BRONZE SWORDS. 



17 



ridges, dots, or lines, as in figs. 3, 6, 8, 11, and 12. That they 

 were made in the countries where they are found, is proved 

 by the presence of moulds (fig. 8). It is difficult to under- 

 stand why the celt-makers never cast their axes as we do 



FIG. 19. 



FIG. 20. 



FIG. 21. 



FIG. 22. 



FIG. 23. 



Sword-handles from Denmark. 



ours, with a transverse hole, 

 through which the handle 

 might pass. No bronze im- 

 plement of this description 

 has, however, so far as I 

 know, been yet found in 

 Great Britain, though a few 

 have occurred in Denmark, 

 where they are of great 

 beauty and - highly deco- 

 rated. 



The swords of the Bronze 

 age (figs. 14-23),* are always more 

 or less leaf -like in shape, double- 

 edged, sharp-pointed, and intended 

 for stabbing and thrusting, rather 

 than for cutting. This is evident, 

 not only from the general shape, but also from the condition 



Swords from Denmark. 



* In fig. 13 an ancient iron sword is represented, in order to show the difference 

 in form. 



