Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/285

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE.
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antiquaries, however, have regarded such perforated balls as weights used in fishing, either for the line or nets.

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Spear and Celt Mould.

The very curious object here represented, is the moiety of a set of moulds for casting spear-heads and celts of bronze; it is formed of hone-stone, and was found between Bodwrdin and Tre Ddafydd, in the western part of the Isle of Anglesea. It measures, in length, nine inches and a quarter; each side measures, at one extremity, two inches, and, at the other, one inch and a half. It is obvious that a second precisely similar piece of stone was requisite, by means of which four complete moulds for casting objects of various forms would be obtained, comprising a celt of simple form, with a loop on the side, for the purpose of attaching it to the haft, spear-heads of two sizes, with lateral loops, for a like purpose, and a sharp-pointed spike, four inches and a half in length, probably intended to be affixed to a javelin, or some missile weapon. This stone was unfortunately broken by the pick of the workman who found it: it was in the possession of Mr. David Pierce of Caernarvon, and the drawing from which the annexed woodcut has been taken, was executed by Mr. H. Pidgeon of Liverpool, whose accurate pencil has contributed many interesting subjects to the collections of the Institute. Rowlands remarks, in his History of Anglesea, that the weapons or implements, termed celts, had often been found in the Island; he gives also representations of some having the loop at the side, similar in fashion to those which would have been produced in this mould. A considerable number were found, about the year 1723, under a stone on the shore, near Rhiedd, on the Menai, where, as Rowlands supposed, the Romans had effected their landing, the spot being still marked by the name Maes-Hir-Gâd, the great army's field. Considerable doubt has been entertained in