Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-22dnz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T04:51:11.825Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Niall ‘of the Nine Hostages’ in connexion with the treasures of Traprain Law and Ballinrees, and the destruction of Wroxeter, Chester, Caerleon and Caerwent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2012

William Ridgeway
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

In 1914 the Scottish Antiquaries began excavations on the hill of Traprain Law, 20 miles E. of Edinburgh, about 2 miles from the sea and overlooking the Firth of Forth. Here in 1919 was made one of the most notable discoveries ever known in Britain, the hoard of Roman silver plate, now in the National Scottish Museum, and admirably described by Mr. Alex. Curle, Director of the Royal Scottish Museum. There are remains of 10 flagons or flasks, 5 wine cups, 50 bowls, deep and shallow, 22 flat circular dishes, 6 square dishes, 5 cylindrical vessels, 9 spoons, a wine strainer, part of a funnel, 2 lids, a toilet box, 2 handles in animal forms, etc., packets of cut-up pieces ready for smelting [or to pass by weight as money ?], a fibula, 2 buckles, a hand-mirror, an earring, and 4 silver coins—one each of Valens (364-78) and Valentinian II (379-93), and 2 of Honorius (395-423). These last named ‘were in good condition,’ and it was therefore evident that the deposit was made in the reign of Honorius ‘probably in the commencement of the fifth century, or at least shortly thereafter.’

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Roman Studies , Volume 14 , Issue 1-2 , November 1924 , pp. 123 - 136
Copyright
Copyright ©William Ridgeway 1924. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

page 123 note 1 The Treasure of Traprain (Glasgow, 1923)Google Scholar.

page 125 note 1 The late Prof. Haverfield, , ‘Ancient Rome and Ireland’ (Eng. Hist. Rev. vol. xxviii, 1913, p. 8)CrossRefGoogle Scholar, says of this coin, ‘perhaps it has been misread, or may not date so late as its figures suggest. Probably, therefore, the hoard was deposited about A. D. 406-8.’

page 129 note 1 Vict. Co. Hist.: Somerset, i, pp. 354-5.

page 129 note 2 Sir A. Evans, op. cit. p. 452.

page 129 note 3 Num. Chron. 1922, cp. pp. 134-9; Antiq. Journ. Oct. 1921.

page 129 note 4 G. F. Hill, Num. Chron. 1906, pp. 329 sqq. Evans, ibid. 1915, p. 433.

page 129 note 5 G. F. Hill, ibid. 1908, pp. 215-21.

page 131 note 1 Haverfield, , Roman Occupation of Britain, revised by George Macdonald (1924), p. 282Google Scholar, remarks: ‘Such were Cúrói … Dathi and Niall. Mere names they all are to us.’

page 133 note 1 Annals of Ireland: Three Fragments from ancient sources copied by Dubbaltach MacFirbisigh (1643), ed. by O'Donovan, John (Dublin, 1860), p. 2Google Scholar.

page 133 note 2 See Dr. Barth. MacCarthy's note to the Index in his edition.

page 133 note 3 Vict. Co. Hist. Shrops. i, 220, and Holder, Altcelt. Sprachschatz, s.v. Viriconion.

page 136 note 1 But cf. Vict. Co. History: Cornwall, ii (1924), p. 18Google Scholar.