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SCANDINAVIAN ANTIQUITIES OF DUBLIN. 155
In Suffolk-street, formerly part ot the Stein, a
skeleton was recently exhumed, the skull of which
being stained by contact with metal supposed to be
a helmet, gave rise to the opinion that the owner
had been buried in his armour. In the same locality Scandinavian
11
an urn was subsequently found, and previously they f* Suffolk?"
of
had dug up one of the most valuable Danish swords
discovered in Ireland, the gold ornaments of the
handle having been sold for 70 ; and, according to
the Saga, a gold hilted sword 1 was a distinguishing
mark of a Scandinavian chieftain, and a chieftain's
arms and armour being frequently buried with
him. 2
In excavating the foundations of the Royal
Arcade, in College-green, where the National Bank
of Ireland now stands, several weapons and other
relics of the Northmen were thrown up. Two of
the swords, which are of iron, and of a form mark-
ing them to be Scandinavian, are now in the
museum of the Royal Irish Academy, and two
spear heads, the rembo of a shield, and some silver
fibulae, said to have been found in the same place,
were sold in 1841 with the late Major Sirr's
collection of antiquities.
1 " Kvernlstr," the sword of how, a mound, a cairn over one
Hakon, king of Norway,
had both dead. It is there said
" The
hilt and handle of gold. Heims- cairns belong to the burning age
kringla of Snorro-Sturleson, vol. as well as to the later age, when
i., p. 121, 3 vols., folio, Havnise, the dead were placed in a ship
1777-1826.
" Hneitn," the sword and put in the how with a horse,
of King Olaf the Saint, had the hound, treasure, weapons, and the
handle wrought with gold. Ibid, like," and in proof various refer-
vol. ii., p. 352. Olaf's sword was ences to works are there given,
gold hilti-d. Laxdoela Saga, p. 79. Icelandic and English Dictionary,
* In the Icelandic Dictionary, by Cleasby Vigfusaon, 4to, Ox-
lately published, Haugr (pro- ford, Clarendon Press, 1874.
nouuced Hogue), is translated a