Page:VCH Lancaster 1.djvu/293

 EARLY MAN ness of the blade is about half an inch, and over the flanges one inch. See Plate IV. No. 5. This implement is said to have been found with a small bronze ring (Plate IV. No. 4) at Win- wick, which is the site of other dis- coveries associated with the interments in Highfield Lane and elsewhere. A very similar implement ^ seems to come from Martin Mere, west of South- port. It is somewhat timeworn, but seems to have measured about 4J in., the blade being 2j in. long. The width of the edge is If in., and of the haft and blade ij in. The thickness at the ridge was about i in. The museum at Bolton contains one of the best palstaves of the county, found in 1 8 10 in Charters Moss at Turton, four feet below the turf. It bears the definite trace of ornamentation upon its face, as shown in the photograph on Plate IV. No. 3. In other respects it is simple in design. The edge is widened by the broadening of the blade itself, being 2| in. across at its widest point, and the blade I in. at the ridge. From ridge to edge measures nearly 4 in. The groove and flanges are well defined. A palstave described ^ as found at Ainsworth near Bolton on Cockey Moor has special features. A loop is provided at the side near the ridge for fixing the implement to the handle by a loose thong for security in case the hafting should give way. The cutting edge outcurves, measuring 2J in. from tip to tip. The implement is nearly 6 in. in length. Down the middle of the face runs a low rib, which gives way on each side to a lower facet or panel which constitutes the chief decoration, as shown in fig. 14. A second palstave from Martin Mere^ is shown in the annexed sketch, fig. 15, because of a special feature. Unlike those previously described, the grooves for fitting the handle are placed in the plane of the cutting edge, that is to say at the sides, as shown in the figure. The object is also unusual in shape. It is 5 in. in length, the blade being 2I in. The width is I in. over the flanges and | in. on the blade, which is of prolonged form, widening suddenly to the edge, where it measures il in. across. The thickness uniformly decreases from I in. at the end and l in. at the top of the blade to the edge, which is sharp. 1 Now in possession of Mr. H. Taylor. * Lane, and Ches. Ant. Soc. xii. 209. 231 Fig. 14. — Palstave found at Ainsworth. (From a Drawing.) i : 2. Fig. 15. — Palstave from Martin Mere, i : 2.