late Mr. S. Sharp, F.S.A., F.G.S.; and what would appear to have been an instrument of the same character, 8 inches long, was found near Maidstone.[1] A very good specimen, of fine workmanship, is in the Museum at Canterbury, but its place of finding is unknown.
Another, more like Fig. 267, but not serrated, 634 inches long and 2 inches broad, was found with an urn at Ty ddu Llanelieu,[2] Brecon, and has been engraved.
In the Greenwell Collection is a blade like Fig. 264, 6 inches long and 214 inches wide, finely chipped along the edges for 4 inches from the point, which was found at Kempston, near Bedford, in the same field as that shown in Fig. 256. There is also a specimen rather more rudely chipped, and pointed at each end, from Irthington, Cumberland, which has more of the character of a spear-head. In the Fitch Collection is a fine but imperfect dagger from the neighbourhood of Ipswich, and I have one in similar condition from Peasemarsh, near Godalming.
In Scotland one has been found in a cairn at Guthrie, Forfarshire, 634 inches long and 112 inches wide, which is engraved in the Gentleman's Magazine.[3] Sir Daniel Wilson[4] also mentions one 15 inches long, found in a cairn at Craigengelt, near Stirling, but I think there must be some error as to the length.
Mr. J. W. Cursiter, of Kirkwall, has a very symmetrical blade like Fig. 264, but smaller, found in Blows Moss, South Ronaldsay, Orkney. A blade from Nunraw,[5] Haddingtonshire (714 inches) with notches at the side for hafting, has been engraved. Another (338 inches), was found in a cairn near Kirkmichael, Ayrshire.[6]
Though occurring in so many parts of England and Scotland, these daggers appear to be unknown in Ireland, where, however, some large lozenge-shaped blades, ground on both faces, occur. Sword-like blades made of slaty stone are also found in Ireland[7] and in Shetland.[8] I have Irish specimens up to 15 inches in length, and have seen the sketch of one of subquadrate section, and pointed at each end, 2034 inches in length. It was found in the Lower Bann, near Portglenone, co. Antrim.
In some Continental countries, and especially in Denmark, Sweden, and Northern Germany, similar weapons are far more abundant than here. The shape is somewhat different, for the English specimens are as a rule broader in proportion, and more obtusely pointed than the Scandinavian. These latter frequently exhibit the blunting at the edges towards the butt-end, such as has been already mentioned. Occasionally they have the notches at the sides. Daggers with square or fishtailed handles, like Worsaae, Nos. 52 and 53, some of which present delicately ornamented and crinkled edges, have not as yet been found in Britain, though somewhat analogous forms occur in Honduras and in North America. The crinkling is seen on some Egyptian knives.
Nearly similar blades to those from Britain are found in other parts of Europe. Two lance-heads, made from flakes 514 inches and 534 inches long, more or less worked on both faces, and reduced in width at the
