Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/359

OF STONK AND BRONZE. 335 with the perfect stop-ridge, whereas if the reinodehiig 1)e of the sanu^ age we certainly should regard this construction as the normal ty})e of the stop-ridge ; the ornaments on the hlade are merely indented lines. The two following examples of celts of the fifth class (as now proposed) are introduced here, as they exhibit a very peculiar style of embossed ornament, pi. 1, figs. 8, 9. No. 9 displays on its sides, and below its upper margin, a raised ornament accm'ately resendjling a tying of cord, and also a fragment of a coronated border which extended round the lip of the Aveapon, a feature quite unique. When alluding to celt moulds I shall have occasion to revert to this celt. The gouge-sha])ed celts, ])1. 3, tigs. 1, 2, 3, 4, of which I pre- sent foiu- examples, are frequently to be met with in collections of Irish antiquities ; those now engraved cannot be regarded as weapons, but rather as household implements, and the speci- men, fig. 4, appears to have been a hand-scoop, probably for more delicate work than the others. Celt-moulds of Stone. In public as well as private collections of antiquities in Ireland there are a few specimens of stone celt-moulds. Those now presented to the archseological enquirer are from the museums of the Royal Irish Academy, and of the University of Dublin. To Robert Ball, Esq., the Director of the latter museum, I am indebted for his kindness in allowing me to engrave the specimen pi. 4, fig. 2, a more interesting example than that of pi. 5, as it gives us a celt of the fourth class, but the ear or loop is cast solid, and then requires to be bored. If we might hazard a conjecture Avitli regard to these stone moulds, we might, from their extreme rudeness, suppose them to be but unskilful copies from the more perfect implements of a more civilised people. Who these predecessors of the Nomadic celt were, it would be impossible to say in our pre- sent state of knowledge with regard to that period in the history of western Em-ope, and the district east of the Medi- terranean, when bronze a])])ears to have held the place now occupied by iron. The celt-mould, pi. 0, figs. 1, :2, is copied from a cast in ])laster of Paris ; the original is now in Belfast. The stone is polygonal in form, and exhibits upon foiu- of its surfaces indented moulds for c{^lts of the nonniil type; the two largest measure