Object: Box
Classification: Waisted
Period: Bronze Age
Collection: National Museum of Science & Art, Dublin, Plate XIV, 254, & the ball 255. R 541-2. W. 306
Site: Ireland, Co Tipperary, Rock of Cashel, in a plain beneath the.
County: County Tipperary
Country: Ireland
Year of discovery: NA
Width (mm): 57 x 45
Thickness (mm): of Ball: nearly 4
Weight (g): 17.05
Composition: gold
Description: Made by joining together 4 thin plates, those in the part being smaller then those at the back, giving the appearance of a stud. The smaller plate ornamented with wheel-like figure of dots; attached by a recurved edge to an unornamented plate, which has an opening in the centre, this is joined to the edges of an opening in the 3rd plate, which is joined by an overlapping rim to the outermost plate. The latter is externally ornamented with 5 raised circles surrounded by dots placed on a five-limbed figure contained in a dotted circle. in the space between the central plates was found a small solid gold ball weighing .715 gms., Wilde:- "when found the plates were crushed flat & there were indentations of 3 such balls in both the external plates."
Publications: Catalogue, p. 90-91. See also Proc. Royal Irish Academy VIII, p. 407.
Remarks: Wilde stated that "this was probably a personal ornament, possibly an earring."