Part 27 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 157.--Flint Hammer, fitted with a Stag's-horn Handle.]

This mode of insertion into a handle is frequently met with during the polished-stone epoch, as we have already stated upon the authority of Boucher de Perthes (see fig. 112).

There was also another way of adapting for use the stone chisels and hammers. The following is the mode employed. The flint was inserted into a short holder of stag's horn, hollowed out at one end for this purpose, the other end of the piece of horn being cut square. This squared end, which was thinner than the rest of the holder, was fitted into a wooden handle, which had been perforated with a hole of the same shape and size.

M. Desor, in his 'Memoire sur les Palafittes,' supplies the following sketch (fig. 158), as representing these double-handled hatchets.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 158.--Stone Hatchet, with double Handle of Wood and Stag's Horn.]

It is very seldom that hatchets of this type are met with in a complete state in the lacustrine habitations of Switzerland; the handles have generally disappeared. In other localities, where the hatchets are very plentiful, very few holders are found. Is it not the case that in these spots the stone was the special object of work and not the handles?

There were, in fact, in Switzerland, as in France and Belgium, workshops devoted to the manufacture of these articles. The large number of hatchets, either just commenced or defective in workmans.h.i.+p, which have been found in some of the princ.i.p.al lacustrine settlements leave no doubt on this point.

The finest and most carefully-wrought instruments are the hammers and double, or hatchet-hammers. Most of them are made of serpentine. One of the ends is generally rounded or flattened, whilst the other tapers off either into a point or a cutting edge, as represented in figs. 159 and 160, taken from M. Desor's work. They are perforated with a round hole intended to receive a handle of wood. This hole is so sharply and regularly cut out, that it is difficult to believe it could have been made with nothing better than a flint tool. Metal alone would appear to be capable of effecting such finished work. This is one of the facts which tend to the idea that the lacustrine settlements, which have been ascribed to the Stone Age, belong rather to the bronze epoch.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 159-160.--Serpentine Hatchet-hammers, from the Lacustrine Habitations of Switzerland.]

Fig. 161 represents another hatchet-hammer obtained from the Swiss lakes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 161.--Another Hatchet-hammer, from the Lacustrine Habitations of Switzerland.]

The knives and saws have nothing remarkable about them. They are mere flakes of flint, long and narrow in shape, the cutting edge or teeth being on the widest side. There are some which are fitted into handles of stag's horn, as represented in fig. 162, taken from M. Desor's work.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 162.--Flint Saw fitted into a piece of Stag's Horn.]

They must have been fastened into the handles by means of bitumen, for traces of this substance have been found on some of the handles. The same plan was adopted in order to fix the hatchets in their holders.

The spear-heads (fig. 163) are very skilfully fas.h.i.+oned; their shape is regular, and the chiselling very perfect, although inferior to that observed in Denmark. They are made level on one side, and with a longitudinal middle ridge on the other.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 163.--Flint Spear-head from the Lacustrine settlements of Switzerland.]

The arrow-heads are very varied in shape (fig. 164). In delicacy of workmans.h.i.+p they are in no way inferior to the spear or javelin-heads.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 164.--Various shapes of Flint Arrow-heads, from the Lacustrine settlements of Switzerland.]

The cutting of these small objects must have required much labour and skill. Some are toothed on the edges, which must have rendered the wounds inflicted by them much more dangerous. The greater part of these arrow-heads are made of flint, but some have been found the material of which is bone, and even stag's horn.

The arrow-heads were fixed into the shafts by means of bitumen. This plan is represented in figs. 165 and 166, which are given by M.

Mortillet in his 'Promenades prehistoriques a l'Exposition Universelle.'

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 165.--Arrow-head of Bone fixed on the Shaft by means of Bitumen.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 166.--Stone Arrow-head fixed on the Shaft by means of Bitumen.]

Sometimes they were merely attached to the shaft by a ligature of string (fig. 167).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 167.--Arrow-head fixed on the Shaft by a Ligature of String.]

A few relics have been discovered of the bows which were used to impel these arrows. They were made of yew, and roughly cut.