcription

PRESTONKIRK.] HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION. [PRESTONKIRK.

shaped, and for the most part, have a mid rid and
a closed socket, apparently the earlier type ;
and those with a narrow blade and an open
socket, seemingly later in date as all have come
from the higher levels. The fragments of
swords indicate narrow double-edged blades of
the character of the native swords found at
Newstead. Tools (fig. 142) are represented by
chisels, the socketed axe mentioned above, a
rasp, numerous knives, and, though perhaps
to be reckoned rather as utensils than tools,
several pairs of shears. The ornaments (fig.
140) form the most numerous section. Fibulæ
(figs. 139 and 145) have been found in con-
siderable numbers ; bowshaped examples of
the well known Backworth type, some of them
enamelled ; several S-shaped or dragonesque
fibulæ. mostly fragmentary, sometimes enam-
elled, and in one case plain; knee fibulæ, in
several instances decorated with silver inlay.
Small penannular fibulæ are also fairly numer-
ous. A number of bronze pins have been found,
as a rule ring-headed and with a shouldered
stem, the ring being either plain or fashioned
with a flat plate in the lower semicircle and
with 3, 5 or 6 beads of silver above, while in
several instances the head is formed entirely of
continuous beads. It is noteworthy that
none of these pins has come from the lowest
level. The most usual type of finger ring is
the spiral ring formed of a thin plano-convex
strip of bronze wire. Dress fasteners are a
numerous class, and their frequent occurrence
suggests that their use was rather what this
name implies than harness-mountings. The
large number of fragments of glass armlets is
an unusual occurrence and seems to indicate
that such objects were more in use in the
Scottish area than in the south, where com-
paratively few have been found. They are
of two distinct classes, one being those made of
opaque white or yellow glass and left plain,
and the other those decorated with a trailed or
inlaid ornament. A number of this latter class
have been formed in the first instance of clear
greenish tinted glass and covered thereafter
with a skin of yellow enamel, into which has
been run, in a prepared channel, lines of
red or some other colour. Such fragments
are invariably reduced or checked at the
ends so as to form a neck, the obvious purpose
having been to hold one end of a metal mount,

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showing that in some instances bracelets were
worn made up of segments of different pattern.
The glass armlets occur throughout the levels,
those of earlier date being apparently self
coloured and triangular in section. Bracelets
of cannel-coal, or jet, are common from the
two earlier levels but scarce in the later.
Rings of that material, possibly worn in sus-
pension (certainly not for the finger), come
chiefly from the upper levels. Beads are
scarce, though a number have been found both
of amber and of glass. The small discoid bead
of opaque yellow paste is of fairly frequent
occurrence. A number of harness mountings
have been found, including several terret rings
with spheres placed symmetrically on the cir-
cumference. Several small mounts of bronze
with square loops at the back, usually of
foliate form, have also been recovered. Pieces
of several horse shoes of iron have been found
on the higher levels. Besides the tools men-
tioned above, the work of the craftsman is
evidenced by the discovery of moulds. Some
of these have been cut in sandstone, but the
majority have been made of finely washed clay,
or as it is technically termed, sand. The most
interesting of these are the fragments of
moulds of the Bronze Age already referred to.
The later moulds, several of which were found,
were used for casting small objects for
personal adornment, such as bronze dress
fasteners and pins. Agriculture was repre-
sented by several small sickles of iron (fig. 143)
and the finding of a cache of barley. The
numerous whorls, which increase in number
from the bottom level upwards, show that
spinning was much practised. A few Roman
objects have been found, notably a folding
spoon of bronze, 4 1/2 inches in length. The
forepart of the handle is made to represent
an outstretched lion, between whose paws the
blade of the spoon has been hinged. The
opposite end, flattened out to a fan shape, is
split on one side and has been pierced with a
pin, on which has been hinged another object,
possibly a lancet. For such a blade to rest in
there is a sight groove along the side and a
catch at the opposite end of the handle. On
its inside the handle has been left hollow to
hold some other instrument, possibly a probe,
the remains of the hinge for which are visible
beneath the fan shaped terminal. A spoon