Page:VCH Lancaster 1.djvu/282

A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE is much chipped, while the after part, though originally rounded, shows also from the wear of its surface that it had been used as a hammer.^ A third specimen was found near Lancaster, and is more nearly of the design of that first described from Bowland, being 9I in. in length, and divided very unequally by the perforation. Though chipped at each end, it was designed as a single axe with one end rounded, and the surface hollows slightly towards the hole. It is 3iin. wide, and 2J in. deep at the cutting edge, which does not expand as in the former cases. The hole is placed at ^ of the length from the rounded end.^ The fourth specimen, fig. 7, is from further to the south, near the Ribble valley, having been found at Wilpshire near Blackburn. It somewhat resembles in form the axe-hammer, described in the next section, which was found in the Lune near Lancaster (fig. 8). It has the same curious pro- jections to the already great width, and the same lack of special character in the section. The edge, however, is better marked, while the opposite end, instead of being flat for use as a hammer, is rounded and well preserved. The per- foration is near the centre and varies from 2 J in. to i J in. in diameter. (c) Axe-hammers of stone. — The distinction drawn be- tween axes rounded at one end and axes flattened at one end is one of original form rather than of usage. The former, it has been seen, though not so conveniently shaped for the purpose, were commonly used as hammers. The latter class, which it remains to describe, is more numerously represented in Lancashire than any other variety of implement. The rough and larger stone hammer characteristic of the northern counties is frequent in Lancashire, particularly in the northern part of the county. Other large axes are noticeably shaped with broadened cutting edge. Others again have peculiar flanges and projections ; while not uncommonly there occur the smaU smooth hammers often associated with bronze or metal tools. The implements from Lancaster and Tatham are excellent examples of u I'^^g^/^^-han^mer of the north. The Lancaster specimen, found in the bed of the Lune, is gj in. long, with a width of 4| in. and depth of 2| in The material is a fine gritstone. The edge, as seen in the diagram, hg. «, IS very much dulled, and the flat hammer end also shows signs of use. A photograph is shown on Plate III. No. 4. A similar implement seems to have been found at Barnacre near Lancaster ' by a farmer while ploughing at Carter Houses. It must have been originally about 12 in. in length, and weighs 61b."' 1 Weld MSS. 2 Trans. Lane, and Ches. Antiq. Soc. Fig. 7.— Stone Axe pound at Wilpshire near Blackburn. 222