106 
mere point of flint, as I have found forty varieties of form, 
and many of them differing so widely that they may be 
called distinct weapons of the same class. The sharp point 
was the most general form, but some of them were made 
round at the point, or quite blunt, as if the mere force of 
the arm was relied upon to inflict a deadly wound. I have 
only found two varieties that have sharpened edges that 
would cut their way into the flesh. One form invented is 
clearly the original of the halbert of the feudal ages. It 
has a point and a projection on one side, which is a broad, 
sharp edge, to strike with, and being struck off a large core 
of flint, its weight would add considerably to the effect of a 
blow which might be given with it. The great number of 
different forms of the spear, as of every other kind of weapon, 
is a proof that each person made his own implements, and 
that the early Britons were exceedingly earnest and intent 
upon inventing new and effective weapons, and that they 
fully expected to bring the spear to such perfection as to 
take the place of some other weapon ; but in this they failed, 
as it required the knowledge of metal to be accomplished, 
while the inferior workmanship exhibited in nearly all the 
specimens is a proof of the very early period of their manu- 
facture, and as there are none better formed than those which 
I have found, within the district, the successors of the first 
tribes could not have used spears that were chipped in a 
different manner. Yet perfectly different specimens are 
found within three miles of their settlement, as I mentioned 
in my last Paper. 
I have good reason to believe that spears were not more 
commonly used in war than arrows, and that neither of them 
were considered very efficient weapons for fighting with ; 
still there is no doubt they were preferred by a few, who 
were probably dexterous in their use by constant practice, as 
they are both occasionally found among the relics of war > 
