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Proceedings of the Royal Irhk Academj/. 



an intentional addition of increasing quantities, would require a series of 

 analyses of bronze celts. 



But judging from the widespread use of copper implements in Ireland 

 (as shown from the number and distribution of the counties in which they 

 have been found), from which it may be inferred that copper remained in use 

 for a considerable time, and the uniform absence from them of added tin 

 (notwithstanding development of type), it seems more probable that bronze 

 was introduced as an alloy of a known proportion of tin, without having 

 gone through any tentative stage in Ireland of experiment with increasing 

 quantities of added tin. 



Fig. 7. (J.) 



Moreover, in the case of the halberds, the great rarity of any specimens of 

 bronze blades wliich can be classified as halberds indicates that that form of 

 implement practically ceased to be used when bronze came into use in 

 Ireland. Certain features of the copper celts indicate a gradual transition 

 from stone to metal. It seems therefore reasonable that we should look 

 perhaps for the prototypes of the copper halberd among the stone imple- 

 ments of the preceding period. The evidence is not as satisfactory on this 

 point as in the case of the celts. 



In the Bann valley many flint wedges or picks have been found. They 

 have been found elsewhere in the northern counties, and, rarely, in 

 other stone ; but are generally known as Bann implements. They are 

 usually some six to eight inches long, stout in body, more or less sub- 

 triangular in section, and worked to a blunt point or to a sort of chisel- 



