Notes on Discoveries of Bronze Implements, &o., in the West Riding

Abstract

I assume that objects of known Roman make, either in pottery or metal, will not be deemed pre-historic, although made or used before being registered in historic times But I think that objects evidently native or British may be classed as pre-historic, even when used by the Romans or in historic times, with that understanding I place first from Thoresby’s Ducatus Leodiensis, p. 565, the discovery of a British urn, 10 inches in diameter, in which was “ a brass lance, a stone to sharpen it, and a mallet’s head, of spreckled marble, polished 6 inches in length, 3 1/2 broad, and 7 in circumference. It was discovered in the field of Stephen Tempest, of Broughton, Esq.” Thoresby describes it as very artificially done, as if it had been a Roman improvement of British work. For his desertation and further suppositions see Ducatus, p. 566. The lance he describes as of brass, scarce an inch broad, and by its tapering 3 inches long, sharp enough to shave a solemn priest. The stone is of blueish grey stone, scarce an inch in thickness, though three long. There were also certain bone instruments mostly decayed to ashes, the ends of which were bored through the same size of holes as the lance and stone are. Use unknown, tapering like a bodkin to the end quarter of an inch. For some further but uncertain discoveries and objects see p. 567. For such objects and there bearing see Evan’s Stone Implements, pp. 173, 187 ...