Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/42

28 examinati, "iron rings adjusted to a given weight," of Cæsar. The evidence of the tumuli and kistvaens indeed goes far to prove the excessive rarity of iron among the Celts anterior to the Roman dominion. The lumbar or girdle torques may possibly be the torques major, which was bestowed as a particular military honour under the Empire, when, as I have already observed, those wearing torcs were classed as simplares, or those who had been only once thus decorated, and duplares, or those who had twice received the honour, sometimes conferred on the whole division, which was then called bis torquata. Now it is far from improbable that the torques major was large enough for the girdle, while the torques minor was that for the neck. All these torcs are of the same epoch and style, and have the usual Celtic peculiarity of terminating in projecting ends.

Another funicular ornament was found at the so-called Danes' Forts at Connemara, probably twisted out of its proper form; and I would refer to this type, the straight funicular wire described and engraved in the Archæologia , perhaps intended as a fibula or pin to secure the garment.

The funicular type probably continued for a long time in Britain, and was the last extinct; for the Saxons seem to have adopted it from the Celto-Romans. One of silver, slightly differing from the Roman torques, but distinguished by the body being composed of many small chains, and having the upper part ornamented With