The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons, and Ornaments, of Great Britain and Ireland.

by John Evans

I have already mentioned the halberd blades from Scandinavia and North Germany, and have seen but one example from any of the western countries of Europe. This is from Spain, and was found near Ciudad Real. It is about 8¼ inches long, and more T-shaped at the base than any British specimen, the blade suddenly expanding from 2 inches in width to 5. In this expanded part are the usual three rivets, each about 1 inch in length. The discovery of a weapon of this type in Spain seems to lend support to those who maintain that there was some connection between the Iberians and the early inhabitants of Ireland. The curious similarity of some of the Portuguese forms of flint arrow- and javelin-heads to those of Ireland is also worthy of notice.

Fig. 339.—Lidgate. ¹/₁ — Fig. 340.—Great Bedwin. ½ — Fig. 341.—Ireland. ½

Besides the battle-axe or halberd there is another form of weapon for hand-to-hand encounters—the mace—of which it will be well to say a few words; for though I do not for a moment believe that the bronze mace-heads so frequently found in this and other European countries belong to the Bronze Age, yet by many they have been classed among the antiquities of that period. These weapons vary considerably in size and weight, but the cuts will show the more common forms.

That shown in Fig. 339 is in the Museum of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, and is stated to have been found at Lidgate,[990] Suffolk. In the Meyrick[991] Collection is one precisely similar, which was brought from Italy. The mace to which these dentated rings were attached is thought to have been a kind of “morning star” or flail. Others from Lanarkshire[992] are of similar character. Professor Daniel Wilson refers these to the time of the Roman occupation.

I have three heavy rings with four long and eight short spikes each, from Hungary.

Another form is provided with a socket, and is evidently intended for mounting on a straight staff. That shown in Fig. 340 was found in a well at Great Bedwin,[993] Wilts, and is now in the British Museum. Another of the same class, with a longer socket, is in the Museum[994] of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society; and two are in the collection of Mr. M. Fisher, at Ely. Others have been found in London,[995] and at Stroud,[996] Gloucestershire.

An Irish example from Wilde[997] is shown in Fig. 341. There are three such in the Museum of the Academy, varying in length from 2 to 5 inches. One from Tipperary[998] (4 inches) is of the same kind.

I have specimens of this kind from Hungary, one (4⅝ inches) with three rows of four spikes, and one (4⅞ inches) with five rows of five spikes. I have another from the Seine at Paris (4⅜ inches) with six longitudinal ribs instead of spikes.

Lindenschmit[999] has figured seven examples, from various parts of Germany and Italy, some more or less similar to each of the three figures I have given. Some of these are decorated with spirals in relief. Lisch[1000] has also engraved some specimens.