Celts (named from the Late Latin celtis, a chisel), is the name given to certain prehistoric weapons or other implements of stone or bronze which have been found over nearly the whole surface of the earth. Stone celts are found in the form of hatchets, adzes, chisels, etc. In size they vary, some being found only about one inch in length, and others approaching two feet; but the most common length is from six to eight inches, and the breadth is usually about half or one third of the length. The materials of which they are made are flint, chert, clay-slate, porphyry, various kinds of greenstone and of metamorphic rocks, and, in short, any very hard and durable stone.
Bronze celts belong to a later period than stone ones, and are not so numerous. Some stone celts, however, have been found along with bronze celts in such a manner as to show that stone celts were still used when the method of working bronze had been discovered. Bronze celts are not found so large as the largest stone celts, the largest bronzecelt being under one foot; but the average size of a bronzecelt is about the same as that of a stone, namely about six inches. Research Celts
In geology, clay-slate is a rock consisting of clay which has been hardened and otherwise changed, for the most part extremely fissile and often affording good roofing-slate. In colour it varies from greenish or bluish grey to lead colour. The cleavage is independent of the stratification. It rarely lies parallel to the bedding, generally crossing the strata at all angles. Research Clay-Slate
Hone is the name given to several varieties of slaty stones employed in whetting knives, razors, or other edge-tools. They are usually pieces of hard close-grained clay-slate, containing minute particles of quartz, with a uniform consistence. The best-known varieties are the Ayr stone, so called from being found in the river Ayr, in Scotland; the Charnley Forest stone, found in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire; the German hone, the Canada oil-stone, Turkey oil-stone, etc. Research Hone
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Abbreviations
Research Celts
