Books, Prehistory, Archaeologia Volume 30 Section 12

12. Description of some Gold Ornaments recently found in Ireland, in a Letter from Lord Albert Conyngham (age 37), F.S.A., to Sir Henry Ellis, K.H., F.R.S., Secretary. Read 22nd December 1842.

Bifrons, December 19th, 1842. My Dear Sir Henry,

The golden ornaments which you will receive to-morrow evening to exhibit to the Society of Antiquaries, should you consider them sufficiently interesting, I have numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6. (Plate XII.)

The first five were accidentally found by a labouring man about a fortnight since, within a few yards of the entrance to the caves at New Grange. They were at the depth of two feet from the surface of the ground, and without any covering or protection from the earth about them. Another labouring man, hearing of this discovery, carefully searched the spot whence they were taken, and found a denarius of Geta, and two other coins of small brass, but quite defaced; they are all in my possession.

The Collar which I have marked 6 was found in the neighbourhood of Ardrah, in the county of Donegal. I understood that a labourer found it concealed in the cleft of a rock ; but the person who brought it to me made a condition of selling it to me, that I would neither inquire the finder's name nor the precise spot where it was found, the finder of the collar fearing that the money he received from me would be forced from him by his landlord or his agent, should his name be known.

I remain, my dear Sir Henry, Very sincerely yours, Albert Conyngham.

Rude Stone Monuments in all Countries Chapter V. Nothing was found in the great mounds at New Grange and Dowth Avhich throws much additional light either on their age or the persons to whom they should be appropriated. Two skeletons are said to have been discovered at New Grange, but under what circumstances we are not told, and we do not consequently know whether to consider them as original or secondary interments. The finding of the coin of Valentinian is mentioned by Lhwyd in 1699, but he merely says that they Avere found on the top, or rather, as might be inferred, near the top, when it was uncovered by the removal of the stones for road-making and such purposes. Had it been found in the cell, as at Minning Low, it would have given us a date, beyond which we could not ascend, but when and under what circumstances the coin of Theodosius was found, does not appear, nor what has become of either. A more important find was made by Lord Albert Cunyngham in 1842. Some workmen who were employed to dig on the mound near the entrance discovered two splendid gold torques, a brooch, and a gold ring, and with them a gold coin of Geta¹ (205-212 a.d.). A similar gold ring was found about the same time in the cell, and is in the possession of Mrs. Caldwell, the wife of the proprietor. Although we might feel inclined to hesitate about the value of the conclusions to be drawn from the first discovery of coins, this additional evidence seems to he conclusive. Three Roman coins found in different parts, at diiferent times, and with the torques and rings, are, it seems, quite sufficient to prove that it cannot have been erected before 380, while the probable date for its completion may be about 400 A.D. It may, however, have been begun fifty or sixty years earlier. It is most likely that such a tomb as this was commenced by the king whose remains it was destined to contain; but the mound would not be heaped over the chamber till the king himself, and probably his wives and sons, were laid there, and a considerable period may consequently have elapsed between the inception and the completion of such a monument.

Note 1. 'Archæologia,' xxx. pl. xii. p. 137.