A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE most perfect workmanship with portions of their staves attached were found stuck into the bank at a depth of several feet ; pieces of defensive armour were likewise found, and part of a steel band, apparently for the shoulder retaining the bronze rivets that attached it to the cuirass. Several very large antlers were dug up at the same time (May's History of Evesham, ed. 2, p. 365). ix. Cropthorne. A bronze celt of early type was found in a gravel pit here, it is now in the Victoria Museum, Worcester. X. Charlton. An urn now in the Victoria Museum was found here in 1863 in a gravel pit 6 feet below the surface at the ballast hole. The gravel had been moved to let it in. It contained burnt bones. A bronze celt was found near it. xi. Defford. A stone celt was found here near the Avon while excavations were being made for railway purposes. It measured 6| inches by 2| by i^ inches. A portion of a human skeleton was discovered near it and most unfortunately destroyed before being examined by any competent person. This celt has been re- moved from the county by the contractor for the works. This completes the list of finds in the Avon valley itself xii. On Bredon Hill overlooking the valley there have been found from time to time various flint flakes. These are now in the Worcester Museum, there is nothing known as to or what precise part of the hill or under what circumstances they were found. xiii. Broadway. A bronze sword was found on Broadway Hill near the tower, and therefore near the line of the so-called old trackway — the Buckle Street. It is z inches in length ; it has nine rivet holes, three in the tang and three in each of the wings (Evans, p. 280). {b) Severn Valley. i. Dowles. A bronze celt was found in the gravel in the Severn in 1899 while excavating for the aqueduct of the Birmingham Corporation. It was exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries, December, 1900. It is now in the possession of Mrs. Robert Woodward of Arley Castle. ii. Bewdley. A double-edged celt of basalt was found in the river gravel at Bewdley {Proceedings of the Worcestershire Naturalists' Club, i. 194). iii. Three looped bronze palstaves were found near Bewdley. iv. A socketed bronze gouge was also found near Bewdley. v. Ribbesford. A holed celt of greenish stone found at Rib- besford in the bed of the Severn while digging for gravel. It weighs 16 ounces, is 5 inches long, 2| inches broad, 2 inches wide at one end and i| inches at the other. One end is sharp, the other blunt. It is now in the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries (Evans, p. 188 ; Allies, p. 146, pi. iv. fig. 5 ; Wright's Celt, Roman and Saxon, p. 70, fig. 2). vi. Astley. In the year i 843 a bronze palstave was found in the IQ4
