OF THE LAKE OF NEUCHATEL. 591 



Gauls troops exercised in launching tbe javelin by means of the amenttfra, 

 as others launched stones or other projectiles by means of the sling. (Fig. 77.*) 



Figure 77, 



Of the filum no trace has been hitherto found at the Tene, which would tend 

 to prove that this kind of arm was not a Gallic weapon, and that those which 

 have been found intermixed with the Gallic javelins and swords in the trenches 

 of Alise are derived from the Roman legions, as well as the slender lances 

 bearing a cross-bar near the socket, and which are supposed to have been the 

 lances of horsemen. Neither are the iron arrows, so abundant at Alise, found 

 at the Teue.t nor the short swords terminating in a shai-p point, with a median 

 enlargement, like the blades of the age of bronze, and which were designed, doubt- 

 less, like these last, for thrusting. On the other hand, the large lances in form 

 of halberts, which have been above described, are thus far peculiar to the T^ne, 

 and have as yet been nowhere found in the Gauls. What approaches them 

 nearest are certain flame-formed lance-heads of the collection of Alise. 



UTENSILS 



of iron, without being very numerous, are yet deserving of attentive conside- 

 ration. The most frequent are a sort of boat-hooks, (for pushing boats in shal- 

 low places,) which have been sometimes improperly taken for the heads of pikes. 

 They are found at the Tene and at Bied, near Colombier. Most of them have 

 the form represented by Fig. 78 ; some are simply cylindrical. It is not unusual 

 to find in the socket the end of the wooden pole with the nail which secured it. 

 The sickle of this epoch has the form of those of our own time, though 

 rather less curved, while it is much larger than the same implement of the age 

 of bronze, and is without ornament, (Fig- 79.) We also possess two scythes, 

 with the collar for attaching the handle, and the curved heel, (Fig. 80,) a proof 

 that it was adapted for a long handle, and for mowing. The curve is the saxoB 

 with that of our scythes, but the dimensions are a third less, (35 centimetres.) 

 A particular interest attaches to these implements, for, as they are exclusively 

 •intended for mowiug grass,| we are authorized to conclude that their owners 



* M. Vogt, the eminent anthropologist of Geneva, has just communicated to us the ex- 

 istence of a design altogether similar on the great mosaic of Pompeii, now one of the orna- 

 ments of the MusLO llculc of Naples, and which represents one of the battles of Alexander. 

 The javelin is thcreseen with other arms in the foreground of the tablet. The amentum may 

 be distinctly recognized, forming a short, but quite wide, bi-colored loop nearly at the middle 

 of the staff. 



t The absence of all traces of the arrow would seem to indicate that the people from wLom 

 these remains are derived made no use of the bow. M. F. Keller remarks, with reference to 

 this fact, that the bow is not mentioned by Diodorus among the arms of the Gauls. It was 

 probably replaced by the javelin. 



t It is only in modern times that the scythe has begun to be made use of for reaping grain. 



