Central Europe, Iron Age, Hallstatt and La Tene (Celtic) cultures, ca. 800 to 0 BCE. A fabulous ensemble including five iron weapons representing some of the earliest iron work in Europe: two knife blades with tangs, a hafted arrow with a bronze tip, a short dagger blade, and a spearhead with a socket. Although today the iron is fragile, it is remarkable that it has survived. Size of largest (spearhead): 10.5" L x 1.3" W (26.7 cm x 3.3 cm)

The people of Iron Age central Europe have long fascinated archaeologists. They lived in small groups, probably loosely confederated for trading purposes but engaging in frequent intergroup warfare; as a result, weapons were hugely important and prestigious items to own. Elites controlled powerful hillforts and revered the horse, traveling by and perhaps warring with chariots. Interestingly, they were buried with weapons like these (in western central Europe, they were buried with knives and daggers; in the east, with axes).

Provenance: Ex-Estate of John Piscopo. Mr. Piscopo was one of the largest collectors of ancient weapons in the US with a collection that spanned all cultures, all ages.

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#116940

All have heavy iron patina and are fragile with some deformation of shape as shown, although their functions are clear. Spearhead has had some stabilizing agent applied to iron.