21-i Transactions. 



leaf-shaped swords, though some archaeologists have suggested their 

 use as spear-heads. This specimen was found at Fairholm, Locker- 

 erbie, and is very similar to one found at Coveney, near Downham 

 Hithe, Cambridgeshire, figured on p. 249 of Dr Evans' work. 



Three fine specimens of rapier blades, all found at Kirk- 

 gunzeon, 8f, 141, and 15 1 inches in length, are in the Thornhill 

 Museum. 



IV. Sword. — The only other weapon of the Bronze Age in the 

 national collection is a portion of a bronze leaf-shaped sword, now 

 only lOi inches in length. It is imperfect at both ends, but the 

 handle end shows two rivet holes in each wing and the side of 

 another in the handle plate at the point of fracture. When perfect 

 this sword would have been about 21 or 22 inches in length. No 

 precise locality is attached to it. 



V. Caldron. — A caldron, formed of thin sheet bronze, found 

 in AVhitehills Moss, Lochmaben, has recently been added to the 

 national collection by purchase. It measures 13| inches in 

 diameter across the mouth, and 15 inches across the widest part at 

 the middle, and is ^\ inches in height. The rim is gone, but its 

 presence is attested by several rivet holes round the mouth of the 

 caldron. 



A caldron of similar form to the one just described, but slightly 

 larger, was found not long since at Kyleokin, Skye, and is figured 

 in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland., Vol. VII., 

 New Series, page 311. 



Another one of somewhat similar form, 25 inches in diameter, 

 and 18 inches in height, which was found in Carlingwark Loch, 

 Kelton, Kirkcudbright, contained a large number of tools, such as 

 hammers, chisels, saws, &c., of iron. It is now in the National 

 Museum, along with its contents. 



These caldrons are assigned to the close of the Bronze or 

 beginning of the early Iron Age. 



As regards the date of the Bronze Age in Britain, archaeologists 

 are agreed in assigning its origin to between 1500 and 1200 years 

 B.C., from which date it continued till about the third or fourth 

 century B.C., when iron appears to have become known. 



