Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/195

Rh the excavation; a number of pieces of stag's-horn sawn across, and pieces of hazel-wood in great quantity, as if laid up for fire-wood, were found in one spot near the bottom. Besides these objects, I have heard it reported that some traveller procured from the workmen an ornament resembling a crown; but if so, its destination was never ascertained. No ornaments of gold or silver are said to have been found.

It is very much to be regretted, that no regular plan and section of the excavation were then made, and also that the articles discovered were not regularly described as they were found.

A great portion of these valuable relics became the property of the late Dr. Dawson, Dean of St. Patrick's; and on his decease were purchased, with the rest of his Irish antiquities, and presented to the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy. Surgeon Wilde also presented to the same institution, a valuable collection of the bones found in the same locality. Mr. Barnewall, the owner of the soil, still possesses some remnant of this treasure, after having been plundered to a considerable extent by dishonest servants; and those specimens which I possess, representations of some of which are given in illustration of this paper, I owe to the liberality and kindness of the same gentleman.

A more detailed and methodical account of all these very peculiar antiquities may be published at a future period, and the more remarkable objects in the possession of the Royal Irish Academy, as well as some specimens in the possession of Mr. Petrie and Surgeon Wilde, deserve a full description; indeed, a liberally-illustrated monograph might be written on the subject. For the present, the readers of the Archaeological Journal will have presented to them a few of the most characteristic specimens in my collection; and the foregoing description of the locality and nature of the treasure found has been chiefly derived from the report of Surgeon Wilde to the Royal Irish Academy.

The following list comprises the various antiquities from Lagore, now in my possession, which were laid before the members of the Institute, at the Monthly Meeting, on February the 2nd.

Objects of Iron.—Two double-edged swords, one measuring 22$1⁄4$ inches, inclusive of the strig, or tang, which passed through the hilt; the blade 18$1⁄2$ inches long. 1$3⁄8$ inches wide, formed with a wide shallow groove, or channel, along its