Archceologia. 75 



chral chambers, once covered by a common mound, as traces of the 

 others are found around it. It bas been suggested to excavate in 

 the interior of these monuments, but it may be doubted if this 

 would lead to discoveries of any importance, for, whatever were 

 the remains interred in it, they were, no doubt, laid on the floor at 

 its present level, and were swept away when it was uncovered and 

 opened by ignorant people who could not appreciate them. 



It is sometimes necessary, in the interests of science, to repeat 

 the simple explanation of words which people persist in misunder- 

 standing. Such is the case with the word celt, applied, not very 

 properly, to an ancient implement in bronze or stone. Writers on 

 what is called prehistoric archaeology are constantly using this 

 word, under the impression, apparently, that it has some special 

 relation to these implements, and also to the people to whom they 

 have been ascribed, and some even go so far as to call them kelts, 

 as in a recently published work now before us. The facts of the 

 case are these : — In the year 1709, Ralph Thoresby, the Yorkshire 

 antiquary, communicated to the equally well-known antiquai-y, the 

 dull, but industrious and painstaking writer, Thomas Hearne, some 

 examples of these implements in bronze. ISTow Hearne found a 

 word, celtis, of late or merely technical Latinity (it is not found in the 

 dictionaries of pure Latin), signifying a chisel, or some tool of that 

 kind, and he wrote a dissertation, printed in the first volume of his edi- 

 tion of Leland's Itinerary, to prove that these peculiarly-formed bronze 

 implements were the celtes, or chisels, of the Romans, Antiquaries 

 during the last century appear to have agreed quietly in this inter- 

 pretation, and the name celt has thus been unwisely adopted for 

 the bronze implements, and very absurdly transferred to imple- 

 ments in stone. In fact, Thomas Hearne was probably quite 

 wrong. The Roman celtis appears to have been an instrument for 

 cutting inscriptions. Ducange explains the word as meaning 

 ccelum sculptorium. and quotes an ancient inscription found in Rome, 

 which describes the stone on which it was written as being the 

 work of the mallet and celtis — 



"MALLEOLOET CELTE LrTTERATUS CILEX." 



The instruments to which our antiquaries have given the name of 

 celts were certainly not made for engraving inscriptions in flint. It 

 is clear that the word is wrongly applied, and ought to be 

 abandoned. 



We are now approaching the season when archaeological 

 and other societies hold their Annual Meetings, or Congresses, in 

 the country, and we may look for new contributions to our archaeolo- 

 gical knowledge. The British Archaeological Association will meet 

 in the city of Durham, under the presidency of the Duke of Cleve- 

 land. The meeting will commence on the 20th of August. The 

 Archaeological Institute proposes to hold its meeting at Dorchester, 

 on the 1st of August, under the presidency of the Marquis Camden. 

 The Cambrian Archaeological Association will hold its meeting this 

 year at Douglas, in the Isle of Man, beginning with the 21st of 

 August. T. W. 



