Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/351

 BRONZE CELTS, AND CELT-MOULDS OF STONE AND BRONZE. SECOND NOTICE. In resuming our enquiry regarding those ancient weapons termed celts, I am enal)le(l to present to the archaeologist ex- amples of some interesting and peculiar varieties in their form as Avell as ornamentation*. I have also to propose another class of celts, intermediate between those with the stop-ridge, and those which in connection with this feature have an ear or loop : thus the third class of celts, as fomierly proposed, becoiues the fourth. I alhide to one of a singular shape frequently to be met with in Irish collections, see pi. 2, figs. 1, 2, 3. These weapons, from the elegance and peculiarity of their form, should be placed in a group by themselves, between the celts of the second and third class, because they would weaken the handle less than those of the former, and yet be less secm-e when hafted than those of the latter. Theii' characteristics may be described as follows, — Blade and wedge for insertion equally thick ; at the ter- mination of the blade a boss or stop, on the upper and under sm-facc ; wedge for insertion much longer than the blade, and spike-shaped. A method for hafting this weapon is shewn, pi. 2, fig. 4. Before I notice the bronze celts, I wish to dii-ect attention to one of stone preserved in the museum of the Royal Irish Academy, })1. 1, fig. 1, which in form very closely resembles the simple wedge-shaped bronze implement. So remarkable is this similarity, that it is possible to suppose this class of weapon to be the last link between the rude wedge-shaped stone celt, and that of bronze ; or, in it we may perceive an attempt to revert "to the old material, improving the form after that of the earliest metal inn)lement. The accompanying series of ornamented bronze celts of the normal type are highly interesting, as they exhibit four featm'cs in weapons of this class, which are worthy of notice, and are not commonly found associated; pi. 1, figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 0. ^ See p. 1 of tliis volume.