BRONZE EPOCH.
The Age of Bronze bears no direct relation to the antiquity of man, for
it is largely embraced in written history. Although history does not
record the events of the age of bronze in Western Europe, yet history
covers the time which embraces the use of bronze. This epoch has more to
do with the archaeologist than the geologist. It is marked by the
abundance of swords, spears, fish-hooks, sickles, knives, ornaments, and
other articles made of bronze. The bronze implements are principally
found in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Denmark, Norway, Italy, and
Switzerland. The lake-settlements of Switzerland known to belong to this
epoch are: Geneva, ten settlements; Neuchatel, twenty-five settlements;
Bienne, ten settlements; Morat, three settlements; and Sempach, two
settlements. To these may be added some of the crannoges of Ireland;
also many tumuli and mounds.
_Type._--The man of this epoch was not unlike that of the preceding. His
head was rather broad than long, he was small, energetic, and muscular;
his hands were small, as is proven by the remarkably small handles of
their swords, which are too small for a hand of the present day. This
type of man has maintained itself in the north of Switzerland to the
present time.
_Habitations and Food._--The caves and rock-shelters gave way entirely
to the rude huts which now protected man. If they were resorted to, it
was only from some peculiar cause or danger. The food was the same as in
the neolithic, with additions to the cereals.
_Clothing._--The skins of animals were used less than formerly for
clothing. Garments made of other material have been found, and even the
whole dress of a chief. In a tumulus of Jutland there were found a thick
woollen cap, a coarse woollen cloak (Fig. 17), semicircular in form,
scalloped out round the neck, shaggy in the inside, three feet four
inches long, and wide in proportion; two woollen shawls, a woollen
shirt, woollen leggings, and the remains of a pair of leather boots.
Fibrous plants also contributed to the comfort of man, and were possibly
used for summer wear, and under garments in winter.
[Illustration: FIG. 17. WOOLLEN CLOAK OF THE BRONZE EPOCH, FOUND IN
1861, IN A TUMULUS IN JUTLAND.]
_Implements._--The people of this age made great improvements in their
weapons, tools, and ornaments. They consist of bronze celts, swords,
hammers, knives, hair-pins, small rings, ear-rings, bracelets,
fish-hooks, awls, spiral-wires, lance-heads, arrow-heads, buttons,
needles, various ornaments, saws, daggers, sickles, and double-pointed
pins. There were also ornaments of gold. Only one implement, a winged
celt, has been found, which bore an inscription.
_Arts._--Progress was made in the art of weaving. Soldering and the
moulding of metal were practised; foundries were established, the
remains of which have been discovered at Devaine and Walflinger in
Switzerland; stone moulds were used, one of which, on trial, produced a
hatchet exactly similar to those which have been collected. The moulds
were usually made out of sand. The crucible used for the melting of the
metal was made out of pottery which was placed over a hole in the earth
filled with burning charcoal; when the metal was melted, it was poured
into the mould. Pottery took new shapes and was adorned with various
patterns. Glass, which has so long been ascribed to Phoenician origin,
was invented in the bronze age, for glass beads, of a blue or green
color, have been found in the tombs of this epoch.
_Agriculture._--The cereals attest to the tilling of the soil. The
ground was prepared by the projecting branch of a stem of the tree, used
as a plough. The grain was stored for winter use, and when required was
crushed by being rubbed between two stones serving as a mortar.
_Fishing and Navigation._--There are no distinct traces of improvement
beyond the past epoch, in fishing and navigation, unless it be in the
improved hooks made of bronze.
_Burial._--The custom of burning the dead was almost universal in
Denmark, and was more or less practised in other countries. The ashes
and fragments of the bone were collected and placed either in or under
an urn. When buried, the corpse was usually placed in a contracted
position, but occasionally extended. With the dead were buried their
implements and clothing. The body of the chief discovered in a tumulus
in Jutland, where the clothing was found, was buried in a coffin nine
and two-third feet long, over two feet in breadth, and covered by a
movable lid. The body was in a good state of preservation, owing to the
action on it of water strongly impregnated with iron. It was wrapped in
the woollen cloak, and again wrapped in an ox's hide. Buried with it
were the shawls, leggings, shirt, boots, and caps, two small boxes, a
bronze razor, comb, a bronze sword in a wooden sheath, and a long
woollen band. In other coffins have been found swords, knives, brooches,
awls, tweezers, and buttons, all of bronze. In a baby's coffin was found
an amber bead, and a small bronze bracelet.
_Religious Belief._--Many crescents, made of stone and earthenware, have
been found which are regarded, by some archaeologists, as religious
emblems. Dr. Keller calls them "moon images," and has devoted a short
chapter to their consideration.[77] On the other hand, Lubbock and Carl
Vogt regard them as resting-places for the head at night.[78] They
carefully arranged their long hair, and evidently sacrificed comfort for
vanity. They carried a long pin with which to scratch the head. This
kind of a pillow is still used by the Fuegeans and Abyssinians, who have
their hair elaborately decorated; and in some cases this is never
disturbed. If the people were worshippers the crescent is the only
evidence from archaeology. No idols have ever been discovered. That the
people were already worshippers may be learned from the traditions
recorded in history.