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Leaf-shaped, with grooved and bevelled edges. The handle-plate is T-shaped and contains two rivet-holes, with one rivet remaining, and a depression for a third hole, but not actually bored. There were to have been two holes in the shoulders, but only the lower has been bored in each case.

Leaf-shaped sword, 1000-800 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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