Coffey — Spear-heads of the Bronze Age found in Ireland. 5 01 



I 



There is another form of leaf-shaped spear-head also without rivet- 

 holes which may he transitional, and will be conveniently considered 

 here. Evans figures a unique specimen of the looped class found in 

 the Thames (fig. 399) in which the usual form of the blade appears to 

 be modified by the influence of the leaf-shaped pattern. It preserves 

 the straight lines of earlier type, but the shoulders of the blade are 

 modified after the model of the leaf-shaped type. The 

 raised ribs of the looped form remain, but follow the 

 modified outline of the blade. Another unique example 

 figured by Wilde (fig. 363) shows the modification of 

 the straight-edged type by that of the leaf-shaped, the 

 shoulders of the former being still traceable in the 

 breadth of the blade at the base. The tmusual position 

 of the loops shows that the tradition 

 of the original type is broken, and the 

 form, as yet, xmcertain. This type of 

 blade naturally lends itself to the incor- 

 poration of the loops in the blade. (See 

 general series, figures 24, 27, and 28.) 



The loops being once placed within 

 the blade, the transition may be consi- 

 dered as completed, and finish of work- 

 manship will lead to g. more balanced 

 disposition of the apertures being found 

 somewhat higher on the socket, and to 

 the greater attention being given to the 

 form and finish of the apertures, lead- 

 ing in one direction to segmental open- 

 ings (figs. 29 and 30) • in another to 

 small apertures with side projections, 

 the survivals of the original lozenge 

 form of the loops (figs. 31 and 32). 



The projections at the sides of the 

 apertures in the latter form have given 

 rise to some speculation. The most 

 reasonable explanation would appear to be that they represent the 

 fiattened lozenge-like projection of the loops of the original fomi, 

 and served to protect the cord of attachment from abrasion. The 

 projections would raise any resisting material through which the spear 

 was thrust over the cord where it passed through the apertures in the 

 blade, and protect it from wear at the most exposed points. 



M 



3I-— (W. 249). 13J inches. 



32. — Co-na-Mockler, Kildare 



(W.F. W.) 22J inches. 



