EARLY MAN 



again links the varieties of axes, in that it seems to have been used to some 

 extent as an axe-hammer, though not fashioned for that purpose. 



A smaller implement of similar form was found in the old bed of the 

 Roch [formerly Roach} stream, near Oakenrod, Rochdale, and is thus described 

 by its former owner : ' It is 4 in. long, and the hole for the handle is unusually 

 large, being nearly an inch in diameter. The clearly-marked ridge which 

 runs on two sides of the stone would seem to indicate that the implement 

 was made in imitation of a cast metal one.' l The surmise is more than 

 possible. The smoothed perforated implements of stone are for the most part 

 indubitably of the Bronze Age ; indeed Sir John Evans shows good reason to 

 believe that perforated stone implements in general belong to a time subse- 

 quent to the introduction of metal-working. 



A third example also from near Manchester, shown in fig. 6, is 

 typical of this class. It was found near Turkey Lane, Queen's Park, 

 Harpurhey, 3 ft. from the surface, in clay. It is of gritstone, described as 

 'grained sandstone, with decomposition on the surface.' Its length is 6f in., 

 width 2| in., and greatest height 3 in. The top surface is gently hollowed 

 towards the socket hole ; and the lower side is partly chipped and broken 

 away. At the one end the 

 sides curve rapidly to the 

 sharpened edge, while the 

 other end preserves its ori- 

 ginal curved form unbroken. 

 It is a good specimen. The 

 annexed diagram is due to 

 the courtesy of the curator 

 of the Queen's Park Mu- 

 seum at Manchester, where 

 the object is preserved. 



To this class must be 

 referred also a series of implements of larger and rougher character, all of 

 them from North Lancashire. The record of them" is fairly clear, and 

 in some cases the implements themselves have been preserved. From 

 Bowland is a specimen loj in. long, with a width and depth respectively 

 of 3in. The perforation varies from i|.in. to ijin. in diameter, and is 

 placed far back from the sharp edge, dividing the implement at J to 

 | of its length. The edge is very chipped and the opposite end preserves a 

 well-rounded form. The object is heavy and massive in appearance ; it was 

 obviously designed as a single axe and was used as such. It was found, it 

 is related, in 1860, in draining near Cow Ark in Bowland, 'a short distance 

 from the Roman Road.' 



A second specimen is from Claughton. It was found near the surface 

 of the ground in a field near the Hall, where it now remains. It is of a 

 more solid and smaller design than the last. Its length is j\ in., with a 

 width, however, of 4 in. and height of about 3^ in. The hole, which is 

 more centrally placed, is unusually large, varying from i j in., in the middle, 

 to ^\ in. in diameter. As in the previous instance, the broad cutting edge 



1 Fishwick, op. cit. p. 1 3, with figure. The object is now in the Rochdale Museum. 

 a Weld MSS. 



FIG. 6. SECTION OF STONE AXE FROM HARPURHEY, MANCHESTER. 

 Scale, I : 2 linear. (Queen's Park Museum, Manchester.) 



