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time in these earliest receptacles of the dead, appear to be 
so nearly alike in all countries, as to exhibit an identity of 
barbarism in man's primaeval condition all over the world. 
The close of this dark period seems to have been every where 
contemporaneous with the introduction of the knowledge of 
the metallic arts. Indeed, some of what are called the 
aboriginal races of the human family, are even yet existing 
in this state of primitive ignorance. I had occasion, not long 
ago, at one of the Soirees of the Philosophical Society of 
Leeds, to shew a curious illustration of this fact, in the close 
similarity, amounting nearly to identity, of two stone hatchets, 
one found in a cave near Settle, in this county, and the 
other, a modern importation, from the Island of Tahiti. I 
brought this matter under the notice of the British Associa- 
tion at Aberdeen, and it gave rise to an interesting discussion. 
The Esquimaux, South Sea Islanders, Caribs, and many savage 
nations besides, make their rude weapons of wood, shell, bone, 
or flint, like our own progenitors ; and examples of these 
singular coincidences might be multiplied to any extent. 
Let us then consider the earliest remains of man's rude 
weapons in these islands, the stone hatchets, or celts. We find 
these of such various forms, that an attempt has been made 
by that distinguished Danish antiquary, Worsae, to give 
them (from this point of view), a chronological classification. 
It is not my intention, on this occasion, to discuss this 
curious question, but I have no doubt that an interesting 
classification might be made in that way, by which a certain 
progress in art could be traced even through this remote era. 
Amongst primitive people, the transition from the tool to the 
weapon was very natural, in fact, the same implement served 
both purposes. The stone hammer could have been used as a 
war- mace, and the stone hatchet as a battle axe. The flint 
arrow-heads are as various, and apparently progressive in art 
as the celts. 
