v.l PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY. 157 



The Bronze Age. 



1. The Neolithic Age was followed by a period when 

 bronze was extensively used for arms and implements. 



2. Stone, however, was also in use, especially for 

 certain purposes ; as, for instance, for arrow-heads, and 

 in the form of flakes for cutting. 



3. Some of the bronze axes appear to be mere copies 

 of the earlier stone ones. 



4. Many of the Swiss lake-villages and of the tumuli 

 belong to this period. 



5. This is shown, not merely by the presence of metal, 

 but also by other considerations. 



6. The pottery of the Bronze Age is better than that 

 of the earlier period. 



7. Gold, amber, and glass, were used for ornamental 

 purposes. 



8. Silver, lead, and zinc appear to have been un- 

 known. 



9. This was also the case with iron. 



10. Coins were not in use. 



11. Skins were probably worn, but tissues of flax and 

 wool were also in use. 



12. The ornamentation of the period is characteristic, 

 and consists of geometrical markings. 



13. The handles of the arms, the bracelets, &c., indi- 

 cate a small race. 



14. Writing appears to have been unknown ; 



15. Yet there was a very considerable commerce. 



16. It is more than probable that the knowledge of 

 bronze was introduced into, not discovered in, Europe. 



