Ancient British or Celtic Period—Implements of Stone—Celts—Stone Hammers—Stone Hatchets, Mauls, etc.—Triturating Stones—Flint Implements—Classification of Flints—Jet Articles—Necklaces, Studs, etc.—Bone Instruments—Bronze Celts, Daggers, etc.—Gold Articles.

The implements of stone found in the Celtic grave-mounds, or in their immediate neighbourhood, consist of celts28 or adzes, hammer-heads or axe-heads, mauls, etc., etc. They are of various materials—chert, shale, green-stone, syenite, basalt, porphyry, felstone, serpentine, sandstone, limestone, etc., etc., and of various degrees of finish and workmanship.

Stone celts of one form or other are the most common of all stone implements. In shape they are not inaptly described as being like the mussel shell. The lower, or cutting end is slightly convex, and rubbed down to a fine-shaped edge. As this cutting edge has become dulled or chipped by use it has been again and again rubbed down and sharpened, until, in many instances which have come under my notice, the celt has been shortened fully one-third or more of its original length. The forms of these instruments will be seen in the examples here following (fig. 127 and in the succeeding figures). Fig. 132 is, perhaps, the most usual of these forms. It is of the same type as the first example on the previous engraving. Another excellent example is given on the illustration (fig. 134). It is of chert, and has, as will be seen, straight sides instead of the usual curved ones. It is now 5½ inches long, but has probably originally been much longer, having been rubbed down in sharpening.

Stone hammers are occasionally found in grave-mounds. They vary much both in form and size, as will be best understood from the following engravings. Fig. 133 was found at Woolaton, and is remarkable for being hollow on its upper and lower surfaces, and ribbed or fluted along its sides. It is eleven inches29 long, four inches in width, and three inches in thickness. Fig. 135, found at Winster, is thin, very taper, and of very different form. It is ten inches long. Other examples are shown in figs. 136 and 137. Occasionally they partake more of the hatchet shape. A good example is fig. 138, and others of still more elaborate form have occasionally been discovered. Examples of another variety, generally called mauls, which partake more of the common mallet form, are here given on figs. 139, 140, and 141. The first is from Horsley, Derbyshire, and the other two are from Ireland. A different variety (named punches or cutters) is shown on fig. 142, which was found at Mickleover.

Rough stones, which have probably been used for triturating purposes, for the grinding of corn, etc., are occasionally found. In the Derbyshire barrows, for instance, portions of rubbed stones, and also of rubbers, have now and then been discovered. Two triturating stones, belonging to a different period, are given, for purposes of comparison, on figs. 143 and 144.30 Whetstones, spindle-whorls, and other objects of stone, are also occasionally found. One of these spindle-whorls is shown on fig. 145.

Flints, i.e., various instruments formed of flint, are undoubtedly the most abundant of any relics of the Ancient Britons found in or about grave-mounds. They are extremely varied in form, and many of them are of the most exquisite workmanship—such, indeed, as would completely baffle the skill, great though that skill undoubtedly is, of “Flint Jack”31 to copy. The arrangement, classification, and nomenclature of flints is at present so uncertain, and so mixed up with absurd theories, that it is difficult to know how to place them in a common-sense manner. All I shall attempt to do in my present work—which is intended to describe, generally, the relics to be found in the barrows of the period, and not to be a disquisition on flints alone—will be to give examples of some of the more usual forms which have from time to time been found, so as to facilitate comparisons with those of various districts and countries.

Of barbed arrow-heads, the examples here given will be sufficient to show the variety of forms and sizes which are usually found. The three first examples are from Green-Low, and are in the Bateman museum; the next three (figs. 149, 150, and 151) are also from Derbyshire examples in my own collection; fig. 152 is also from my own collection, but of a totally different form, approaching to the next example, fig. 153, which is in the museum of the Royal Irish Academy. Fig. 149 will be noticed to be peculiarly elegant in form, and marvellously delicate in manufacture—the barbs being extremely sharp and clearly defined. It is engraved of its full size, as are most of the other examples. Fig. 150 measures two and five-eighths inches in length.

The dagger-blade variety is of what is usually called the “leaf-shaped” type, and is the prototype of the bronze dagger of a later period. The example here given (fig. 154) is from Green-Low, and is of remarkably fine form. Another, and of perhaps much finer form, is shown on the accompanying plate (fig. 155). It was found at Arbow-Low, in June, 1865, and is five and seven-eighths inches in length, and nearly two and a quarter inches in width in the centre. In its thickest part it is scarcely three-eighths of an inch in thickness, and is chopped and worked with the utmost nicety to a fine edge. It will be noticed that its sides, as they begin to diminish, are deeply serrated for fastening with thongs to the haft or handle. It is engraved the exact size of the original.

The next illustrations exhibit a different variety of flints. They are arrow-heads of the leaf-shaped types, and exhibit four varieties. Figs. 156 and 157 are from Calais Wold, in Yorkshire; fig. 158 is from Gunthorpe, in Lincolnshire; and fig. 159, which is of remarkably elegant form, is from Ringham-Low, Derbyshire. They are engraved of their full size. This type of flint varies, it will be seen, from the acutely angled and sharply pointed shapes to those of a nicely rounded and egg-shaped form. Two other remarkable examples, possibly spear-heads, are here engraved, from the Calais Wold barrow, in Yorkshire (figs. 160 and 161). They are among the finest examples which have ever been found.

Another type, one not common in England, is shown on fig. 162. It is a fine example, and was found in Derbyshire. It is deeply serrated on the edges, and at its base is cut for tying with a thong. It is here engraved of its full size.

Fig. 163 is a modification of this form, and is a good example of its kind. Figs. 164 and 165 are Derbyshire examples in my own collection, and are good specimens of another class of flint instruments not unfrequently found in grave-mounds and elsewhere.

Another variety, again, and one which varies extremely, both in size and in form, is what, I suppose for want of a better name, is the kind usually called “scrapers,” or “flint knives.” One example (fig. 166) will be sufficient.

Another description, again, which appears more intended for throwing than for any other purpose, and which, with its sharp cutting edges, and the unerring aim of the Briton, must have been indeed a deadly weapon, is frequently found, and is shown on fig. 167. It is a simple circular lump of flint, an inch and a half or a couple of inches or more in diameter; flat on one side and chipped into a roundness on the other. These are often called “thumb flints.”

Flakes of various sizes and forms constantly occur, and are called by many absurd names. Small, delicately formed, and very beautiful flints, of an oviform or circular shape, are also found (fig. 168), as are a large number of other forms besides those I have illustrated. These will, however, be sufficient for my present purpose, and will enable the reader to form a pretty correct and extended estimate of the number and variety of flints which the grave-mounds produce. Celts of flint are also occasionally found. An example here shown (fig. 170) was discovered in a very interesting barrow called “Gospel Hillock,” at Cow Dale, near Buxton, by Captain Lukis. It measured four and a half inches in length.

In Jet, the articles found consist of beads, rings, necklaces, studs, etc., and some of these are of the utmost beauty. A very elaborate example of necklace, found by Mr. Bateman in the cist (fig. 28) on Middleton Moor, is here engraved (fig. 171). The beads of which it is composed lay about the neck of the skeleton. It was formed of variously shaped beads and other ornaments of jet and bone curiously ornamented. The various pieces of this elaborate necklace count 420 in number; 348 being thin laminÆ, 54 of cylindrical form, and the remaining 18, conical studs and perforated plates, some of which are ornamented with punctures.

Another example (fig. 172), with elongated beads, and pierced ornaments of bone, is here given.

Another good example is engraved on the next page. It was found at Fimber, by Mr. Mortimer, and consists of 171 laminÆ, or small jet discs (No. 2), and a triangular pendant, or centre, of jet (No. 3), an inch in length, and perforated in the middle.

Studs and pendants of jet are of various forms, and are perforated for suspension in a variety of ways. Fig. 174 shows a jet stud from Gospel Hillock. It is engraved of its full size, as is also the next example (fig. 175), from the Calais Wold barrow. These are very similar in form, and in their perforations. Another form, a ring pierced for suspension, is shown on fig. 176.

Implements of bone are frequently found, but in many instances their use is not easily determined. They consist chiefly of modelling tools (supposed to have been used in the manufacture of pottery), pins, mesh-rules, studs, pendants, and other personal ornaments; lance-heads, spear-heads, whistles (?), hammers, and beads. Some of these are shown in figs. 177 to 182.

In Bronze, the articles found are celts, daggers, awls, pins, etc. Celts are, however, but seldom met with in barrows, although frequently ploughed up in the course of agricultural operations. Palstaves and socketed celts, etc., are also occasionally picked up. The ordinary form of celt will be best understood by the engravings here given (figs. 183 and 185) from Irish examples, and by the next figure (187), from Moot-Low, near Dove Dale. One of these celts, of precisely similar form to fig. 187, found in a barrow at Shuttlestone, has been the means of throwing considerable light on the mode of interment adopted. The barrow contained “the skeleton of a man in the prime of life and of fine proportions, apparently the sole occupant of the mound, who had been interred whilst enveloped in a skin of dark red colour, the hairy surface of which had left many traces both upon the surrounding earth and upon the verdigris or patina coating of a bronze axe-shaped celt and dagger, deposited with the skeleton. On the former weapon there are also beautifully distinct impressions of fern leaves, handfuls of which, in a compressed and half-decayed state, surrounded the bones from head to foot. From these leaves being discernible on one side of the celt only, whilst the other side presents traces of leather alone, it is certain that the leaves were placed first as a couch for the reception of the corpse, with its accompaniments, and after these had been deposited, were then further added in quantity sufficient to protect the body from the earth.”32 With the skeleton, besides the celt, were a fine bronze dagger, with two rivets for attachments to the handle, which had been of horn, the impression of the grain being quite distinctly perceptible; a small jet bead; and a circular flint. The celt had been, as was evident from the grain of wood still remaining, driven vertically, for about two inches of its length, into a wooden handle.

Other forms of celts are shown on the accompanying series of figures (184, 185, 186, and 188 to 195), and another excellent example is fig. 196, which has the loop (as also fig. 197) for attaching to the handle by means of a thong. A great many other varieties are also met with.

The bronze daggers which barrows have afforded vary in length from two and a half or three, to five and a half or six, inches, on the average; the larger ones being an inch and a half to three inches in breadth at their broadest part, where the handle has been attached, from whence they taper gradually down to the point. They are sometimes ribbed or fluted. In most instances the handle has been attached by three rivets; in some cases, however, as in fig. 198, only two have been used, and occasionally there is evidence of the attachment being effected by thong or other ligature. The handles were of horn or wood, and were usually semi-lunar where attached to the blade; in one instance, however, the blade has a “tang” or “shank,” which has fitted into the square-ended handle, to which it has been fastened by a single peg. The blades occasionally present incontestible evidence of long use, having been worn down by repeated sharpenings. In the instance of the dagger found at Stanshope, which had been fastened to the handle by a couple of rivets as well as by ligatures, evidence existed of its having been enclosed in a sheath of leather, and this example also presented the somewhat curious feature of impressions of maggots, which had probably made their way from the decaying body into the inside of the sheath, between it and the blade, and had there remained, and thus gradually become marked upon the corrugated surface of the bronze.

Articles of gold, and coins, are extremely rare as found in grave-mounds, although not unusually turned up in their neighbourhoods, and in places which have been inhabited by the pre-historic races. Simply for the purpose of showing the character of some of the Celtic coins, the following engravings are given.

Of torques of gold, and other remains in that metal, I shall speak in a later chapter.