The Succession of the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages—A Copper Age in America—Scriptural Notices of Bronze—Bronze preceded Iron in ancient Egypt—Bronze in ancient Greece—The Metals mentioned by Homer—Iron in ancient Greece—Bronzes among other ancient Nations—Use of Iron in Gaul and Italy—Disputes as to the three Periods—The Succession of Iron to Bronze—The Preservation of ancient Iron 1 CHAPTER II. CELTS. Origin of the word Celt—Views of early Antiquaries—Conjectures as to the Use of Celts—Opinions of modern Writers 27 CHAPTER III. FLAT AND FLANGED CELTS. Flat Celts from Cyprus and Hissarlik—Discoveries of Flat Celts in Barrows—Those ornamented on the Faces—Flanged Celts—Those from Arreton Down—And from Barrows—Decorated Flanged Celts—Flat Celts found in Scotland—Decorated Scottish Specimens—Flat Celts found in Ireland—Decorated Irish Specimens—Character of their Decorations—Flat Celts with Lateral Stops 39 CHAPTER IV. WINGED CELTS AND PALSTAVES. Origin of the term Palstave—Celts with a Stop-ridge—Varieties of Winged Celts—Transitional Forms—Palstaves with Ornaments on Face—With Central Rib on the Blade—Shortened by Wear—With a Transverse Edge—Looped Palstaves—With Ribs on Blade—With Shield-like Ornaments—With Vertical Ribs on Blade—With semicircular Side-wings hammered over—Iron Palstaves imitated from Bronze—Palstaves with two Loops—Scottish Palstaves—Irish Palstaves—Looped Irish Palstaves—Irish Palstaves with Transverse Edge—Comparison with Continental Forms 70 CHAPTER V. SOCKETED CELTS. Terms, “the Recipient” and “the Received”—Evolution from Palstaves—With “Flanches,” or curved Lines, on the Faces—Plain, with a Beading round the Mouth—Of a Gaulish type—With vertical Ribs on the Faces—With Ribs ending in Pellets—With Ribs and Pellets on the Faces—With Ribs and Ring Ornaments—Variously ornamented—Of octagonal Section—With the Loop on one Face—Without Loops—Of diminutive Size—Found in Scotland—Found in Ireland—Comparison with Foreign Forms—Mainly of Native Manufacture in Britain—Those formed of Iron 107 CHAPTER VI. METHODS OF HAFTING CELTS. The perforated Axes of Bronze—Celts in Club-like Handles—Their Hafts, as seen in Barrows—Hafting after the manner of Axes—Socketed Celts used as Hatchets—Hafted Celt found at Chiusi—Hafts, as seen at Hallstatt—Celts in some instances mounted as Adzes—No perforated Axe-heads in Britain—Hafting Celts as Chisels 146 CHAPTER VII. CHISELS, GOUGES, HAMMERS, AND OTHER TOOLS.