Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/13



earliest history of all the Celtic tribes leads us back to a period, when the use of stone and flint for weapons or implements of social economy was universally prevalent: and when, after the lapse doubtless of many centuries, intercourse with other nations had afforded the aborigines of western Europe a knowledge of working in metals, the obvious advantages to be derived from such a change were easily felt, and at once appreciated. The stone hatchet and flint arrowhead must soon have ceased to be used, but in this great change, as in every other which a nation undergoes, the alteration, in one respect, as regards the forms of the weapons, appears to have been gradual. Thus we see in the earliest celts of bronze that the form of their prototypes in stone is strictly followed; and it is not until after a series of changes in shape, which indicate an increase of skill and ingenuity, that we at last reach to what may be regarded as the full developed celt. In arrow-heads the same rule may be distinctly observed.

As proof of this rather curious fact in the history of our Celtic ancestors, the accompanying series of representations of bronze celts (among which I have figured two of the same weapons, one in stone the other in flint) has been formed chiefly from the specimens preserved in the British Museum. If this notice can be of use towards enabling collectors to arrange these relics in what may be termed a natural order, my object in bringing this most interesting class of Celtic antiquities before the notice of archæological enquirers will be fully gained.

That we may more readily trace the gradual development in form, from the bronze celt, shaped like a wedge, to that which is socketed, finely proportioned, and often displaying embossed ornaments, we must endeavour to understand the various methods which would have been adopted for fixing these weapons into handles, as this consideration will I think mainly enable us to pronounce to which of the classes, now proposed, a bronze celt may with propriety be referred.