La Tène Celtic Anthropomorphic Sword / Longsword

Iron Age (La Tène) Anthropoid-Hilted Sword 4th To 1st Century B.C.

In excavated condition, with broad double-edged blade of slightly hollowed flattened diamond section tapering at the clipped-in point and decorated over its entire length on each side with delicately punched converging lines, the forte on one side with a panel punched 'EU PRO...' in Greek, hilt with guard of ogee form, tapering tang between original grip-straps secured at the top and bottom by rivets with button tips, the outer strap with incised decoration between line borders, and copper-alloy pommel formed in the round as a human head

81.4 cm. blade, 94.1 cm. overall

FOOTNOTES

This belongs to a group of Iron Age swords and daggers associated with the Late Iron Age La Tène culture, examples have been found all over former Celtic Europe, including Britain, with hilts, both in bronze and iron, of the same characteristic outline. For details regarding edged weapons of the Le Tène culture see Prof. Stuart Piggott, 'Swords and Scabbards of the British Early Iron Age', Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, vol. XVI, 1950, pp. 1-28; and J.M. Navarro, The Finds from the Site of La Tène, vol. 1, Scabbards and the Swords found in them, 2 vols. 1972 passim

A fragment of another La Tène period sword, also bearing a Greek inscription and known as the Sword of Korisios, is in the Bern Historical Museum

£1,000 - 1,500 November 2015

Source: www.bonhams.com/auctions/22749/lot/99/