| Summary: | In this first major study of the subject, Dr Pleiner assesses the importance of the Celtic long sword, and provides the first systematic treatment of the relevant historical and technological problems associated with its manufacture. The long sword was the principal weapon used by Celts during their raids down south to the world of classical antiquity. They adopted it from European Bronze Age cultures and completed its development after it had been superseded by short, stabbing weapons in the warfare of advanced civilizations. Nonetheless, the role played by the Celtic long sword remained considerable. Through the wide application of metallographic investigations, the author shows that the technological level of the Celtic swordsmiths was in the majority of cases far higher than that suggested by ancient authors. The swords reveal trials with progressive manufacturing processes and hard materials, such as carbon steels. Dr Pleiner also discusses the Celtic mode of fighting, the appearance of long swords in sources in Celtic archaeological sites, as well as their social and symbolical meaning among Celts and its practical use in combat.
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