A middle La Tène Period sword from the Museum of Durrës, Albania

Ols Lafe; Errikos Maniotis

doi:10.3989/gladius.2023.01

Authors

Ols Lafe Aleksandër Moisiu University https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2583-1176
Errikos Maniotis Masaryk University, Faculty of Archaeology and Museology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6073-3631

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/gladius.2023.01

Keywords:

Durrës, Museum, sword, weapons, Celts, La Tène

Abstract

The present paper examines a sword dated in the La Tène Period, currently exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Durrës, Albania. According to the scientific staff of the Museum the archaeological context of the sword has not been specified but the blade had been found in the necropolis of the city. The analysis of the sword is based on its typological features but also the historical, the archaeological and ethnological aspects of the region had been taken into consideration. The most significant feature of the blade is of course the bending. This feature led us to correlate the examined object with the Celts, who practiced this ritual of the intentional destruction “killing” a weapon. This is the first folded sword which had been found in the territory of the modern-day Albania.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ardjanliev, P. (2014): "The Hellenistic necropolis of Deboj-Ohrid with La Tène elements", M. Guštin and W. David (eds.), The Clash of Cultures? The Celts and the Macedonian World. Schriften des Kelten-Römer-Museums Manching 9, Manching: 77-84.

Baray, L. (2014): Les mercenaires celtes et la culture de La Tène. Critères archéologiques et positions sociologiques. Dijon, Éditions universitaires de Dijon (Art, Archéologie et Patrimoine).

Budina, D. (1962): "Mbishkrime e Relieve Nga Nekropoli i Dyrrahit". Buletin i Universitetit Shtetëror të Tiranës, 2: 70-136.

Cabanes, P. (1988): Les Illyriens de Bardylis à Genthios: IVe-IIe siècles avant J.-C. Paris, Sedes.

Ceka, N. (1996): "Les Celtes en Illyrie meridionale et en Epire", P. Cabanes (ed.), L'Illyrie meridionale et l'Epire dans l'Antiquite III. Paris, De Boccard: 327-333.

Clement of Alexandria (153-217): The Stromata. Translated by William Wilson. Davis, J. L.; Hoti, A.; Pojani, I.; Stocker, S. R.; Wolpert, A. D.; Acheson, P. E. and Hayes, J. W. (2003): "The Durrës Regional Archaeological Project: Archaeological Survey in the Territory of Epidamnus/Dyrrachium in Albania". Hesperia, 72: 41-119. https://doi.org/10.2972/hesp.2003.72.1.41

Domaradski, M. (1993): = Домарадски М., Могилен Некропол В М. Атанасца При С. Тъжа. In: Първи Международен Симпозиум "Севтополис", Надгробните Могили в Югоизточна Европа. Казанлък, 4-8 юни: 267-306.

Errington, R. M. (1989): "Rome and Greece to 205 B.C.", A. E. Astin, F. W. Walbank, M. W. Frederiksen and R. M. Olgivie (eds.), CAH2 VIII: Rome and the Mediterranean to 133 B.C. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: 81-106. https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521234481.005

Fitzpatrick, A. (2018): "Migration", C. Haselgrove, K. Rebay-Salisbury and P. S. Wells (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the European Iron Age. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 1-56.

Gustin, M. (2001): "The burial of a Celtic warrior in the ancient Macedonia". Macedoniae acta archaeologica, 23: 257-266. https://doi.org/10.55973/MAA2123257g

Herodotus (1920): with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge, Harvard University Press.

Hidri, H. (1996): "Veçori të ritualit të varrimit në nekropolin e Dyrrahut (shek. VI-I p. e. sonë) / Particularités du rituel de l'enterrement à la nécropole de Dyrrachium du VIe au Ier siècles". Iliria, 26: 141-163. https://doi.org/10.3406/iliri.1996.1662

Kysela, J. and Kimmey, S. (2020): "Keltiké makhaira. On a La Tène Type Sword from the Sanctuary of Nemea". Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt, 50/2: 187-206.

Kisyov, K. (1990) = Кисьов К., Скални светилища в Родопите и Горнотракийската низина, представени с археологически материали и обкети от Смолянско и Пловдивско - Тракийската култура в Родопите е горните течения на реките Марица, Места и Струма. Смолян, 64-74.

Pinter, Z.-K. (2001): Spada și sabia medievală în Transilvania și Banat (secolele IX-XIV). Reșiţa, Banatica.

Popa, C. I. (2008): "A possible Dacian burial in the vicinity of the Piatra Craivii fortress". Apulum, 45: 357-365

Roymans, N. (1996): "The sword, or the plough. Regional dynamics in the romanisation of Belgic Gaul and the Rhineland area". Roymans, N. (ed.), From the sword to the plough. Three studies on the earliest Romanisation of Northern Gaul. Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Press: 9-126. https://doi.org/10.5117/9789053562376

Rustoiu, A. (2006): "A Journey to Mediterranean, Peregrinations of a Celtic Warrior from Transylvania". Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai, Historia, 51/1: 42-85.

Rustoiu, A. (2008): Războinici şi societate în aria celtică transilvăneană. Studii pe margineamormântului cu coif de la Ciumeşti. Cluj-Napoca, Editura Mega.

Shchukin, M. B. (1989): Rome ant the Barbarians in Central and Eastern Europe. 1st century BC-1st century AD, I-II. Oxford, British Archaeological Reports.

Shehi, E.; Velo, K.; Nushi, M. and Përzhita, A. (2020): "Nuovi dati archeologici sull estensione e l'evoluzione dell a laguna dell'antica città di Durazzo (Albania)", Journal of Ancient Topography, XXX: 81-100.

Stead, I. (1984): "Iron Age Metalwork from Orton Meadows". Durobrivae, 9: 6-7.

Szabó, M. (2001): "La formation de la communauté culturelle des Celtes orientaux aux IIIes. av. J.-C.". Comptes-rendus de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belle-Lettres, 145: 1705- 1724. https://doi.org/10.3406/crai.2001.16382

Tapavički-Ilić, M. and Filipović, V. (2011): "A Late Iron Age Grave Find from Syrmia", Iron Age Rites and Rituals in the Carpathian Basin, Proceedings of the International Colloquium from Târgu Mureș, 7-9 October.

Walbank, F. W. (1984): "Macedonia and Greece". Cambridge Ancient History, vol. VII, part. 1. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: 221-257. https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521234450.008

Waurick, G. (1988): "Helme der hellenistischen Zeit und ihre Vorläufer", Antike Helme. Sammlung Lipperheide und andere Bestände des Antikenmuseums Berlin. Monogr. RGZM 14, Mainz: 151-180.

Wilkes, J. (1992): The Illyrians. Oxford, Blackwell Publishers.