Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/125

 THE POYAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 97 Thames ; it was enclosed in a mass of conglomerate, composed of sand fresh-water shells, and fragments of bone and wood, cemented together by the oxide of iron. On removing this encrustation, a portion of a material, doubtless a hair-cluth tissue, that had evidently been used to fix the helve tightly in the eye of the axe. The microscope has shown that the slight fringe now visible is hair. A strip of this cloth had been wrapped round the end of the helve, and preserved in a remarkable manner by the iron in the conglomerate, the filaments appearing quite fresh when the crust was removed. This axe measures 5^ in. in length ; the breadth of the cutting edge is rather more than 2h in. In Mr. Koach Smith's collection, now in the British Museum, two nearly similar objects are presen'cd, that were found in the bed of the Thames off Wliitehall and the Temple, respectively. They measure G} in. and 7 in. in length, and are figured in the Horre Fcrales, pi. xxvii., figs. 15, 16, with several examples of the ii'on axe-head from continental museums. Ten of these weapon.s, of various tj'pcs, are given by ^Ir. Hewitt in his Ancient Armour and Weapons in Europe, p. 45, pi. vii. The German tyi>es have been amjily illustrated by Lindcnschmit, " Alterthiimer uns. heidn. Vorzeit." Bamri., Heft II.,taf. 2 ; Baud IT., Heft. III., taf. 2. Mr. Franks considei-s the specimen in Mr. Bernhard Smith's collection to bo Danish. Two Danish examples, in the Copenhagen Museum, have been figured by Worsaac, " Afbildninger," figs. 25D, 380; neither of them, however, similar to that exhibited. Mr. Bernhard Smith possesses a second specimen of slighter proportions, from the bed of the Thames, measuring about i} in. in length. It diftcrs from all the sitccimens above noticed in having a short blunt projection at the end near the helve, somewhat resembling a small hammer-head. ' By the Rev. Greville J. Chester. — An Egypto or Syro-Greek bronze figure of Venus, found at Bcnha {Atlribis), in Lower Egypt. By the Rev. Algernon WoDEnousE. — An alabaster figure of St. John the Baptist ; also some portions of elaborate shrine-work, in the same material, found under the pavement in Easton Cliurch, Hants. ; date, about 11 GO. By the Rev. Fcller Russell, B.C.L., F.S.A. — Two alabaster figures, one of them representing St. Christopher, date, about the beginning of the sixteenth century ; the otlier pourtrays an abbess ; there is no symbol to identify the personage intended ; it appeal's, however, to bo of English work, and is in perfect preservation. Each figure measures about IGin. in height. By Mr. W. H. Patterson, of Stranstown, Belfast. — Photograph of a sepulchral slab at K illy begs, co. Donegal. It is covered with elaborate and varied ornamental designs, airanged in rectangular panels, and amongst these is introduced a warlike figure, armed with a long- handled axe. There is no inscription or clue to identify the figure. The Mac Sweenys were lords of the district where the slab wa.s originallj' found, close to their residence, Italian Castle, and local opinion assigns the memorial to one of that family, possibly Ouen, who died in 1351, or .iall Mor, 1521. Tlie latter is the more jtrobable date. In one of the panels are seen two figures wrestling ; the character of design is ' Seo also Dr. Hume's Notice of Axes, Antiquities on coast of Chcsliiro, pp. 301, 303. VOL. XXIX.