EARLY MAN 



A hoard found at High Roding, exhibited at the British Museum, 

 consists of twelve socketed celts and eight lumps of metal for fusing. 

 In the same collection is part of a hoard from Chrishall containing some 

 socketed celts, a broken sword blade, a spearhead, etc. 



At Arkesden many weapons were found, also masses of metal and a 

 mould used in casting a socketed celt. 1 



A small hoard from Romford is in the Saffron Walden Museum. 

 Hoards of bronze have also been found at Baddow, Elmdon, Danbury, 

 Grays, Fyfield, Thundersley and Wendon. Fifty or more celts were 

 discovered together in a cleared portion of Hainault Forest near Hog 

 Hill. 



Thanks mainly to the works of Sir John Evans, the evolution of 

 the bronze celt is generally known. The earliest type is that of the flat 

 celt, a copy in metal of the most advanced axe of the stone age. 



The second or palstave type has wings at the side, and is usually 

 provided with a stop-ridge to regulate the position of the weapon in its 

 handle, while some are also provided with a loop at the side for attach- 

 ment (figs. 19, 20, 21). Occasionally, though rarely, a loop is on each 

 side. 



The third and latest development has a hollow socket for insertion 

 of the haft and a loop for attachment (figs. 22, 23). 



In decoration of their celts the workers in bronze occasionally dis- 

 played considerable art, but for illustrations of this fact and for minor 

 developments and variations of form we must refer our readers to Sir 

 John Evans' Ancient Bronze Implements, wherein the subject is so fully 

 and lucidly treated. 



In addition to those already mentioned, celts are recorded from 

 Barking, Brentwood, Chelmsford (3), Felstead (3), Navestock, Panfield 

 (5), Rayne (with spearheads) and Shoebury. 



A sword about 2 feet in length discovered in the river Lea has 

 rivet-holes for attachment to the haft, and is in the British Museum 

 collection, together with a dagger from Bow Bridge and a knife from 

 Walthamstow. 



Barking yielded a leaf-shaped sword 1 8 inches long with four 

 rivet-holes, and at Grays Thurrock there was found a bayonet-shaped 

 blade 15^ inches long and i inch broad 



In the British Museum is a bronze spearhead from Plaistow Marshes 

 curiously barbed and riveted (fig. 24). At Walthamstow, in addition 

 to the specimen shown (fig. 25), a leaf-shaped spearhead was discovered 

 having a broad socket extending only an inch below the blade. A 

 spearhead is also recorded from Hull bridge in the parish of Hockley. 



In the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology is a spear or dagger- 

 head of uncommon form, found at Saffron Walden. It is perfectly flat, 



1 The late Joseph Clarke, F.S.A., added an illustrated account of the Arkesden finds to his paper, 

 entitled, 'Notes on Objects in the Mayer Collection (Liverpool) relating to Essex' (1891). This 

 hoard unfortunately got scattered ; a portion is in the Saffron Walden Museum and three of its celts are 

 in Mr. Edward Taylor's collection, but we are unable to discover the whereabouts of the mould and 

 many other articles. 



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