Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/360

336 BRONZE CELTS, AND CELT-MOULDS inches in length by 4| at the blade, and 5 inches in length by 3f at the blade. These weapons were cast by simply poming the melted metal into the exposed indented mould b. Celt-moulds of Bronze, In the British Museum I observed and made sketches of two examples of bronze celt-moulds, and though the supposi- tion that these antiques are matrices for celts has been denied, I hope to shew that they are veritable moulds •=. First, if we examine their construction and design, we find that they con- sist of two equal parts, fitting to one another with the nicest accuracy, and having, down their vertical edges, corresponding elevations and depressions in the form of a fine ridge and hollow, causing them to be, as it were, dovetailed into one another when placed together. On the exterior of each half of the moidd, pi. 2, figs. 6, 8, there is a loop close to the top, or mouth ; and two projecting nobs close to the lo"^Tr margin or reversed apex of the flattened cone. These appliances are evidently to assist in tying the two pieces together, as is shewn by the drawing, pi. 3, fig. 9 : a contrivance simple and perfect in design, and essential to the working of the imple- ment. The loop of the celt to be cast is formed by a pro- jection on one half of the vertical edges of the mould, which lies so close to the opposing surface, that none of the fluid metal could flow between. We find, that when the two parts of the mould are placed together, they project neai'ly an inch above the top of the celt to be cast, and when viewed from above they present a circular opening into which the metal was pom^d. At either side of this opening a small square space has been cut aAvay, apparently to receive the transverse arms of a wedge-shaped piece of metal, which was let down into the centre of the •> All account of a mould of hone-stone, Stukeley that a bushel of celts, each en- adapted for casting celts and spear-heads, closed in a brass mould or case, was is given with a representation, in Archreol. found, in 1719, at Brongh on the Hum- .Journal, vol. iii. p. 257. It was found on ber. Representations of one are given the western side of the Isle of Anglesea, with Lort's Memoir on Celts, ArchEeologia, which was much subjected to invasions vol. v. pi. vii. A celt-mould of metal was from Ireland, in earl) times. A cast of a in Mr. Britton's possession, one was found celt-mould of stone, found in France, near in the parish of Eaton, near Norwich, Valognes, is in the museum of the Anti- under the roots of an ash, as noticed in quaries of London. — Va). ArchreoL, vol. xxii. p. 424, and another ' The supposition that these objects recently at Unthank's Road, Norwich, were properly cases, ap))ears to iiavc been In France, besides that found near Va- adopted by Stukeley, Lethieiillier, Bor- logiies, another was discovered at La lase, Lort, and other antiquaries of the Villette, near P;iris, now in the Rouen last century. Mr. Warburton informed Museum. — En.