Bronze Age Gold from Wales

With a flat mid-rib, broadening towards the hilt. There is one rivet hole, which is split, and two grooves on the sides of the hilt.

Bronze rapier, 1550-1150 BCE.

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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