The Grave-mounds of Derbyshire, and their Contents. 259 



etc. Celts are, however, but seldom met with in barrows, 

 although frequently ploughed up in the course of agricultural 

 operations. Palstaves and socketed celts, etc., are also occa- 

 sionally picked up. The ordinary form of celt, will be best 

 understood by the engraving here given from an excellent 

 example found in Moot-Low near Dove Dale. One of these 

 celts, of precisely similar form to this one, found in a barrow 

 at Shuttlestone, has been the means of throwing considerable 



light on the mode of interment adopted. The barrow contained 

 " the skeleton of a man in the prime of life and of fine propor- 

 tions apparently the sole occupant of the mound, who had been 

 interred whilst enveloped in a skin, of dark red colour, the 

 hairy surface of which had left many traces both upon the 

 surrounding earth and upon the verdigris or patina coat- 

 ing, of a bronze axe-shaped celt and dagger, deposited with 

 the skeleton. On the former weapon, there are also beau- 

 tifully distinct impressions of fern leaves, handsful of which, 

 in a compressed and half-decayed state, surrounded the bones 

 from head to foot. From these leaves being discernible on one 

 side of the celt only, whilst the other side presents traces of 

 leather alone, it is certain that the leaves were placed first as a 

 couch for the reception of the corpse with its accompaniments, 

 and after these had been deposited, were then further added in 

 quantity sufficient to protect the body from the earth."* With 

 the skeleton, besides the celt, were a fine bronze dagger, with 

 two rivets for attachments to the handle which had been of 

 horn — the impression of the grain being quite distinctly per- 

 ceptible ; a small jet bead ; and a circular flint. The celt had 

 been, as was evident from the grain of wood still remaining, 

 driven vertically into a wooden handle for about two inches of 

 its length. 



The bronze daggers which the barrows of Derbyshire have 

 afforded, vary in length from three to five and a half inches ; 

 the larger ones being about two and a half inches in breadth, 



* " Ten Tears' Diggings." 



