THE CELTIC TUMULI OF DORSET. 63 



consist of the two kinds of dagger-blades, differing only in size, the 

 smaller being now generally known as knife-daggers, but formerly 

 as spear-heads. These are often not more than three or four inches 

 in length, and one or one and a-half in breadth, whilst the full 

 sized blades are from six to twelve inches in length, and three or 

 four in breadth ; pointed at one end and with holes at the other for 

 rivets to fasten them to the handle. They are generally ornamented 

 with rows of straight lines or ribs converging from the base to near 

 the point. The knife-daggers are often not so much ornamented, 

 or not at all. They sometimes shew evidence of gilding ; thus Sir 

 K. C. Hoare found with a skeleton in the contracted posture a fine 

 gilt dagger with a wooden scabbard (Woodyates No. 23, N.) ; and in a 

 Tumulus near Maiden Castle, with bones and ashes, two smaller 

 blades were found, the larger of which was "curiously wrought, 

 chased, and had been gilt." (No. 73 S. PL, fig. E., C.T.) Mr. 

 Warne records the finding of a knife-dagger, the haft gone, encased 

 in a sheath of leather. (Dewlish, No. 38 PL, fig. B., C.) The 

 whole number found in the three districts is 16, of which only 

 three or four are of the larger size. The North district produced the 

 greater number, thus assimilating these interments to those about 

 Stonehenge, and it is stated by Mr. E. T. Stevens that " no other 

 Tumuli in England have been so productive of bronze dagger- 

 blades as those of Wiltshire. They occur rather more frequently 

 with unburned bodies than with burned." (Jottings, p. 188). 

 These in Dorset were found with urns in three or four instances ; 

 oftener in cists with burned bones and ashes or with skeletons in the 

 contracted form.* A Tumulus on Kingston Down (C., No. 21) 

 yielded one of the most beautiful dagger-blades that this County or 

 any other has produced (PL fig. A., C.T.) It was found in a 

 perfect condition, the blade riveted to its ivory handle by five 

 rivets, an unusual number. The blade, beautifully patinated with 



* Bateman records the finding of only three specimens with calcined 



bones, and, as a rule, with skeletons lying in a contracted form. (Ten. 



Years' Diggings, p. 163). Greenwell also to the same effect in Yorkshire. 

 (British Barrows). 



