The Celtic Sword

Description

With contributions by B. G. Scott. This book deals with the history of the long sword, the principal weapon used by Celts during their raids in the 4th-2nd centuries B.C. The Celts adopted this weapon from European Bronze Age cultures and completed its development after it had been superseded by short, stabbing weapons in the warfare of advanced civilizations. Nonetheless, the role played by the Celtic long sword remained considerable. In this first major study of the subject, Pleiner assesses the importance of the sword, and provides the first systematic treatment of the relevant historical and technological problems associated with its manufacture. List of Plates xi List of Figures xii List of Tables xv Introduction 1 1. THE ORIGIN OF THE CELTIC LONG SWORD IN EARLY EUROPE 4 The Birth of the Sword 5 The Origin of the Long Sword 6 The Sword and Combat in Homer 10 Changes in Warfare in Southern Europe 11 The Genesis of the Celtic Sword 13 2. STYLES OF COMBAT AMONG THE CELTS 19 The Written Evidence and its Value 19 The Nature of Continental Celtic Warfare during the Great Invasions 24 Single Combat and the Survival of Archaic Customs in Fighting 28 The Celtic Long Sword as Seen by the Classical World 33 The Later Role of the Sword in Society 35 3. NOTES ON THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE CELTIC SWORD 38 Sword Graves in Cemeteries 39 The Problem of Chieftains’ Graves 42 Mass Deposits 59 4. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CELTIC SWORD 61 The Long Sword 61 Punchmarks 64 Scabbards 65 The Anthropoid Short Sword 69 Rapiers 69 5. HOW THE LONG SWORD WAS MADE 71 The Starting Point 71 Forging Trials 73 Making Flat Blade A 75 Making Blade B, with Midrib 76 Fitting a Hilt 77 6. METALLOGRAPHIC EXAMINATIONS OF SWORDS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA 78 The Finds 78 Methods of Investigation 80 Results of Investigations 81 7. METALLOGRAPHS EXAMINATIONS OF OTHER LA TÈNE PERIOD SWORDS FROM EUROPE AND THE BRITISH ISLES 99 The Finds and Methods of Investigation 100 Investigation Results 104 8. TECHNIQUES OF SWORD MANUFACTURE 134 The Manufacture of Sword Blades 134 Group A: Swords Made of Wrought Iron 140 Group B: Swords with Medium or Hard Steel Edges 143 Hardening 151 Surface Finishing 152 Hilts 153 The Manufacture of Scabbards 154 9. BATTLEWORTHINESS 157 Criticisms in Ancient Sources 157 Notches on Blades 159 Practical Testing 163 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 165 Bibliography 170 Glossary of Technical Terms 182 Topographical Index 187 Subject Index 191