58 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 17Q6. 



stood, as enrly as copper was known. But steel was got anciently from those ores 

 only which yield it in a malleable state ; as it is probably obtained at this day in 

 India, and called wootz ; and as it is also obtained in the northern Circars, and 

 likewise by the Hottentots. As steel was the only state of iron anciently manufac- 

 tured, it was too scarce, and much too dear for general use; and hence the exten- 

 sive use of allays of copper by tin, the best substitutes for the malleable state of iron 

 and steel. 



SECTION II. OP THE STEEL ARMS. 



§ 1. A few miscellaneous observations. — Of the ancient steel or iron arms and 

 utensils in Sir Jos. Banks's collection, 4 articles only were selected for examination. 

 One of these was the steel sword within the copper scabbard, described in sect. 1, 

 $1,4. and represented by fig. 4. 



1. A sword, fig. 8. Of a number of these weapons in the collection, this was 

 the smallest. The great difference in their size and weight, it is observed, was 

 probably intended to give every man, according to his strength and mode of fight- 

 ing, an opportunity of suiting himself. The figure of the blade is particular, and 

 seems very well contrived. The hollow in the middle of each side does not extend 

 more than -f-ds from the guard to the point ; and terminates in a ridge, which must 

 give great support and strength to the cutting part The pommel and guard had 

 been tinned, and part of the tin coating still remains on them. This weapon there- 

 fore affords a specimen of the mode of tinning iron practised by the ancients. The 

 blade seems to have been varnished by black matter, which remains very brilliant 

 and smooth. On one side is the inscription + benvenutus +, and on the other 

 + me pecit -f-, perfectly legible. From the crosses, we may conclude that the 

 maker was a Christian ; and from the name, that he was an Italian. The writing 

 is in mixed characters, but it is probable that the artist exercised his trade of a 

 sword cutler in the northern parts of Europe. We cannot however determine 

 whether it be Danish, or Saxon. It was found in the river Witham, with a large 

 quantity of other arms, in the neighbourhood of the scite of Bardney Abbey ; and 

 was brought up by an eel-spear, by a man who was fishing in that river, near Kirk- 

 sted Wath, in 1788. 



2. An axe. Its form is evident from the fig. 9. It was snipt a good deal, and 

 several holes were worn in the middle, otherwise it was in a state of good preserva- 

 tion. It was found, with other axes, chopping instruments, and carpenters' tools, 

 in the river Witham, in 1787 and 1788. This axe perfectly resembles that carried 

 by the lictors in their fasces, in basso-relievos. Its form induces one to suppose, or 

 indeed to believe, that it was made for parade rather than use; its edge being very 

 thin, and immediately above it the blade being thicker; but behind the thick part, 

 exactly where the strength of an axe ought to be placed, it is thinner than in any 

 other part. It was therefore not well calculated for chopping. The weight of this 

 axe was somewhat more than 1^- lb. Its length from eye to edge was 7 inches, and 

 the breadth was about 6 inches. 



3. A dagger; its form is represented by fig. 11. It was made with great inge- 



