A CATALOGUE OF BRONZE IMPLEMENTS.
ITO THE Emma OF THE " SPECTATOR."7
Snt,—It has long been realized that various events that hap- pened in the Bronze Age, such as movements of peoples and of trade, have had a marked effect on the subsequent history of Europe, and that by the study of these movements we may hope to solve many of the obscurities which meet us at the dawn of the Historic Age. Experience has shown us that many of these difficulties may be cleared up by an exhaustive study of the distributions of certain types of implements and weapons used at this period. It is true that many such objects have dis- appeared, while others lying in museums and private collections entirely lack evidence of the site of their discovery; but there are quite a sufficient number of well-authenticated specimens to solve most, if not all, of the problems involved. The speci- mens are, however, scattered throughout a large number of museums and other collections. In many cases no adequate description has been published. It has been felt that if a com- plete corpus or descriptive list of these objects could be formed, if only in manuscript, a great difficulty would be removed from the path of etudeats of this period.
The British Association for the Advancement of Science has accordingly appointed a Committee to compile such a catalogue of "all the metal objects of the Bronze Age in the museums and collections in the British Isles "; hoping that this example may be followed by similar associations in other countries. This Bronze Implement Committee has already catalogued and Blur trated more than two thousand implemente, weapons, and other bronze objects on separate cards, together with all available record of date and place of discovery, and of other objects found associated. The British Association has already voted two annual grants of £100 towards the expense of the catalogue, and has authorized the Committee to appeal for further funds. Generous donors have already subscribed more than £50 in the year 1919-20, and a fresh appeal for contributions is to be circulated forthwith.
The object of the present letter is to call public attention to the valuable work already accomplished, and to the need of further help in order to complete it with the least possible delay; and in particular to invite the owners of private collec- tions of ancient bronze implements which have not yet been catalogued to communicate with the Secretary, Mr. Harold Peake, Westbrook House, Newbury, if they are willing to allow their treasures to be examined and described. It cannot be too clearly understood that the value of such a list depends on its completeness, no less than on the accuracy of its details; and the Committee will gladly do all in their power to relieve the
owners of collections from trouble and expense in making the necessary descriptions and drawings. The Committee would also welcome offers of co-operation from local archaeologists and experienced draughtsmen, so as to economize the time and travelling expenses of its regular assistants. Drawings and descriptions may be made in the first instance on any con- venient paper. as they must eventually be transferred to standard cards, which, when classified and indexed, are to be stored eventually at some central institution, as the British Association may direct.—I am, Sir, Sze.,
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