Wielding the sword: metal, bone and ivory crafts in the Second Iron Age in the Iberian Peninsula

This study analyses an exceptional collection of straight-bladed swords and falcatas from the Second Iron Age (6th-1st century BCE) in the eastern seaboard of the Iberian Peninsula. The unique nature of these swords lies in the preservation of their grips, made from hard animal materials, mainly ivory, and decorated with inlaid iron threads. They were found in sites in close proximity to each other, primarily necropolises, dating from the second half of the 5th century to the 4th century BCE. This study reflects on their value as prestige items and on the people who made them, taking into account the evident need for collaboration between craftspeople working with different raw materials and the experts who worked with them, mastering different techniques, skills and tools.