Page:The Ancient Stone Implements (1897).djvu/163

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POLISHED CELTS WITH DEPRESSIONS AND FLUTINGS.
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with the view of perforating the blade, so as to make it like Fig. 133. It is, however, too thin for such a purpose, and as the depressions can hardly be connected with any method of hafting, it appears probable that they are merely for the purpose of giving the hand a secure grip, when using the instrument as a cutting tool. This form is not uncommon in India.

Some of the stone hatchets from British Guiana[1] have a notch on either side, apparently to assist in fastening them to their haft. A form with projecting lugs half-way down the blade has been found in Armenia.[2]

The last peculiarity I have to notice is when the blade of the celt assumes an ornamental character, by being fluted or otherwise ornamented. That represented in Fig. 90 is deeply fluted on either face. I have engraved the figure from a cast in the Museum of the Society of

Fig. 89.—Duggleby 1/2 Fig. 90.—Guernsey. 1/2
Antiquaries, the original of which was in the possession of F. C. Lukis, Esq., M.D. It was found at St. Sampson, Guernsey. Assuming the figure given by M. Brouillet to be correct, a somewhat similar celt of red flint was found with skeletons in the Tombelle de Brioux, Poitou.[3] Another with three hollow facets on the lower parts of one face was found in Finistère.[4] I have a small celt of nearly similar form, but not so hollow on the faces, from Costa Rica. Such specimens are extremely rare, and I cannot at present point to any other examples. Indeed, it may be questioned how far the implements found in the Channel Islands come within the scope of the present work. The
  1. Im Thurn, "Among the Indians of Guiana," 1883, pl. x. 4.
  2. Chantre, "Le Caucase," 1885, pl. ii. 9.
  3. "Indicateur Arch. de Civrai," 1865, p. 271.
  4. Mat. 3rd S., vol. i., 1884, p. 243.