Page:Prehistoric Britain.djvu/148

140 ancient stone implements. They are large, thin blades, made of volcanic rock known as rock-porphyry, irregularly oval or subquadrangular in form, and highly polished on both surfaces, with the entire margin ground to what may be called a cutting edge. Though no two specimens are precisely alike, there is a general, indeed a striking, resemblance between them all; and only in one instance does the rates between their long and short diameters go beyond six to four inches. Summarizing the details of the various discoveries of these implements, I find that 10 were hoards, each containing 4 to 16 specimens—79 in all. The total number at present known may be stated in round numbers at 100, thus accounted for: 62 in National Museum, Edinburgh; 30 in Mr. Cursiter's private collection; and 8 preserved in museums in London and Copenhagen.

Weapons.—Objects classified under the category of weapons, such as daggers, spears, javelins, arrows, etc., being intended to pierce the body of an animal, resemble each other in having a sharp point; but otherwise they only differ in size, material and the manner in which they were used. The penetrating portion was most frequently made of flint, but sometimes short daggers were made of bone or horn.

Arrow-points may be divided into two classes, according as they have, or have not, a tang for insertion into the shaft, the latter