The Bronze Age in Ireland Part 4

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 47.--Gold Lunula found in Co. Galway.]

Figures 46-49 and 51-53 ill.u.s.trate the various types of ornament; it will be noticed that some of the smaller examples are quite plain.

One lunula was found in an oak case at Newtown, Crossdoney, Co.

Cavan. The case has greatly shrunk since it was found, as when first discovered it measured 10 inches by 8 inches (fig. 50).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 48.--Gold Lunula, locality not recorded.]

The two expanded pieces at the ends are always turned at right angles to the plane of the lunula, and serve to clasp the back of the neck, and may have been secured by a tie. It need not, however, be pointed out that they are quite out of place in a head-ornament; indeed, the geometrical shape of a lunula is contrary to such a theory, and quite different from recognized diadems or head-ornaments.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 49.--Gold Lunula found at Killarney.]

One example found at Volognes has a chain and sort of buckle attached at the ends. It has since been melted down, but a drawing of it has been preserved (fig. 51). The chain seems to have been ancient--at least it is stated to have been on it, as shown, when found; but, however ancient it may be, it is evident that it was more recently attached than the original make of the ornament. It is, however, of interest as indicating at some time a chain-tie to secure the ends of the ornament.

The accompanying list of finds shows how numerous the lunulae are in Ireland and how rarely they have been found outside this island. The map shows their distribution (fig. 54).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 50.--Oak case for Lunula found at Newtown, Co. Cavan.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 51.--Gold Lunula found at Valognes, Manche.]

Two have been found in the West Baltic at Zealand and Funen. They have otherwise hardly penetrated beyond Brittany. One has recently (1912) been found at Hanover, and another some time ago at Fauvillers, Luxembourg. This failure to penetrate far beyond the coasts of England and Brittany may point to early raids; but the copper and tin of Cornwall, as well as the tin deposits of Brittany and the general trade with Brittany, may indicate the early seeking of the Irish gold deposits. We may take as a provisional date for the lunulae, 1200 to 1000 B.C.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 52.--Gold Lunula found in Co. Londonderry.]

Lunulae now existing or known to have formerly existed:--

IRELAND (62 at least).

--------------+---+------------------------------------------------ County. No. Reference.

--------------+---+------------------------------------------------ Donegal, 2 R.I.A. 1889: 20 (1). Trenta, Carrigans. R.I.A.

1909: 6 (1). Naran.

Londonderry, 2 R.I.A. W. 12 (1). R.I.A. (loan 1907: 7) (1).

Antrim, 3 Dublin Penny Journal, vol. iv, p. 295.

Down, 1 Castlereagh, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, vol. ix, p. 46.

Tyrone, 3 Trillick, R.I.A. 1884: 495 (1). Carrickmore, R.I.A. 1900: 50 (1). Tartaraghan, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, vol. ix, p. 47 (at Cecil, Augher) (1).

Mayo, 1 R.I.A. 1909.

Sligo, 1 Windele's Miscellanea, p. 206.

Fermanagh, 1 Enniskillen (Day Coll.).

Monaghan, 1 Ballybay (Day Coll.).

Galway, 1 R.I.A. W. 10 (Sirr Coll.).

Roscommon, 2 Athlone, R.I.A. W. 5, and 1893: 4.

Cavan, 3 Newtown, R.I.A. 1884: 494 (1). Bailieborough (British Museum) (1). Lisanover, Bawnboy.

1910: 45 (1).

Westmeath, 2 Ross, R.I.A. 1896: 15 (1). Mullingar, 1884: 7 (1).

Kildare, 4 Dunfierth, R.I.A. W. 4, 8, 9, and 15.

Clare, 2 Porsoon Callan, R.I.A. 1877: 52 (1). Proc.

R.I.A., vol. viii, p. 83 (1).

Tipperary, 1 Glengall (British Museum).

Kerry, 5 Banmore, R.I.A. R., 1755, 1756, 1757 (3): R.I.A., Killarney, W. 2 (1). Mangerton (Brit.

Mus.) (1).

Cork 2 Ballycotton (Brit. Mus.) (1), and one or perhaps two in Mr. Cliborn's sc.r.a.p-book in R.I.A.

In addition to the foregoing there are 16 in the collection of the R.I.A. and 5 in the British Museum, and about 6 in private collections, which are known to have been found in Ireland, but of which the localities have not been recorded.

ENGLAND (4).

Cornwall, 4 Penzance (1), Padstow (2), Lesnewth (1) (Arch.

Journ., vol. xxii, 276).

WALES (1).

Carnavons.h.i.+re, 1 Llanllyfni (British Museum).

SCOTLAND (4).

Lanarks.h.i.+re, 2 Southside near Coulter (Anderson, vol. i, p. 223).

Dumfriess.h.i.+re, 1 Auchentaggart (Anderson, vol. i, p. 222).

Elgins.h.i.+re, 1 Fochabers (Cat. Nat. Mus., Scot., p. 210).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 53.--Gold Lunula found at Athlone.]

FRANCE (6).

Cotes du Nord, 1 Saint-Potan (Reinach, Revue Celtique, 1900, p. 95).

Manche, 3 Tourlaville (1), Valognes (1) (Reinach, R. C., 1900, p. 95).

Montebourg (1) (Cong. Arch. de France, 1905, p. 301).

Vendee, 2 Bourneau (1), Nesmy (1) (Reinach, R. C., 1900, p. 95).

BELGIUM (1).

Luxemburg, 1 Fauvillers (Cong. Arch. de France, 1905, p. 302).

DENMARK (2).

Zealand, 1 Grevinge (A. f. Anth. xix, 9).

Funen, 1 Skogshoierup (A. f. Anth. xix, 9).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 54.--Map showing the Distribution of Lunulae in Ireland and Europe.]

GERMANY (1).