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Fig. 76.—The Winged Celts, or Palstave.

1. Semilunar blade; the rounded side edges are ornamented in the casting with a raised hexagon pattern; they project somewhat above the level of the flat surface of the implement. The curved stops, which are rudimentary, have their concavities facing the handle. 2. In the Palstave celt the loop is usually placed beneath the stock, and in the socketed ones it is always close to the top. The cut, drawn one-third of the actual size, represents the usual position of the loop. The lunette cutting edge, with marked recurved points, presents the appearance of having been ground.[236] These implements were cast in moulds of bronze, examples of which have been brought to light at various times. The third illustration represents the upper part of one of these celt moulds and the method of casting: they were for a long time a source of confusion to the discoverers, although Colonel Vallancy assigns them to their true use.

Wilde (p. 490) expresses the general opinion when he asserts that ‘the use of copper invariably preceded that of bronze.’ He well explains by two reasons why so few antique implements of pure copper have been found in Ireland: either a very short period elapsed between the discovery of treating the pure ores and the introduction of bronze; or the articles, once common, were recast and converted into the more valuable mixed metal. The latter cause is made probable by the early intercourse with Cornwall, one of the great tin emporia. ‘Tin-stone’ (native peroxide of tin or stannic acid) is produced in small quantities by Ireland, and Dr. Charles Smith[237] declares that he collected it.