BRONZE SWORDS. 31 



metal and wood were made to fit into one another (figs. 5 

 and 8). This second form of celt is known as a Paalstab, or 

 Paalstave, and has often a small loop on one side (the sup- 

 posed use of which is indicated in the figure), as well as a 

 wing on each side. A still further improvement consisted 

 (figs. 6, 9, 16) in reversing the position of the metal and the 

 handle, making the axe hollow at one end, and so passing the 

 handle into it. 



Bronze celts are generally plain, but sometimes ornamented 

 with ridges, dots, or lines, as in figs. 6, 9, 13, 15, and 16. 

 That they were made in the countries where they are found 

 is proved by the presence of moulds (fig. 12). It is difficult 

 to understand why the celt-makers never cast their axes as 

 we do ours, with a transverse hole, through which the handle 

 might pass. ISTo bronze implement of this description has, 

 however, so far as I know, been yet found in Great Britain, 

 though a few have occurred in Denmark, where they are of 

 great beauty and highly decorated. 



The swords of the Bronze Age (figs. 22 29*) are always 

 more or less leaf-like in shape, double-edged, sharp -pointed, 

 and intended for stabbing and thrusting rather than for 

 cutting. This is evident, not only from the general shape, 

 but also from the condition of the edges. They never have any 

 hand-guards: the handles are sometimes solid (figs. 25 31) ; 

 this is generally the case with those found in Denmark : 

 sometimes (figs. 22 24) flat, thin, and evidently intended to 

 be plated with wood or bone: while sometimes the sword 

 expands at its base, and is fastened to a handle by from two 

 to four rivets. Swords of this class are generally shorter 

 than the others, and indeed we find every intermediate form 

 between the true sword and the dagger (figs. 32, 33, 34) : 

 of the two classes together, the Dublin Museum contains 



* In Fig. 21 an ancient iron sword is represented, in order to show the 

 difference in form. 



