The paper deals with the problem of swords in the West Balt Circle. It has been stated that they lack here almost entirely, with the exception for several swords known. The author opposes such idea, showing new materials proving the usage of swords in the Balt cultural milieu, specifically swords from bog sacrificial sites (Wólka, Czaszkowo) and elements of swords’ scabbards, fittings of baldric belts aimed to hang the scabbard, or sword’s handle fitting discovered in graves without swords themselves. That phenomenon is observed both in the Roman (the Bogaczewo culture and Dollkeim-Kovrovo culture) and Migration Period (the Olsztyn group). It seems to prove that Balts frequently avoided placement of swords in graves what could be expressed by the value of swords (see long usage of broken and then sharpened swords) or ritual matters/beliefs.
The author discusses the development of early thrusting swords in the Bronze Age Aegean (Types A and B) and their Anatolian and Levantine counterparts. Both in the Aegean and the Near East continuous developments produced almost simultaneously similar types of thrusting sword, but there is no reason to assume that the Anatolian or Levantine types had any appreciable influence in the Aegean and vice versa. Arguments for the Aegean pedigree of the Type A sword follow. The flanged-hilted type B sword was introduced not to replace that of Type A, but as a result of developments in fencing. It is argued for the integrated use of the long Type A sword and the Type B dirk or sword; in a set of two swords the latter had probably the function of an auxiliary weapon intended, first of all, for parrying a blow.
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Occurrence of weapons in late LaTène period is very sporadic in the area of south-west Slovakia. There are very occasional or lost findings. Spearheads with facetted socket and middle rib are appearing there. Rarely, blades of Celtic swords are appearing as well. These are from the findings from the area of mountain chain Small Carpathia and its fore field. Dating of these weapons falls under the late LaTène period, LTC2–LTD2 and Roman period.
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