*ray] 626 [Worked Flints. 



PLATE 8. 



FIG. 15. — MODERN REPRODUCTIONS. 



^ Full Size. 



This illustration is from a collection of recent reproductions 

 of the ancient forms of arrow-heads and flint celts. As explained 

 in the text, they are now made to meet the demand for Irish 

 antiquities. This trade may be justified so long as the manu- 

 factured article is sold as a reproduction, and not as a genuine 

 ancient Irish weapon ; but, unfortunately, the ignorance of 

 collectors is such that they are left too often under the impres- 

 sion that the reproduction the}' have secured by purchase is 

 reallv a genuine ancient weapon. 



FIG. l6. — A MANUFACTURER OF REPRODUCTIONS IN FLINT. 



This illustration shows how the modern maker of flint arrow- 

 heads manipulates his material. Very much depends upon the 

 character of the flint selected for manipulation. As the finished 

 article must have an aged look, a fresh unaltered flint would not 

 answer the maker's purpose ; therefore he carefully selects some 

 of the indurated flints that occur where the Chalk is in contact 

 with the Trap ; such flints are discoloured, and may be found of 

 every shade from white to red, and objects made from them 

 have the looked-for " patina " of age. If an ancient flint 

 implement is broken, the " patina " will be found to coat the 

 implement in lines parallel with the surface, but if a reproduc- 

 tion is broken, the colour of the material is the same all through. 

 The modern maker of arrow-heads selects a suitable flake of 

 indurated flint, and holds it in a fold of cloth, his coat-collar or 

 any other cloth, and with a sharp rough splinter of hard trap 

 he presses against the edge of the flint and skilfully removes the 

 material chip by chip, first from one side, then the other, until 

 he forms his outline, and thus with marvellous rapidity he can 

 turn out a scraper or arrow-head of any form or size. 



