EARLY MAN 



ness of the blade is about half an inch, and over the flanges one inch. See 

 Plate IV. No. 5. This implement is said to have been found with a small 

 bronze ring (Plate IV. No. 4) at Win- 

 wick, which is the site of other dis- 

 coveries associated with the interments in 

 Highfield Lane and elsewhere. 



A very similar implement ^ seems to 

 come from Martin Mere, west of South- 

 port. It is somewhat timeworn, but seems 

 to have measured about 4J in., the blade 

 being 2j in. long. The width of the edge 

 is If in., and of the haft and blade ij in. 

 The thickness at the ridge was about i in. 

 The museum at Bolton contains one 

 of the best palstaves of the county, found 

 in 1 8 10 in Charters Moss at Turton, four 

 feet below the turf. It bears the definite 

 trace of ornamentation upon its face, as 

 shown in the photograph on Plate IV. 

 No. 3. In other respects it is simple in 

 design. The edge is widened by the 

 broadening of the blade itself, being 2| in. 

 across at its widest point, and the blade 

 I in. at the ridge. From ridge to edge 

 measures nearly 4 in. The groove and 

 flanges are well defined. 



A palstave described ^ as found at 

 Ainsworth near Bolton on Cockey Moor has special features. A loop is 

 provided at the side near the ridge for fixing the implement to the handle 

 by a loose thong for security in case the hafting should give way. The 

 cutting edge outcurves, measuring 2J in. from tip to tip. The implement 

 is nearly 6 in. in length. Down the middle of the face runs a low rib, 



which gives way on each side to a lower facet or 

 panel which constitutes the chief decoration, as shown 

 in fig. 14. 



A second palstave from Martin Mere^ is shown 

 in the annexed sketch, fig. 15, because of a special 

 feature. Unlike those previously described, the 

 grooves for fitting the handle are placed in the plane 

 of the cutting edge, that is to say at the sides, as shown 

 in the figure. The object is also unusual in shape. It 

 is 5 in. in length, the blade being 2I in. The width 

 is I in. over the flanges and | in. on the blade, which 

 is of prolonged form, widening suddenly to the edge, 

 where it measures il in. across. The thickness 

 uniformly decreases from I in. at the end and l in. 

 at the top of the blade to the edge, which is 

 sharp. 



1 Now in possession of Mr. H. Taylor. * Lane, and Ches. Ant. Soc. xii. 209. 



231 



Fig. 14. — Palstave found at Ainsworth. 

 (From a Drawing.) i : 2. 



Fig. 15. — Palstave from 

 Martin Mere, i : 2. 



