THE BRONZE AGE. 307 
THE BRONZE AGE, 
SUMMARY OF LECTURE BY FRANCIS BRENT, F.S.A. 
(Read 25th March, 1886.) 
THE syllabus was as follows : 
Europe peopled in the early ages by tribes immigrating from 
Asia, probably using stone only. The Stone, Copper, Bronze, and 
Iron Ages referred to. Paleolithic implements found in Europe, 
Asia, and America. Neolithic implements found all the Con- 
tinental world over. Copper implements found in North America; 
also in Egypt and elsewhere. Bronze implements common in the 
Old World, also in Mexico and Peru. Iron first known in the 
East. The civilisation of Chaldea, Assyria, Egypt, and Eastern 
Europe reached a high condition during their. Bronze Age. That 
civilisation not dependent upon the discovery of iron. Monoliths 
and Colossi quarried and sculptured without the use of iron tools. 
Civilisation of Mexico in the sixteenth century; bronze and 
stone implements only in use; iron not discovered. Bronze 
implements in Devon and Cornwall. 
In conclusion, the lecturer made special reference to the relics 
of the Bronze Age that have been met with in the two western 
counties, remarking : 
The recorded finds of bronze implements in Devon and Corn- 
wall are numerous in comparison with those in some other 
counties; and many bronze implements have been met with 
from time to time, especially in earlier days, but various causes 
have led to their destruction or loss, and not many now remain 
for our inspection. 
Before much attention was drawn to them by antiquaries and 
others, bronze implements would be regarded at first, perhaps, 
with a little interest or curiosity ; but as they possessed a market- 
able value, they would be disposed of to dealers to be melted 
down, and thus would be lost to science for ever, And many 
