Page:Prehistoric Britain.djvu/149

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ARTS AND INDUSTRIES
141

being further subdivided according as the form resembles a leaf, a lozenge or a triangle—a division which is also applicable to spear-heads. The workmanship on some of these flint objects displays marvellous skill, especially in the execution of what is known as ripple-flaking. Having secured the tip, the warrior, or sportsman, had next to consider how it could be best attached to the shaft or handle. This was generally effected in the case of the arrow by inserting the lower end of the flint into a slit in the wood, and then tying it with a string. Among the lake-dwellers of Switzerland a kind of asphalt was used to keep the head firmly in position. It is perhaps unnecessary to say that the presence of arrow-points implies the other equipments of the archer, viz. the bow, the arrow-shaft, the quiver and the wrist-bracer. Of the three former articles almost nothing has survived in this country, owing no doubt to their decay, but in the Swiss lake-dwellings several specimens of the bow have been found. One from Rohenhausen was made of yew, about five feet in length, and showed the notch for the string at both ends. The wrist-bracer, being made of stone, and therefore not liable to decay, has been found in several localities in this country, generally among the contents of graves The few objects that may be classified as spear- or javelin-heads differ from arrow-heads only in being a little larger, but seldom exceeding three inches in length. Among weapoiis may be noticed the so-called