—————Fig. 525.—Campbelton. ½ ——Fig. 526.—Campbelton. ½
Dr. Arthur Mitchell, who has described this find, says that in this second mould the two halves are not alike, as in the one first described. In this case one-half has the shape of the spear-head deeply cut into the stone, so as to include the whole thickness of the edge of the spear, and the other side has simply the midrib alone cut on it, and the rest of that side of the mould is gently bevelled towards the edges, the result of which simple plan is that when the two sides are laid together a perfect mould is made, the two sides of the casting being almost exactly alike, less labour being thus required than in forming an outline exactly alike on both sides of the stone mould, and the result being equally satisfactory.
An English, or rather Welsh, quadrangular mould, much like that from Lough Gur, was found between Bodwrdin[1695] and Tre Ddafydd, Anglesea. It is formed of hone-stone 9¼ inches long, with the sides tapering from 2 inches to 1½ inch. It is adapted for casting looped spear-heads of two sizes, and what has been regarded as a double-looped celt. The fourth side has a conical groove, and may be the complement of another more defined mould, as is the case with Fig. 525B. It has been thought to have been for a spike-like javelin. What has been regarded as the mould for double-looped celts seems also to be the shallow half of a mould for spear-heads. In the museum at Clermont Ferrand[1696] there is an analogous stone mould for palstaves of three types and a point or ferrule.
Of other stone moulds, I may mention one for casting buckles of a kind like those from Polden Hill, which was found at Camelford, Cornwall.[1697] This is not improbably of Late Celtic date.
I have a flat oval slab of compact grit, about 2 inches thick, having on one face a mould for a thin oval plate of metal about 5 inches by 4½ inches, and on the other a mould for a rather thicker oval plate, about 6 inches by 4½ inches. It was found near Nantlle, Carnarvon, and was given me by Mr. R. D. Darbishire, F.S.A. I am uncertain as to the period to which it ought to be assigned.
Of foreign moulds of stone besides those already cited, I may mention some for double-ended hatchets and for flat celts which have been found in the Island of Sardinia.[1698]
A number of moulds formed of stone, principally mica-schist, were found by Dr. Schliemann[1699] during his excavations on the presumed site of Troy. They were for casting flat celts, tanged spear-heads or daggers, and various other forms. Several of the blocks had moulds on both sides and ends, and served for casting as many as a dozen different objects.
The moulds made of bronze which have been found in this country are for palstaves, socketed celts, and gouges only. They appear to be more abundant in England than in any of the neighbouring parts of Europe. At one time the whole school of English antiquaries regarded the moulds for socketed celts as cases or sheaths specially prepared to hold such instruments.[1700] To Vallancey, I think, belongs the credit of being the first to recognise their true character. In writing about the half of a bronze mould for palstaves found in Ireland, he observes,[1701] “Dr. Borlase and Mr. Lort had seen brass cases of these instruments, which fitted them as exactly as if they had been the molds in which the instruments were cast. I cannot conceive why these gentlemen hesitate to call them molds, as a certain proof that they were manufactured in Ireland, where the Romans came not, either as friends or foes, the molds are found in our bogs; they are of brass also, mixed with a greater quantity of iron, or in some manner tempered much harder than the instruments.” I am not sure that the latter remark as to the comparative hardness of the moulds holds good in all cases, otherwise the correctness of the opinion expressed by Vallancey, now about a hundred years ago, is undeniable.
Fig. 527.—Hotham Carr. ½