Details

LOT 0248

Iron Age Celtiberian Dagger

CIRCA 6TH-5TH CENTURY B.C. OR LATER

12 1/4 in. (255 grams, 31 cm).

Featuring a leaf-shaped double-edged iron blade, shallow fullers tapering to a point, short straight quillons, a soldered two-part grip with ridged middle bulge, the flat pommel surmounted with two spherical finials.

Provenance

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

Literature

Cf. Nieva, I.F., Zubillaga, E.G., 'Las armas de las necropolis Celtibericas de Carasta y La Hoya (Alava, Espana), Tipologia de sus punales y prototipos del Pugio' in Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies, 8, 1997, pp.137-150, fig.5, 2; Quesada Sanz, F., ‘Gladius Hispaniensis: an archaeological view from Iberia’ in Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies, JRMES, 8, 1997, pp.251-270.

Footnotes

This type of dagger presents a plate handle system, very similar to that of the Fronton sword and bilobular types, but unlike these, it develops to an antenna terminal on the pommel. It is a type of dagger that is documented in peninsular necropoleis of Hispania from the Iron Age II, such as La Mercadera, Requijana de Gormaz or Uxama. It is type V of short antennae daggers according the classification of F. Quesada Sanz, a possible ancestor of the Roman pugio.