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70
PREHISTORIC TIMES


Some rich hoards belong to this period; I may mention those of Grunty Fen, Cambridge; Lovehayne, Devon; Plymstock, Devon; Arreton Down, Isle of Wight; West Buckland, Somerset; Edington Burtle, Somerset; Hollingbury, Sussex; Wrexham.

Period 4

The objects of bronze are again more varied and elaborate: the axes have stop-ridges and are often socketed; the daggers are more elongated; swords make their appearance, sometimes with bronze handles; there are also socketed spear-heads, sometimes with loops at the side, or at the base of the blade; torques, armlets, etc.

Period 5

Socketed and winged axes.

Socketed hammers.
Tanged chisels.
Gouges.
Socketed daggers.
Leaf-shaped swords, some with solid handles.
Trumpets.
Socketed spear-heads.
Horse-bits.
Bracelets and necklets of bronze or gold.
Razors.

Knives.

The gradual development of the axe thus shown is very interesting. Beginning with the flat simple form (figs. 4, 11), which is obviously a copy of the stone axe, we pass (2) to the form (figs. 13, 15, 17) with slight side flanges; the next stage (3) is the addition of a stop-ridge (figs. 5, 8, 20), the next the invention of the socket, and, lastly, the addition of wings placed (figs. 6, 9, 16) near the top.

From the evidence given in Chapter I., it may be, I think, concluded that iron was beginning to be used in Britain about 1000 B.C.