Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/389

Rh knives, as well as numerous lumps of bronze or copper. The knives, two in number, consisted of an example of the rare kind of skinning-implement found in the Home Wood Farm hoard just described, and a specimen of a socketed knife with a single rivet hole and lacking the point. There was one other object found which is worthy of mention, namely a pierced disc with short tube, resembling that found in the Isle of Harty hoard and figured by Sir John Evans in his well-known work on bronze implements, etc.

. This important hoard has been well described by Sir John Evans as 'the stock-in-trade of an ancient bronze founder.' It contained celt moulds and the celts made in them, a gouge-mould, gouges, hammers, knives, etc., but the great importance of the discovery arises from the valuable information it gives as to the methods adopted in casting bronze rather than in the number or character of the particular objects of which the hoard consisted. The largest mould was made in two pieces, each of which was furnished on the outside with projecting pins. The purpose of these pins was to hold in position the cords by which the two halves of the mould were bound during the process of casting. Five celts produced in this mould were found in the hoard, yet no two were actually alike, and from a careful study of the different specimens it appears that the system of casting adopted was as follows:—

First, the mould was tied together in proper position, and loam or clay was rammed into it so as to tightly fill the upper part. Secondly, the mould was taken apart, and the clay removed and probably left to become nearly dry. Thirdly, the lower part of the clay was then trimmed to form the core, a shoulder being left which would form the mould for the top of the celt. The upper part of the clay would be left untouched, beyond having two channels cut in it to allow of the passage of the melted metal. Fourthly, the mould would be tied together again with the prepared core inside, the untrimmed part of which would form a guide for its due position in the mould. Fifthly, the mould would then be placed vertically, probably by being stuck into sand, and the melted metal would be poured down the channels. Another explanation of the slight variations in the sharpness of the mouldings is as follows. In order to prevent the molten bronze from adhering to the bronze mould, the latter must have been smeared over with something by way of protection, so as to form a thin film between the metal of the mould and that of the casting. It is probable that the ancient bronze founders used a thin coat of marl to prevent contact of the metals, and the variations in the thickness of the protecting film have been reproduced in the form of the implement.

The Isle of Harty hoard contained some other implements, two pieces of copper, and a whetstone, and is in every way important as showing what were the tools and methods of a primitive bronze founder.

. A letter from Dr. J. Young to Dr. Thorpe, dated 9 November, 1708, describes the discovery near Leeds Castle of about sixteen 'boltheads such as the Romans used to shoot from ye catupultæ.' Several of these were sold to a brazier, but two apparently were sent to the Royal Society for exhibition. It is probable that this was a hoard of bronze celts or palstaves, but from the imperfect record given in the letter it is impossible to say more. The original letter is preserved among the manuscripts belonging to the Society of Antiquaries of London (No. 202, fol. 162).

. In some ways this is the most remarkable of the Bronze Age hoards of Kent. This part of the Wealden area is hardly one where such a deposit might be expected, yet it should be borne in mind that a metallic hoard of this early period was essentially a secret deposit, and it is conceivable that its presence here does not necessarily imply that the district was much frequented during the period to which the hoard is ascribed. There is some reason to think, however, that the deposit may be ascribed to a late period in the Bronze Age, from the fact that a tool probably of Late Celtic character was found in it. The hoard was contained in an earthen vessel, and the objects of which it was composed were mostly broken. One of the articles found was a bronze sickle.

. This hoard was found in or about the year 1873 during the progress of the works connected with the construction of the Hythe and the Sandgate Railway. It consisted of a part of a lance- or spear-head, with an interesting series of ring ornaments engraved on the blade, the chape of a sword of 323