Bronze Implement found near Currie, Mid-Lothian. 99 



is quite apparent (see fig. 4, copied from M. Troyon's work, pi. x. 

 fig. 8 ; and, like the others, drawn to half its original size). Its 

 size also closely corresponds to the others ; the blades on each 

 side measuring 2\ inches, nearly ahout the same length as the 

 blades of the other bronzes described, and the projecting handle 2J 

 inches ; its whole length being about 4|- inches, by about 3 inches 

 in breadth measured transversely across the crescentic blades. 

 The Kinleith bronze being 3£ inches in length by 2£ inches 

 across ; and each blade measuring 2f- inches in length ; while 

 the Irish bronze measures 3|- inches long, by If inches across its 

 solid double-edged blade. 



I examined M. Troyon's very valuable work, with a special 

 interest, to learn what was his opinion of the supposed use of this 

 blade, or crescent of bronze as he terms it, and found that he gives 

 a very different explanation to the one here suggested, and having 

 nothing whatever to do with the affairs of the toilet ! It was dis- 

 covered, M. Troyon informs us, at Steinberg, near Nidau, which, 

 he says, is one of the most important piled sites on the Lake of 

 Bienne. He describes it as belonging to the age of bronze ; and 

 refers it to a class of other crescent-shaped articles of pottery 

 also found there, and considered by him as of particular interest, 

 because that to them, he fancies, some mysterious or supernatural 

 character had been attached. 



Siviss Crescents of Pottery and Bronze. — Colonel Schwab, M. 

 Troyon informs us, discovered at Steinberg more than a score of 

 these crescents, formed of a coarse white pottery, ornamented with 

 various lines, and having broken particles of quartz kneaded into 

 the clay of which they were formed. They vary in size, measuring 

 from 8 to 12 (French) inches, from point to point of the horns of 

 the crescent; and at the horns they are from 6 to 8 inches in 

 height. (I exhibit sketches of these articles, copied from M. 

 Troyon's work, which will show their character better than any 

 description.) 1 The lake town of Steinberg, M. Troyon believes, 

 was occupied from a very ancient period ; he considers, however, that 

 this symbol of the crescent had not been in use in the very earliest 

 times, or it would have been found in other places along with the 

 most ancient class of remains, which appears not to be the case, as 

 far at least as present discoveries have shown. In 1851, however, 

 at Ebersberg, not far from Berg, in the Canton of Zurich, several 

 fragments of similar crescents, formed of stone, were found along 

 with very ancient remains, M. Troyon, therefore, concludes thai 

 J M. Troyon's Habit. Lacust, pi. xvi. p. 181. Lausanne (18G0) 



