A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



is much chipped, while the after part, though originally rounded, shows 

 also from the wear of its surface that it had been used as a hammer. 1 



A third specimen was found near Lancaster, and is more nearly of the 

 design of that first described from Bowland, being 9! in. in length, and 

 divided very unequally by the perforation. Though chipped at each end, 

 it was designed as a single axe with one end rounded, and the surface hollows 

 slightly towards the hole. It is 3^ in. wide, and 2 J in. deep at the cutting 

 edge, which does not expand as in the former cases. The hole is placed 

 at of the length from the rounded end. 1 



The fourth specimen, fig. 7, is from further to the south, near the 

 Ribble valley, having been found at Wilpshire near Blackburn. It somewhat 

 resembles in form the axe-hammer, described in the next section, which 

 was found in the Lune near Lancaster (fig. 8). It has the same curious pro- 

 jections to the already great width, and the same lack of special character 

 in the section. The edge, however, is better marked, while the opposite 



end, instead of being flat for 

 use as a hammer, is rounded 

 and well preserved. The per- 

 foration is near the centre and 

 varies from 2 J in. to I J in. in 

 diameter. 



(c) Axe-hammers of stone. 

 The distinction drawn be- 

 tween axes rounded at one end 

 and axes flattened at one end 

 is one of original form rather 

 than of usage. The former, it 

 has been seen, though not so 

 conveniently shaped for the 

 purpose, were commonly used 

 as hammers. The latter class, 

 which it remains to describe, 

 is more numerously represented 

 in Lancashire than any other variety of implement. 



The rough and larger stone hammer characteristic of the northern 

 counties is frequent in Lancashire, particularly in the northern part of the 

 county. Other large axes are noticeably shaped with broadened cutting edge. 

 Others again have peculiar flanges and projections ; while not uncommonly there 

 occur the small smooth hammers often associated with bronze or metal tools. 

 The implements from Lancaster and Tatham are excellent examples of 

 the rough axe-hammer of the north. The Lancaster specimen, found in 

 the bed of the Lune, is 9 J in. long, with a width of 4| in. and depth of 

 2| in. The material is a fine gritstone. The edge, as seen in the diagram, 

 fig. 8, is very much dulled, and the flat hammer end also shows signs of 

 use. A photograph is shown on Plate III. No. 4. 



A similar implement seems to have been found at Barnacre near 

 Lancaster ' by a farmer while ploughing at Carter Houses. It must have 

 been originally about 12 in. in length, and weighs 61b." 



FIG. 7. STONE AXE FOUND AT WILPSHIRE 

 BLACKBURN. 



1 Weld MSS. 



3 Trans. Lane, and Ches. Antiq. Soc. 

 222 



