CELTIC BROADSWORD C.400-100 BC

La Tene culture. A two handed sword with characteristic broad double edged blade with rounded tip. These were used for slashing or hacking only, not thrusting, which the broad section for the full length of the blade optimized, in the technique specific to the culture. 31" total length. Well forged with rectangular section tang and depressed medial stepped ricasso. Original arched guard which rests on the step of the ricasso, providing a blade catcher with the ricasso. Excavated with excellent profile including the rounded tip of the blade preserved intact. Two small areas of copper on the surface of the blade from electrolytic transfer from the scabbard, mounts while buried. Scabbard now perished. Norse literature identifies two types of swords, the svaerd which is a blunt slashing sword and the maekir, a tapered pointed sword. See Records of the Medieval Sword, Oakeshott, p.20 illustrating and discussing examples of both found in Denmark. The La Tene evolved from the Halstatt culture and populated vast areas of Europe, including Ireland, England, Scandinavia and northern Europe to the Mediterranean, through conquest, settlement and trade. This sword is a well preserved classic example of one of the two broad swords which empowered the conquest.