136 



GOLD GORGETS OR LUNETTES. 



There is great variety of size, and some of form, in all that 

 I have seen ; some in the British Museum are very small — only 

 three or four inches in diameter. 



It will be seen that the surface ornamentation is produced 

 partly by graving, and partly by punching ; the fainter lines being 

 by the former process. Illustrative engravings of the Padstow 

 lunettes, part of the larger one being of the original size, accom- 

 pany this Paper; and also a 

 wood-cut of a bronze celt found 

 with them.* The weight of 

 the larger is 4 oz. 9 dwts. ; 

 of the smaller, 2 oz. 2 dwts. 

 With them, or on the same 

 spot, was found the celt here 

 figured. This will l^e allowed 

 to be some evidence of the con- 

 temporaneous use of these dif- 

 ferent classes of ol)jects. Taking 

 this into consideration, and 

 also the total want of any re- 

 semblance to Eoman or Saxon 

 workmanship, we may safely 

 presume the lunettes to be of 

 very early, if not of praehistoric 

 date, now commonly called 

 Keltic or British. 



For many years past, local 

 Societies, and museums of lo- 

 cal antiquities, have existed in 

 this and other countries ; and I have taken some pains to ascertain 

 whether any relics, of the character and type of these lunettes, 

 have been found, or recorded to be found, out of the United 

 Kingdom. 



The examples most nearly resembling them have been found 

 in France. If I rightly understand Mr. Birch's references and 



Bronze Celt, found at Harlyn. 



* The engi-avings of these objects were made at the joint expense of 

 Mr. Albert Way and Mr. Smirke, for the i\se of the Aichajological Institute 

 and of the Royal Institution of Coi-nwall. 



