EARLY MAN 



An axe-hammer found at Low House, Milnrow, 1 might be cited as a 

 further illustration of this class, though smaller, smoother, and generally of 

 more finished appearance. It is 6| in. long, and broad in proportion to its 

 length. 



Another rough implement, from Tatham, is shown in Plate III. No. 3. 

 It was found at Green Hill Farm, 10 miles east of Lancaster. It is Sin. 

 in length and 4 in. in width, with a depth of about 2 J in. The perforation 

 is large and placed well back. The material is ' grey trap.' A feature of 

 some special interest in connexion with this object is the appearance of the 

 surface, which suggests that the stone was naturally formed and had been 

 dressed down only on one side to this shape and pierced with a handle 

 hole. A somewhat similar implement is recorded also from Lindale 

 (over Sands). 



In the examples previously considered there is an absence of definite 

 attempt to fashion the implement 

 to a standard pattern ; rather it 

 appears from the sections figured 

 that the form of the natural stone 

 in those cases determined the 

 ultimate shape. The county, 

 however, provides a good series 

 of axe-hammers of a special form, 

 which is distinguished by the 

 widening of the implement, in 

 section, towards the offensive 

 edge, giving to its contour a 

 curve outwards rather than in- 

 wards in that direction. A 

 typical example was found in 

 1855 at Mellor, a small village 

 lying some 3 miles westward of 

 Blackburn. A photo of this specimen may be seen on Plate III. No. 2. It is 

 just over 8 in. in length and 3 in. in breadth. Its depth varies from 2 in. 

 at the narrowest part, about the hole, to 3! in. near the edge. The head is 

 broad and flat and the perforation is placed at about 5 of the length from 

 that end. The material is an igneous rock from the north. 



Several implements not proportionately so broad resemble the Lancaster 

 and Tatham hammers as regards their section and general appearance. That 

 found at Heaton Chapel, 5 miles south-east of Manchester, now preserved in 

 the museum of that city, is a good example. It is about yj in. long by 3! in. 

 wide and 3 in. deep. The material is familiar fine gritstone. The surface 

 from patination has almost the appearance of being original and undressed, 

 but the sides incurve uniformly towards the edge and the head is fairly 

 hammer-like. Its general features are indicated in the diagram, fig. 9. 



A great stone-hammer in the museum at Preston, of similar general 

 character, is described as having been found at Longridge, a village 7 miles 

 north-east of that town. Its length is ioi in., width 4 in., and depth 

 3! in. ; and its weight 5 Ib. i oz. The hole is small, the head rough 



1 Roch. L. and Sc. Soc, vol. vi. 

 223 



FIG. 8. AXE-HAMMER FROM THE LUNE, NEAR LAN- 

 CASTER. Scale, 1:3. (Chadwick Museum, Bolton.) 



