The archaeology and prehistoric annals of Scotland . iting manifestevidence of the improvements of experienced workmen. For thesethe term Axe-blades, plain or incised, appears most suitable. Theyare sometimes finished with a broad flange along the sides, therebysecuring at once economy of material with lightness and strength ;and are, oftener than any other bronze relics, decorated with in-cised ornamental patterns corresponding to those which occur onthe pottery of the same period. This kind of ornamentation, thoughfrequently executed with considerable taste, presents a striking-contrast to t
The archaeology and prehistoric annals of Scotland . iting manifestevidence of the improvements of experienced workmen. For thesethe term Axe-blades, plain or incised, appears most suitable. Theyare sometimes finished with a broad flange along the sides, therebysecuring at once economy of material with lightness and strength ;and are, oftener than any other bronze relics, decorated with in-cised ornamental patterns corresponding to those which occur onthe pottery of the same period. This kind of ornamentation, thoughfrequently executed with considerable taste, presents a striking-contrast to the graceful mouldings and perforations of the moreadvanced period. It appears to have been produced in the mostsimple manner, by striking the sur-face with a punch, sometimes (as inan example in the Scottish Museum,which measures 5| inches long) withno very marked attempt at a definitepattern. Others, however, are char-acterized by much more taste and evidences of design. The veryfine specimen figured here, from a drawing by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder,. 25-I- THE AlfCHAIC OR BRONZE PERIOD. Bart., is like tlie former, of bright yellow metal. It was discoveredin the year 1818, a few inches below the surface on the Moor of Sluie,and not far from the river Findhorn, Morayshire. Various interestingrelics have been found in this locality. In the month of March, ofthe same year, a cist was uncovered on the moor, within which laya bronze spear-head of the primitive type, 11 j inches in length, andperforated with four holes for attaching it to a handle. The point isconsiderably corroded and imperfect, and was apparently above aninch longer when complete: beside it lay two unusually largo bronzecelt-axes, about half an inch thick, and six inches long. Draw-ings and a description of these were communicated to the Society ofAntiquaries of Scotland at the time of their discoveiy, by Sir ThomasDick Lauder, and are now preserved among the Societys MSS. Va-rious examples of similarly ornamented ax
Size: 2183px × 1145px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidarchaeologyp, bookyear1851
