EARLY MAN 



the celts (Nos. 8-i 

 box at Winmarleigh, 



o), is 

 near 



Fig. 24. — Spear-head Looped in 



Blade from Piethorne, near 



Rochdale, i : z. 



The dagger described above (No. 11), with 

 reported verbally to have been found 'in a 

 Garstang,' v^^hence they were secured. It seems 

 very possible that they form part of the same 

 deposit, and that the latter were retained by 

 those who handed over the former. Otherwise 

 the latter were a distinct deposit, and the tradi- 

 tion of the other discovery clings to them. 

 However that may be, they form from one site 

 a group of implements and weapons of excel- 

 lent quality and exceptional interest, including 

 one of the best spear-heads of the country, a 

 second which is smaller, a dagger, and eight 

 socketed celts, of which seven are ornamented 

 with ribs. The group is shown in Plate V. 



5. Bronze Implements from North of 

 THE Sands 



Several small hoards of bronze implements 

 are recorded from this district. At Kirkhead, 

 near AUithwaite, in the floor of Kirkhead Cave, 

 which has yielded implements of the preceding 

 ages also, were found with some pieces of rude 

 pottery, a fluted earthenware bead, three bronze rings, a bronze pin 

 ' enamelled,' a piece of a fibula, a bronze palstave and spear-head, a large 

 bronze celt ; also a flake of flint, a bone amulet (carved from the head of a 

 human femur), and a quantity of human bones. At Little Urswick also, 

 near Stone Walls, some workmen discovered under a flat stone a deposit 

 which seemingly included several examples of the later bronze work. The 

 record mentions a long spear-head (or possibly a sword), which was deliberately 

 broken ; and near to this four or five ' celts or axes of brass,' which were 

 probably bronze socketed celts, though described as axe-hammers ; also four 

 or five rings. The latter were ' large enough to go over the hand, and 

 had an external eye to them as if for the purpose of being strung.' Some 

 interesting finds of isolated implements or groups are also recorded. Two 

 or three bronze palstaves were ploughed up at Flookburgh ; a bronze celt 

 and armlet have been traced to Furness, and in Cartmel parish several bronze 

 implements there found seem to resemble socketed celts from the description 

 given. A great bronze celt, 9 in. long and 8 in. broad, is recorded as found 

 in the ruins of Gleaston Castle : and the find of two bronze celts from 

 Stainton, near Dalton, was recorded in the newspapers of 1894. A bronze 

 spear-head is reported from Dalton in Furness ; and an implement described 

 as found with the fragments of a cinerary urn at Stainton simulates a spear- 

 head also. A bronze dagger was found at Page Bank, near Leece. 



6. Classified List of Localities 



Flat Celts. — Rixton, Read, Risley (Martin Mere). 



Palstaves. — Ainsworth, Martin Mere, Southworth, Turton, Winwick, 

 Sharpies, Weeton. 



237 



