Coffey — Irish Copper Halberds. 113 



Age gold objects of characteristically Irish type (lunulte) were exported to 

 the Continent, indicating to some extent a return wave of influence. 



The lower of these dates is no doubt too late for the beginning of the 

 period ; but if some part of the latter half of the Irish Copper Period is accepted 

 as corresponding with the period of the bronze halberds from Stendal, which, 

 from the tubular shaft-ends found with them, cannot be very far removed 

 in time from the halberds with metal shafts of ISTorth Germany and Scan- 

 dinavia, 1700 B.C. does not seem to be too late for the overlap of time 

 during which copper was still in use in Ireland. 



I am aware that some authorities do not estimate the northern Bronze 

 Age at so early a date. But we must recollect that the whole of the Irish Bronze 

 Age has to be fitted in after the Copper ; and I do not see that the date can be 

 much reduced if we are to allow room for the several periods of the Bronze 

 Age and their approximate correspondence to the periods of the Continental 

 chronology. 



Professor Gowland states, in regard to the Birr find (which he reproduces), 

 as also some other celts figured in my paper, that these celts " are undoubtedly 

 bronze forms." The remark no doubt applies to his general argument against 

 a " Copper Age " as a distinct period of culture in Europe, instead of a 

 stage of transition^ — a view which I fancy few people now hold. The use of 

 "Age" I have always purposely avoided for that reason, and from the 

 beginning the Sirets and Montelius have referred to copper implements as a 

 transition. Whilst in general agreement with Professor Gowland, I cannot, 

 however, quite go with him as regards these celts. They seem to me to be 

 still within the copper series between stone and bronze. The side flanges to 

 which he refers can, I have stated in my paper, " hardly be called flanges, but 

 are only a slight upsetting of the sides, afterwards rubbed flat, and usually 

 noticeable on one face only," though they may be taken, perhaps, as indications 

 on the way to flanges. The breadth of the butt-ends is a copper-form ; and, 

 more important, the greatest thickness in section has not moved up to the 

 middle of the celt, but is still found towards the cutting edge. This last 

 feature— a survival from the stone type — I have never noticed in a bronze celt. 

 The further statement that riveting was not invented till late in the Bronze 

 Age, appears to want some qualification as regards "late." The copper 

 halberds were, it is to be presumed, cast in closed moulds. Some of the celts 

 appear to have been cast in closed moulds also, casting in which would be 

 facilitated by the impurities in the copper, as Professor Gowland himself 



1 " Copper and its Alloys." Jouin. Arch. Inst., vol. xxxvi., 190G, p. 24. 

 R. I. A. PEOC, VOL. XXVII., SECT, C. [17] 



