Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/542

372 ON THE U8E OF BRONZE CELTS ments are found all over France, being known by the name of " Gallic hatchets" (des haches Gauloises).^ At a much more recent period, M. Gerville has given an account of the quantities found in Normandy, which were so great, that the braziers sold them in abundance for old metal. He mentions more especially, that thirty bronze celts were found in 1820 at Chalendrey, in the arrondissement of Mortain, and that one hundred were discovered in an earthern vessel at Sainte-Croix, near Cherbourg.^ The instances now produced are sufficient to illustrate the fact, that the instruments in question are found in parcels, or considerable quantities, and in the vicinity of fortified places. They therefore obviously tend to illustrate the pas- sages which I have quoted from Roman authors, and which refer to the use of dolabra; for martial purposes, and in large quantities at the same time. VI. — I next argue in support of the same opinion from the size, form, and ornaments of the celts themselves. In this view of the subject we have to pay attention to their strength and ponderosity, their ornamental patterns, the loop or ring, found either on one side or on both, and their adaptation to be fitted to a wooden handle. With respect to the mode of attaching the bronze celt to its handle, I am persuaded that it was commonly so done, that the instrument might be used, not as a hatchet, but as a spud, or a crow-bar. It was impelled, not to, but from the body of the workman, and the haft was consequently straight. At the time when this subject first came under discussion, Dr. Richard Richardson^ advanced the opinion that the haft was crooked, as represented in the figure annexed ; and Mr. Du Noyer adopts the same view in his valuable essay " on the Classification of Bronze Celts." ^ To this opinion it has been objected, that we know perfectly well the form and construction of ancient hatchets, since many remain entire, and the representations of them in works of art, and antique monuments of all kinds, are innu- merable. But in no case were metallic hatchets made with the crooked handle, which these modern authors have in- vented for them. Their form diff"ers little, if at all, from ^ Recueild'Antni ,ion..,). ?>), ?)'!(). - See Lcland's Itinerary, edited by ' Mcm.de la tSoc. dcs Ant. dcNormandic, Hearne, vol.i., p. 14.5. 1 828, p. 280. ' Ai'chaeol. Joiu'nal, vol. iv, pp. 5, fi.