Die Waffen von Staré Hradisko

Abstract

An assemblage of some 450 weapons from Staré Hradisko is one of the largest ever recovered from an oppidum. They mainly date from phases LT C2 and LT D1 of the traditional chronological system. Although it is difficult to associate any of the finds directly with their archaeological contexts, it is clear that Staré Hradisko must have served as an armoury of some kind, which produced swords and accessories as well as lances, spears and arrowheads, and probably also spurs and shields. A paper by R. Pleiner in the appendix presents information about the manufacturing technique of two sword blades, a lance and a spear. There are clues, but no evidence, of cultic deposits of weapons. The arms discovered at Staré Hradisko correspond with what one would expect for the region of Bohemia,  Moravia and Slovakia, though certain types point to various links, mainly with the East, North and West, thus reflecting the mobility of  Celtic warriors.