LOCAL ARCHZOLOGICAL NOTES. I2I 
but rather clumsily made, is seven inches long, and 23 inches 
broad at the cutting edge. The others are either broken on 
the cutting edge or at the opposite end. One specimen 
is simply the lower half of the axe, whilst in another the 
cutting edge is entirely broken away. Though the axes differ 
somewhat in shape, and were consequently cast in different 
moulds, they resemble each other in the size and shape of 
the ‘‘ wings” as well as in other particulars. 
As will be seen from the specimen figured on the 
accompanying plate, the ‘‘wings” are very broad, and 
lozenge-shaped. One artistically made celt has a loop to 
enable it to be secured to the handle with a thong; the others 
are without this provision for secure hafting. 
The most important object found amongst the Hotham 
hoard is the bronze mould, and it is interesting to find that 
two of the axe heads have been cast in the mould.* One is 
the specimen with the cutting edge broken off, already referred 
to, and the other is the one figured. Examples of stone 
moulds have at times been found in Britain, but it rarely 
happens that bronze moulds are discovered in this country. 
They are occasionally met with on the Continent. } 
The mould is 74 inches long, nearly 2 inches broad in the 
centre (when the valves are placed together), and 23 inches 
wide in its widest part. The two parts fit together with 
much precision, which is strong evidence of the high degree 
of efficiency in bronze casting attained by the Britons. On 
the outside the mould is slightly ornamented by ridges, but, 
as near as possible, the mould is the shape of the axe, being 
not unnecessarily thick in any part. 
One valve of the mould has five projections (two on each 
side and one at the bottom), the other half having correspond- 
ing holes into which the projections fit. In every detail the 
mould is well and carefully made. 
A reference to the drawings (Plate VIII.) will perhaps 
give a better idea of the various articles contained in the 
hoard than any description that can be given. 
* The complete specimen does not fit precisely into the mould, but 
this is due to the fact that the cutting edge has been hammered out 
after casting, thus making the edge larger and sharper. 
+ Canon Greenwell possesses one, for palstaves, from near Amiens, 
in France, and there is another French one in the Pitt-Rivers collection. 
Dr. R. Munro, in his ‘“‘ Lake Dwellings of Europe’’ (1890), figures two 
bronze moulds, for socketed celts, one (fig. 9, No. 22, on page 43), trom 
Auviernier ; another (fig. 17, No. 8, on page 84), from the Lake of Geneva. 
Both specimens were found in Lake Dwellings. 
