John Brent

“ In classing bronze implements amongst those of stone or flint, it will be understood that we do not adopt the hypothesis which some antiquaries contend for, that there existed, in a sort of chronological order, three distinct ages of stone, bronze, and iron. We are convinced that there is evidence—at least in this country—that a rude and savage people might have lived contemporaneously with more civilised tribes, or races, to whom the use of a higher class of manufactured articles was familiar. ”

“ The weapons of a people capable of offering a successful resistance to the legions of the Roman Empire would imply the use, or partial use, of weapons of a superior manufacture to those discovered in the ancient barrows, and induce us to consider that the construction of these graves and their artificial contents were the results of the labours of an older race of men than the so-called Celto-Britons. ”

“ In the interments generally considered the most ancient in this country—British, Celtic, or whatever they may appropriately be termed—we discover implements, weapons, and a few personal relics of simple forms and of rude materials.
The gold ornaments being an exception to the above we shall refer to them presently.
The stone axe, hammer and adze; the arrow or spear-head; the pebble scarcely if at all fashioned by hand and reserved for the sling; skinning-knives of flint, and flint flakes still more rudely manufactured; bronze celts of various shapes; clay beads ”

“ The weapons of the South Sea Islanders give us some idea how rude implements may be supplied with handles either fixed into a solid piece of wood, or placed in a split or cavity and fastened by thongs or some other description of tie. The presence of the loop on the bronze celts (Figs. 4 and 5) obviously suggests its use to assist in giving it greater firmness of hold, and the ridge or socket also indicates the method of inserting the implement in the staff or handle. ”

“ Similar relics have been found also in Dorsetshire, Derbyshire, and in Scotland.
Bronze spear-heads have also been deposited with the remains of the population of the so-called age of stone, and gold bucklers have been discovered exhibiting considerable probability that they were worn by the same people. A remarkable story is told relating to one of these ancient interments, which exhibits in a striking view the force of imagination. ”

“ Undoubtedly bronze if not iron implements have been found in this country deposited contemporaneously with those of bone and flint. The usages of almost every nation prove there ever existed different styles of arms for the various classes of the community. ”

“ The various tribes who encountered Cæsar, and who on more than one occasion repulsed his legions, can hardly be identified with a people using weapons of the simplest materials and most primitive construction. ”