Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/212

 194 AN ACCOUNT OF COINS AND TREASURE in the Annaler for Nordisk Oldkindiglied for 1842-3. This find consisted of classes of objects clearly resembling those found in Cuerdale, viz., coins of Germany, England, &c., and a considerable nmiiber of oriental ; the bullion also was of a similar description, bars, armlets, and ornaments, formed by the hammer and ornamented by the punch, similiar to tig. 1 and fig. 70 ; objects with northern ornaments as in figg. 88 to 95, and others of manufacture similar to figg. 97, &c. The evidence in favour of any particular source whence the peculiar objects under consideration may have been derived, is exactly the same in the two finds of Cuerdale and Vaalse. At Catharinenhof, not far from Riga, were discovered some bronze ornaments so similar in construction and orna- ment as to leave no doubt of their having the same origin as these of Cuerdale, but with them there were not any other objects to indicate from whence they came. At Halton-Moor a very fine silver armlet of the same de- scription of work was discovered, together with coins of Ca- nute, and very rude pieces, apparently German. About two or three years since some entire armlets of twisted silver, like fig. 57 — 60, with fragments of several others cut into pieces, and also some rough ingots, were found about two miles from Christiana in Sweden, and with them some oriental coins. In public and private collections in the north of Europe several ornaments of this description are preserved, but un- fortunately no accmate statement exists of the peculiar cir- cumstances under which they were found, nor of the precise spot where they were disinterred ; but enough of information respecting them has been handed down to enable the enquirer to ascertain with sutficient accuracy, the districts from whence these objects have been derived. It appears to be clear that such treasures are discovered generally near the sea coast, in places accessible to and frequented by the maritime chieftains of the north ; that they arc very rarely discovered in the interior of any of our northern countries ; that where they have been found, Cufic or oriental coins have been found likewise, and that they have not been found in districts where Cufic coins also have not been found. The evidence then is strong in favour of the oriental origin of these objects, and viewed as such, they, with the coins which arc usually found in the same districts,