Of Arms but few examples are found in grave-mounds, although more abundant in the neighbourhood of Roman stations and towns. They consist of swords, daggers, spear-heads, and other weapons. They are, however, perhaps the most scarce of any remains of the period. The swords of bronze (figs. [299] and [300]) which have frequently been ascribed to the British period, are now pretty generally admitted to belong possibly to Roman times. The examples engraved are of the most general type, as are also the next engravings of spear and lance heads. The first ([fig. 301]), which is of iron, is from Little Chester, where it was found along with human remains. [Fig. 302] is of bronze, and is, as will be seen, of somewhat unusual form, and has a loop on either side. The next ([fig. 303]) is of bronze, and is three and a half inches long. It is of remarkably good form, deeply socketed, like the preceding example, and of a kind of leaf shape. Arrow-heads are also occasionally found. Of these the example here engraved is a good type. It is of bronze, and measures about an inch and a quarter in length.
Fig. 299.
Fig. 300.
Fig. 303.
Fig. 304.
Iron knives are occasionally found with interments. Some remarkable instances of this have been recently brought to light near Plymouth, and others again at Wetton and other places. The knives are of the form engraved on [fig. 305]. They appear to have had wooden handles, which, of course, except small traces of texture, have entirely decayed away. Another knife, although not actually found with an interment, shows the form so well that it is here engraved. It was nine and a half inches long, of peculiar shape, still retaining its handle of stag’s horn, rubbed or worn smooth; the good preservation of which we may attribute to having been imbedded in the fire-hardened earth, and sufficiently deep to secure it from injury by the fire. With the knives in the Plymouth cemetery were found portions of scissors, of the form of the sheep-shears of the present day, and these have also been found in other localities. They were of iron, and several fragments of other implements of the same material were at the same time discovered.