Fig. 508.—Dreuil. 1/1
Another form of bronze objects of uncertain use is shown in Fig. 508, which is taken from a French and not an English original. This formed part of the Dreuil hoard; and as in so many respects the articles comprised in this deposit present analogies with those found in England, it appeared worth while to call attention to this particular object. It is a kind of semicircular flap, with a hole running through the beaded cylinder at top. What was its purpose I cannot say, though I have a thin gold plate of the same form, but decorated with ring ornaments, that was found at Hallstatt. It may be merely a pendant.
Among other miscellaneous objects of bronze may be mentioned an article of twisted bronze already cited at p. 51. It has a flat tang for insertion into a handle, in which are four rivet-holes. Beyond the handle project two twisted horns, which seem to have nearly or quite met, so as to form a somewhat heart-shaped ring. In the centre opposite the tang is a long slot with a chain of three circular rings attached. The whole covers a space of about 6½ inches in length by 4½ inches in breadth. With Sir E. Colt Hoare, “I leave to my learned brother antiquaries to ascertain” what was the ancient use of this singular article, which was found in a barrow at Wilsford,[1581] with a stone hammer, a flanged bronze celt, and other objects in company with an unburnt body.
Portions of three sickle-like objects, with a kind of square tang, through which is a large hole, were found with a palstave and a flat celt and many other bronze antiquities, near Battlefield, Salop.[1582] These measure about 7 inches by 7¼ inches, and their purpose is as much veiled in mystery as that of the Wilsford relic, with which they present a slight analogy.
The flat annular and horseshoe-shaped plates—the one 13 inches in diameter, and the other 2 feet 1 inch long—found with an oblong cup-shaped boss on the hill of Benibhreæ,[1583] in Lochaber, appear to me to be probably Late Celtic.
Some of the curious spoon-like articles[1584] of bronze occasionally found in all parts of the United Kingdom may also belong to the Late Celtic Period, and most of them probably to quite the close of that period, if not to a later date.
The remarkable bronze rod, about 18 inches long, with small figures of birds and pendent rings upon it, found near Ballymoney,[1585] County Antrim, is probably of later date than the Bronze Period: as are also the curious figures of boars and other animals found near Hounslow.[1586]
In concluding this chapter, it may be observed that although I have attempted to give in it some notice of various forms of bronze relics of many of which the use is uncertain, yet that I do not pretend that the list here given comprises all such objects as have been discovered in Britain. In several hoards of bronze there have been found portions of thin plates and fragments of objects the purpose of which is unknown; and I have thought it best not to encumber my pages with notices of mere fragments about which even less is known than about the mysterious articles to the description of which, perhaps, too much space has already been allotted.