Bronze Age Gold from Wales

With an ogival blade and a rounded butt. With two rivet holes.

Bronze dirk, 1550-1400 BCE. Found at Newchurch, mid Wales.

Bronze Age weapons have been discovered across Europe. They show how important warriors were in these early metal-working communities. Weapons have changed over time. At first flat daggers and knives were the most typical. These were followed by dirks and rapiers for stabbing and thrusting. Towards the end of the Bronze Age, the first true slashing swords became the weapons of choice. Bronze spearheads were also used. 3,700 years ago they replaced bows and arrows as the most common projectile weapon.

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