Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/15

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ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BRONZE CELTS.
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of the first class from originals existing in the British Museum.
Celt, with its handle found in co. Tyrone


Celt, with handle. from the South Sea Islands


The manner in which weapons of this form could be hafted, is well shewn by a stone celt, with its handle, which was discovered some years since in the county of Tyrone, near Cookstown, and which was, when I saw it, in the possession of Colonel Stewart of Killymoon. Another method of fastening weapons of this shape to a handle, is illustrated by the small hatchet of iron, of this wedge form, preserved in the Belfast museum, and I believe that it was brought from one of the South Sea Islands. The handle and ball are made of a species of bone.
Celt with handle from Mexico

The annexed figures exhibit modes of fastening weapons of this class, communicated some time since to the Royal Irish Academy in a paper by Robert Ball, Esq., curator of the University museum, Dublin. The first of these specimens was brought from a mine in Mexico, and the other from Little-Fish Bay, in Africa, presented to Mr. Ball by Capt. Adams, R.N.


Celt from Africa

Although in the three last examples which I have given, we have direct proof as to the manner in which the wedge-like implement could be most efficiently hafted, I am disposed to think the celts (figs. b, c) were attached to their handles somewhat differently. I think a curved piece of wood was procured which was of less diameter than the breadth of the axe; the wood being then split, the axe was inserted into it, and