. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. 588 PALAFITTES, OE LACUSTKIA^ CONSTEtJCTIONS. weapon more formidable, (Fig. 70 ;) others are open-worked, with salient out- line, (Fig. 71;) fragments of the staff are also found, which was remarkably slender, and shod at its exti*emitj with an iron point. Although the socket is very small, and supposes consequently a slender staff, the blade was too carefully wrought to admit the idea of any pur- pose of exposing it to the hazard of being
. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. 588 PALAFITTES, OE LACUSTKIA^ CONSTEtJCTIONS. weapon more formidable, (Fig. 70 ;) others are open-worked, with salient out- line, (Fig. 71;) fragments of the staff are also found, which was remarkably slender, and shod at its exti*emitj with an iron point. Although the socket is very small, and supposes consequently a slender staff, the blade was too carefully wrought to admit the idea of any pur- pose of exposing it to the hazard of being lost by launching it. It was a weapon for thrusting, not for throwing.* The swords of the Teue merit particular attention. The blade (Fig. 72) has a length of from SO to 90 centimetres, is very flat, being scarcely 3 millimetres in thickness, with two edges carried regularly to a point; it has no guard, and of the hilt there remains but the tongue, which, without being very large, is yet calculated for the hand of an or- dinary man, (13 to 15 centimetres.) The transition from the tongue to the blade is formed by a graceful curve provided with an iron flange, which serves as a gitard and is adapted to a corresponding projection of the scabbard. We have not yet discovered the square form, which is the most common at Alise. A part of the swords are in their sheaths, but as they have not been attacked by rust, (the qualities of the peat having pre- served them from oxidation,) we have suc- ceeded in withdrawing several of them. They are straight and two-edged, most of them so sharp and uninjured that they might very well be used to-day. On examination we discover on their surface undulating lines, which some- what remind us of damasked blades, as if they were composed of strips and clippings which had been welded together ; the borders only are perfectly smooth, like the blades found at Several of them bear the token of the workshop near the hilt, (Fig. 74.|) We may here re
Size: 1176px × 2124px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorsmithsonianinstitutio, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840
