Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/209

 AT GELDESTONE, NOKFOLK. 113 Ficoroni gives the figure of one, in Avhicli the part added for the purpose of suspension is very simple, being nothing more than a small short pipe, through which the cord passes. Anothei", much more complete and of gold, is in the Ih-itish Museum. A representation of it, the size of the original, is here given. ^ A much larger and finer one belonged to the Chigi Museum at Rome. The name CATVLVS is engraved upon it, and is supposed to have been the name of the wearer. This is pub- lished by Causeus in his treatise De Vasis, Buliis, &c. (tab. vi.), which is reprinted in Griuvii T/te- saurus, tom. xii., p. 958. But that which throws the most light upon the Geldestone specimen, coming nearest to it in all the cir- cumstances, is one of which the following account is given. ^ Some labourers, employed in searching for antiquities at a place near Rome, discovered a marble sarco- phagus, containing an urn of oriental alabaster. In the urn were burnt bones, and among them was found the golden bulla, a figure of which is published both by Ficoroni and by Middleton, Ficoroni purchased the bulla, and soon after- wards sold it to Ur. Conyers Middleton, who showed it to Montfaucon, at Paris, and then brought it to England. Pro- bably this fine relic is in England at the present time, but in whose possession I cannot tell. Besides the glass vessel, the labourers found on other parts of the board a flat earthenware cup, with a lid of the same material, and two or three potsherds. It appeared that the sepulclu-e had never before been disturbed. It was covered with sand ; and over the sand was peat, as already men- tioned, with grass and reeds, the roots of which penetrated in all directions through the contents of the urn, and the soft decayed planks forming the sides of the inclosure. Golden Bulla, preserved in the British Museum. Laudf.udale House, Hiohgate, March 2ml, 1849. •J. Y. ' For permission to make use of this illustration, our tliani<s are due to the PuMishers of Dr. Smith's valuable " Die- tioiiary of dreelv and lloman Antiquities," in which it was given, Arl. Bulla. — Ed. '^ Ficoroni, La Bolla tVom ih' FanriiiUi nnliili Eomani. Roma, l7'o2. Middleton, loc. cit.