The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-25

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/ the heavy wood-llned and bro ,,,s,.
plated circular shield, resting on "n'ch
were two drinkiug-horns, the small enas
of winch were incased 10 gtlaed pronze,
and the mouths encircied ny embossed rlngs
of silver. Remains OF arm'ie' OF pra ,.r
Iefs siivcf-rimmed and OF bronze, with
deeply-serrated edges, lay near and on the
northwest vide Of the shield were the relics
| ri n wooden bucket, incased with richly
stamped bronze. Mingled with these were
the fragments OF ut least two vessels, OF
thin Qreeuish glass, ornamented with
parallel horizontal lines, similar TO
modern "Venetian glass. and de-
corated with broad projecting spikes
of glass. Such vessels are known to be OF
Saxon times. Mr.. Llewellin Jewett pie
lures them, and their forms are well known;
but the fragments OF these at TapIow GER
tainly show larger and richer variety than
those which have been hitherto found.
The largest was certainly four inrnes
wide at the mouth and eleven inches
high. There was yet another vase oil q
similar character close TO the large gold
fibula but all these were in fragments,
and so friable were the remains that 1t was
impossible, even with the utmost care. to
remove them other than piecemeal. 1t is
probable, too, that, judging from the num-
Der OF the bronze and iron fragments,
some OF them may be found to form por-
lions OF a helmet or OF body-armor, but
this is at present merely conjecture. over
the wooden plank that undoubtedly pro-
tected these relics-for il was found COM
pletely incosIng and covering them-was
placed the spear, which in this case had the
point toward the west, and, moreover, had
a barbed point with very long iron socket.
As at present so few fragments OF bone
have been found, II Is almost impossible to
define accurately the race to whom the
"mighty dead" belonged or the date OF
the interment. Apparently the body lay
little south OF east and north OF west, with
the htad toward the east, and that the de-
corations are Scandinavian admits OF little
doubt. From the presence OF so much
treasure under so great mound OF earth,
Its owner must have been man OF note.
From the bronze bucket, which was used I'm
Saxon ships-of-war, he probably was
one Of those hardy pirates who raw
aged the coasts and rivers OF Britain
when the Romans had deserted them. And
lastly he was pagan-a Viking OF the
northern seas, possibly, who left his Scan
dinavian home some 1900 years ago. He
was brought up from the pleasant river
valley on the shoulders OF his men and
buried on the site OF the old Celtic village,
amid the wild chants OF bis brave sea-dogs,
and, rs became him, after rPS-hdet TO
his memory. There is much to be
learned from the discovery, as well as
interesting relics TO be treasured. Gold
ornaments Of exquisite workmanship
are placed with bronze armor and with
iron arms. The under side OF the shield
was strengthened with a ring OF iron, as
was also the bottom OF the bucket. With
gold for decoration, bronze for defence.
and iron for offence, the discovery affords
another and most satisfactory proof OF how
difficult it is TO distinguish between, or
argue dogmatically about. definite cages
Of bronze and iron." Whoever the chief
tain was. he lived on the borderland be-
tween the two.
The excavation has already taken many
DAYS, and is not yet completed. The ma
ture OF the soil renders the snoring il up
essential for the safety OF the workman
and even now, with all the care that has
been taken, the ancient yew-tree has sunk
into the shaft. But the labor has been
well repaid by the richness and variety Of
the discovery so far, even il no other trea-
sures reward Mr.. Rutand's labors. lie has
had the valuable advice and assistance OF
Or. j. Stevens. OF Reading. and OF Mr.. W.
Money, +. S. A., of Newbury, in the excava-
ton, and large numbers OF persons, includ-
ing their Graces the Duke and Duchess OF
Westminster, from Clieveden, have in
spected the very valuable and interesting
relics. Ii is impossible at present to do |
OF ar flat l,a DAFT ,,ff no, In,
terment. The facts OF the discovery give |
food for theories. Only careful eXamina- |
ton can furnish hypothesis. But so far |
mains are Morse or scandinavian |
From the quantity Of bronze ar
NOR 1t would point to an early date |
when that metal was more commonly |
used for defensive purposes than iron. |
The later Anglo-Saxon was more OF an |
iron.uslng man, and bis armor Of metal |
plates or rings sewed on leather or wool |
len fabric resembled in character that of |
the Norman soldiers Of William. Certainly |
he must have belonged TO that great North |
en TeCtonic race OF which the Danes, the |
Saxons, the Angles, and the Normans |
themselves were all Otfshoots. The decOra- |
ton OF the gold tibula Is certainly Scandi-
navian, and the bronze bucket may well be |
that OF Norseman's ship Of war. Even
the barbed spear partakes rather Of
the nature OF a harpoon than OF a jayolin;
and its position. with the point toward the
feet OF the dead, is singular. So complete
an example OF the method OF interment OF |
these early invaders OF Britain has proba-
bly, never been found in the southern coun-
ties OF England. II will be interesting to
see what conclusion Mr.. Rutland and those
who are working with him will come to as
soon rs they have found time to arrange
and place in order the mass Of relics that
has been so strangely brought to light.