Bifrons Anglo-Saxon Cemetery - Grave 39
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Bifrons Cemetery Introduction
GRAVE 39 -
Finds Down the left side lay a good sword
with a hilt of bronze partly silvered and partly gilt,
and near
it three flat ornaments
of silver gilt
and two of bronze, all attached to what
seems to be the remains of leather, and was probably the sword-belt.
The three silver ornaments are alike, except in their chased
ornamentation. I have engraved a full representation of one, with
side view, shewing the manner in which it held the belt; of the other
two I have given the ornamentation only.
three flat ornaments of silver gilt
and two of bronze
It will be observed that both
on the sword hilt and on one of the ornaments occur instances of the
Aryan religious symbol called the "suastilca,"
well known as representing the primitive wooden machine
for producing fire by friction, and used as typical of heat and life.
The other ornaments also bear Aryan designs, especially the zigzag
character supposed to represent lightning. These and similar Aryan
symbols are not altogether unusual on the ornaments of the early
Teutonic races, but have hitherto been more often found on
Scandinavian than on Anglican relics. Three instances of the former
will be found engraved in Mr. Haigh's paper in our Eighth Volume.* In
England they are much rarer, and I believe this to be a unique
instance of their discovery among the Jutes of Kent.
* ' Arch. Cant.,' vol. viii.,
pp. 180, 181, 262.
sword hilt
Close to the
sword lay the iron umbo, handle, and braces of a shield, which again
could scarcely have been circular.
At the feet two knives, two iron
nails, and an iron buckle.
Between the knees a buckle of bronze plated
with silver, four bronze tags or rivets, and near them three little ornaments
of silver.
buckle of bronze plated
with silver, four bronze tags or rivets
Near the left shoulder a spear-head.