Bronze swords in the Early Iron Age in Bohemia

The work aims to discuss the origin and significance of bronze swords from the Early Iron Age. In the Czech lands, these artifacts are associated exclusively with graves. Based on the study of foreign literature, a theoretical excursion is presented in terms of genesis, context and findings and concept of transition horizon Ha C1a. The following is a study based on the application of archaeometric methods on a borrowed file. Based on the results of radiographic, traceological, metallographic and isotope analysis, including chemical composition, it is possible to define practically their structural quality, potential use and origin of the material. The result is a pilot study of Ha C bronze swords, which - ideally - will be analytically extended to the context of Central Europe, not only in the West Hallstatt area, but also in the Lusatian urnfields. Keywords bronze swords - Hallstatt period - genesis - classification - radiography - use-wear analysis - metallography - chemical composition - isotope