Chapter I: Preface

THE work which is now presented to the public has unfortunately been many years in progress, as owing to various occupations, both private and public, the leisure at my command has been but small, and it has been only from time to time, often at long intervals, that I have been able to devote a few hours to its advancement. During this slow progress the literature of the subject, especially on the Continent, has increased in an unprecedentedly rapid manner, and I have had great difficulty in at all keeping pace with it.

I have, however, done my best, both by reading and travel, to keep myself acquainted with the discoveries that were being made and the theories that were being broached with regard to bronze antiquities, whether abroad or at home, and I hope that so far as facts are concerned, and so far as relates to the present state of information on the subject, I shall not be found materially wanting.

Of course in a work which treats more especially of the bronze antiquities of the British Islands, I have not felt bound to enlarge more than was necessary for the sake of comparison on the corresponding antiquities of other countries. I have, however, in all cases pointed out such analogies in form and character as seemed to me of importance as possibly helping to throw light on the source whence our British bronze civilisation was derived.

It may by some be thought that a vast amount of useless trouble has been bestowed in figuring and describing so many varieties of what were after all in most cases the ordinary tools of the artificer, or the common arms of the warrior or huntsman, which differed from each other only in apparently unimportant particulars. But as in biological studies minute anatomy often affords the most trustworthy evidence as to the descent of any given organism from some earlier form of life, so these minor details in the form and character of ordinary implements, which to the cursory observer appear devoid of meaning, may, to a skilful archæologist, afford valuable clues by which the march of the bronze civilisation over Europe may be traced to its original starting-place.

I am far from saying that this has as yet been satisfactorily accomplished, and to my mind it will only be by accumulating a far larger mass of facts than we at present possess that comparative archæology will be able to triumph over the difficulties with which its path is still beset.

Much is, however, being done, and I trust that so far as the British Isles are concerned, the facts which I have here collected and the figures which I have caused to be engraved will at all events form a solid foundation on which others may be able to build.

So long ago as 1876 I was able to present to the foreign archæologists assembled at Buda-Pest for the International Congress of Prehistoric Archæology and Anthropology, a short abstract of this work in the shape of my _Petit Album de l’âge du Bronze de la Grande Bretagne_, which I have reason to believe has been found of some service. At that time my friend the late Sir William Wilde was still alive, and as the bronze antiquities of Ireland appeared to be especially under his charge, I had not regarded them as falling within the scope of my book. After his lamented death there was, however, no possibility of interfering with his labours, by my including the bronze antiquities of the sister country with those of England, Wales, and Scotland in the present work, and I accordingly enlarged my original plan.

In carrying out my undertaking I have followed the same method as in my work on the “Ancient Stone Implements, &c., of Great Britain;” and it will be found that what I may term the dictionary and index of bronze antiquities is printed in smaller type than the more general descriptive and historical part of the book. I have in fact offered those who take an ordinary interest in archæological inquiry without wishing to be burdened with minute details a broad hint as to what they may advantageously skip. To the specialist and the local antiquary the portion printed in smaller type will be found of use, if only as giving references to other works in which the more detailed accounts of local discoveries are given. These references, thanks to members of my own family, have been carefully checked, and the accuracy of all the original figures for this work, engraved for me with conscientious care by Mr. Swain, of Bouverie Street, may, I think, be relied on.

To the councils of several of our learned societies, and especially to those of the Societies of Antiquaries of London and Edinburgh, the Royal Irish Academy, the Royal Archæological Institute, and the Royal Historical and Archæological Association of Ireland, I am much indebted for the loan of woodcuts and for other assistance. I have also to thank the trustees and curators of many local museums, as well as the owners of various private collections, for allowing me to figure specimens, and for valuable information supplied.

My warmest thanks are, however, due to Mr. Augustus W. Franks, F.R.S., and Canon Greenwell, F.R.S., not only for assistance in the matter of illustrations, but for most kindly undertaking the task of reading my proofs. I must also thank Mr. Joseph Anderson, the accomplished keeper of the Antiquarian Museum at Edinburgh, and Mr. Robert Day, F.S.A., of Cork, for having revised those portions of the work which relate to Scotland and Ireland.

The Index has been carefully compiled by my sister, Mrs. Hubbard. As was the case with those of my “Ancient Stone Implements,” and “Ancient British Coins,” it is divided into two parts; the one referring generally to the subject matter of the book, and the other purely topographical. The advantages of such a division in a book of this character are obvious.

In conclusion, I venture to prefer the request that any discoveries of new types of instruments or of deposits of bronze antiquities may be communicated to me.

JOHN EVANS.

NASH MILLS, HEMEL HEMPSTED,
_March, 1881_.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

PAGE

The Succession of the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages—A Copper Age
in America—Scriptural Notices of Bronze—Bronze preceded Iron
in ancient Egypt—Bronze in ancient Greece—The Metals mentioned
by Homer—Iron in ancient Greece—Bronzes among other ancient
Nations—Use of Iron in Gaul and Italy—Disputes as to the three
Periods—The Succession of Iron to Bronze—The Preservation of
ancient Iron 1

CHAPTER II.

CELTS.

Origin of the word Celt—Views of early Antiquaries—Conjectures
as to the Use of Celts—Opinions of modern Writers 27

CHAPTER III.

FLAT AND FLANGED CELTS.

Flat Celts from Cyprus and Hissarlik—Discoveries of Flat Celts
in Barrows—Those ornamented on the Faces—Flanged Celts—Those
from Arreton Down—And from Barrows—Decorated Flanged Celts—Flat
Celts found in Scotland—Decorated Scottish Specimens—Flat Celts
found in Ireland—Decorated Irish Specimens—Character of their
Decorations—Flat Celts with Lateral Stops 39

CHAPTER IV.

WINGED CELTS AND PALSTAVES.

Origin of the term Palstave—Celts with a Stop-ridge—Varieties
of Winged Celts—Transitional Forms—Palstaves with Ornaments
on Face—With Central Rib on the Blade—Shortened by Wear—With
a Transverse Edge—Looped Palstaves—With Ribs on Blade—With
Shield-like Ornaments—With Vertical Ribs on Blade—With
semicircular Side-wings hammered over—Iron Palstaves imitated
from Bronze—Palstaves with two Loops—Scottish Palstaves—Irish
Palstaves—Looped Irish Palstaves—Irish Palstaves with
Transverse Edge—Comparison with Continental Forms 70

CHAPTER V.

SOCKETED CELTS.

Terms, “the Recipient” and “the Received”—Evolution from
Palstaves—With “Flanches,” or curved Lines, on the Faces—Plain,
with a Beading round the Mouth—Of a Gaulish type—With vertical
Ribs on the Faces—With Ribs ending in Pellets—With Ribs and
Pellets on the Faces—With Ribs and Ring Ornaments—Variously
ornamented—Of octagonal Section—With the Loop on one
Face—Without Loops—Of diminutive Size—Found in Scotland—Found
in Ireland—Comparison with Foreign Forms—Mainly of Native
Manufacture in Britain—Those formed of Iron 107

CHAPTER VI.

METHODS OF HAFTING CELTS.

The perforated Axes of Bronze—Celts in Club-like Handles—Their
Hafts, as seen in Barrows—Hafting after the manner of
Axes—Socketed Celts used as Hatchets—Hafted Celt found at
Chiusi—Hafts, as seen at Hallstatt—Celts in some instances
mounted as Adzes—No perforated Axe-heads in Britain—Hafting
Celts as Chisels 146

CHAPTER VII.

CHISELS, GOUGES, HAMMERS, AND OTHER TOOLS.

Simple form of Chisel rare—Tanged Chisels—Chisels with
Lugs at sides—Socketed Chisels—Tanged Gouges—Socketed
Gouges—Socketed Hammers—Irish Hammers—Method of Hafting
Hammers—French Anvils—Saws and Files almost unknown in
Britain—Tongs and Punches—The latter used in Ornamenting—Awls,
Drills, or Prickers frequently found in Barrows—Awls used in
Sewing—Tweezers—Needles—Fish-hooks 165

CHAPTER VIII.

SICKLES.

Method of Hafting—Sickles with Projecting Knobs—With
Sockets—Sickles found in Scotland and Ireland—Found on the
Continent 194

CHAPTER IX.

KNIVES, RAZORS, ETC.

The Socketed Form—Scottish and Irish Knives—Curved
Knives—Knives with broad Tangs—With Lanceolate Blades—Of
peculiar Types—Double-edged Razors—Scottish and Irish
Razors—Continental Forms 204

CHAPTER X.

DAGGERS AND THEIR HILTS.—RAPIER-SHAPED BLADES.

Tanged Knives or Daggers—Knife-Daggers with three Rivets—Method
of Hafting Daggers—Bone Pommels—Amber Hilt inlaid with
Gold—Hilts with numerous Rivets—Inlaid and Ivory Hilts—Hilts
of Bronze—Knife-Daggers with five or six Rivets—Knife-Daggers
from Scotland—From Ireland—Daggers with Ornamented Blades—With
Mid-ribs—With Ogival Outline—Rapier-shaped Blades—Rapiers with
Notches at the Base—With Ribs on the Faces—Rapiers with Ox-horn
and Bronze Hilts—Bayonet-like Blades 222

CHAPTER XI.

TANGED AND SOCKETED DAGGERS OR SPEAR-HEADS, HALBERDS, AND MACES.

Arreton Down type of Spear-heads—With Tangs and with
Socket—Scandinavian and German Halberds—The Chinese Form—Irish
Halberds—Copper Blades less brittle than Bronze—Broad Irish
Form—Scottish Halberds—English and Welsh Halberds—The Form
known in Spain—Maces, probably Mediæval 257

CHAPTER XII.

LEAF-SHAPED SWORDS.

Their Occurrence in British Barrows not authenticated—Occur
with Interments in Scandinavia—The Roman Sword—British
Swords—Disputes as to their Age—Hilts proportional to
Blades—Swords with Central Slots in Hilt-plate—With many
Rivet-holes—With Central Rib on Blade—Representation of
Sword on Italian Coin—Those with Hilts of Bronze—Localities
where found—Comparison with Continental Types—Swords found
in Scotland—In Ireland—In France—Swords with Hilts of
Bone—Decorated with Gold—Continental Types—Early Iron Swords 273

CHAPTER XIII.

SCABBARDS AND CHAPES.

Sheaths with Bronze Ends—Wooden Sheaths—Bronze Sheaths—Ends
of Sword-Sheaths or Scabbard Ends—Chapes from England and
Ireland—Spiked Chapes—Mouth-pieces for Sheaths—Ferrules on
Sword-Hilts 301

CHAPTER XIV.

SPEAR-HEADS, LANCE-HEADS, ETC.

Different Types—Leaf-shaped—With a Fillet along the
Midrib—Ornamented on the Sockets—With Loops at the Sides—From
Ireland—Decorated on the Blade—With Loops at the Base of
the Blade—Of Cruciform Section near the Point—With Openings
in the Blade—With Flanges at the Side of the Openings—With
Lunate Openings in the Blade—Barbed at the Base—Ferrules for
Spear-shafts—African Spear Ferrules—Continental Types—Early
Iron Spear-heads 310

CHAPTER XV.

SHIELDS, BUCKLERS, AND HELMETS.

Shields with numerous raised Bosses—With Concentric Ribs—With
Concentric Rings of Knobs—Shields found in Scotland—In England
and Wales—Wooden Bucklers—The Date of Circular Bucklers—Bronze
Helmets—Their Date 343

CHAPTER XVI.

TRUMPETS AND BELLS.

Trumpets found in Ireland—Trumpets with Lateral Openings—The
Dowris Hoard—Riveted Trumpets—The Caprington Horn—Trumpets
found in England—Bells found in Ireland 357

CHAPTER XVII.

PINS.

Pins with Flat Heads—With Crutched Heads—With Annular
Heads—Those of large Size—With Spheroidal Heads—With Ornamental
Expanded Heads—From Scotland—From Denmark—Their Date difficult
to determine 365

CHAPTER XVIII.

TORQUES, BRACELETS, RINGS, EAR-RINGS, AND PERSONAL ORNAMENTS.

The Gaulish Torque—Gold Torques—Funicular Torques—Ribbon
Torques—Those of the Late Celtic Period—Penannular Torques
and Bracelets—Bracelets engraved with Patterns—Beaded
and Fluted—Looped, with Cup-shaped Ends—Late Celtic
Bracelets—Rings—Rings with others cast on them—Coiled Rings
found with Torques—Finger-rings—Ear-rings—Those of Gold—Beads
of Tin—Of Glass—Rarity of Personal Ornaments in Britain 374

CHAPTER XIX.

CLASPS, BUTTONS, BUCKLES, AND MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS.

Difficulty in Determining the Use of some Objects—Looped
Sockets and Tubes—Possibly Clasps—Perforated Rings forming
a kind of Brooch—Rings used in Harness—Brooches—Late
Celtic—Buttons—Circular Plates and Broad Hoops—Perforated
Discs—Slides for Straps—Jingling Ornaments—Objects of Uncertain
Use—Rod, with Figures of Birds upon it—Figures of Animals 396

CHAPTER XX.

VESSELS, CALDRONS, ETC.

Fictile Vessels—Gold Cup—Bronze Vessels not found in
Barrows—Caldrons found in Scotland—In Ireland—Some of an
Etruscan Form—The Skill exhibited in their Manufacture 407

CHAPTER XXI.

METAL, MOULDS, AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURE.

Composition of Bronze—Lead absent in early Bronze—Sources of
Tin and Copper—Analyses of Bronze Antiquities—Cakes of Copper
and Lumps of Metal—Tin discovered in Hoards of Bronze—Ingots of
Tin—Methods of Casting—Moulds of Stone for Celts, Palstaves,
Daggers, Swords, and Spear-heads—Moulds of Bronze for Palstaves
and Celts—The Harty Hoard—Bronze Mould for Gouges—Moulds
found in other Countries—Moulds formed of Burnt Clay—Jets
or Runners—The Processes for Preparing Bronze Instruments
for Use—Rubbers and Whetstones—Decoration—Hammering out and
Sharpening the Edges 415

CHAPTER XXII.

CHRONOLOGY AND ORIGIN OF BRONZE.

Inferences from number of Types—Division of Period
into Stages—The Evidence of Hoards—Their different
Kinds—Personal, Merchants’, and Founders’—Lists of Principal
Hoards—Inferences from them—The Transition from Bronze to
Iron—Its probable Date—Duration of Bronze Age—Burial Customs
of the Period—Different Views as to the Sources of Bronze
Civilisation—Suggested Provinces of Bronze—The Britannic
Province—Comparison of British and Continental Types—Foreign
Influences in Britain—Its Commercial Relations—Imported
Ornaments—Condition of Britain during the Bronze Age—General
Summary 455

WOODCUT ILLUSTRATIONS.

The references are to the original sources of such cuts as have not been engraved expressly for this book.