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Enormous Celtic Iron Sword LaTene Period ca 200 BC browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World: Pre AD 1000: item # 799564
Priceless Past 562 Lakeland Plaza #353 Cumming, Georgia, 30040 USA Guest Book $4500 |
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| This is an iron sword and sheath from the Celtic culture. The name “Celtic” was a term applied to the ‘barbarian’ tribes of Europe that constantly threatened the more civilized Mediterranean world. Members of various Celtic tribes likely never referred to themselves by any name other than their tribal name and probably never even considered themselves part of a larger European culture. Celtic culture is divided into two main archaeological periods. Each named after the geographical site where characteristic burials were first located. The earliest is the Halstatt period named after a find in Austria. The first artifacts from the Halstatt Celts were found on the shores of Lake Halstatt in 1846. The Hallstatt era is divided into four phases: A, B, C, and D, by modern day archaeologists. Generally speaking, Hallstatt A and B correspond to the late Bronze Age, circa 1200-800 B.C.E.; Hallstatt C refers to the very early Iron age, c. 800-600 B.C.E.; and Hallstatt D ranges from c. 600-500 B.C.E. The La Tène culture evolved during the fifth century B.C. and is named for a site on Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland where the first evidence of a unique art-style, usually represented in the metal-work, was discovered. The era in which the La Tène culture flourished begins around 500 B.C.E. and ends, on the European continent at least, around 50 B.C.E. This particular sword is very wide and long and is fused inside of its original sheath or scabbard. The handle would have been made of organic material, probably wood, which is now missing. There is an attachment point on the scabbard that is still intact. The guard is of the classic Celtic sine wave configuration. This sword likely dates to the late La Tène period because swords made prior to the second century B.C. were narrower than this specimen and had longer, sharper points. The total length is 94.5 cm and the weight is1301 grams - truly amazing!!! | ||
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