Abstract
From the beginning of the Iron Age in Europe a number of different types of iron swords were successively developed by the smiths, who were eager to exploit the possibilities of the new material. The earliest 'Hallstadt' iron swords were of wrought iron. They were comparatively short weapons, and could withstand lateral strains fairly well. The swords of the ensuing period were longer, but they were still composed of wrought iron, a material which the craftsmen had not yet learnt to make both hard and tough. The Long Sword developed by the Celtic smiths, which succeeded them, had a longer reach, and, as a fine slashing weapon, was opposed to the shorter, sturdier sword of the Roman legionaries. Though it had the longer reach the Celtic sword bent rather easily, and did not keep a sharp edge. For it was of wrought iron, or perhaps an unhardened mild steel. As a result we learn that at the Battle of
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