Celtic sword scabbard plate
A sword would have been a treasured item to a Celtic man. This decorative plate shows how highly they were thought of as it would have been very expensive. It covered the scabbard which held the sword when it wasnât being used.
The fine detail on this shows the level of skill native Britains had in iron working. This decoration is similar to Celtic art discovered in Switzerland. This scabbard plate was excavated in Sutton on Trent in Nottinghamshire.
This sword scabbard is an example of high Iron Age craftsmanship. The scabbard plate has panels of incised âladderingâ, which is similar to examples found in Switzerland. It may date from the 2nd century BC.
The Iron Age dates from 600 BC - 50 AD. This was a time when native Britons began working in iron. Celtic society was made up of warring tribes who didnât see themselves as one distinct people. The term âCelticâ would have been meaningless to people at the time.
The Druids were very important to the native Britons and may have had more power than kings. They were a kind of elite-class of priests, political advisors, teachers and healers.
Iron Age warriors would cut off the heads of their enemies in battle and display them as trophies. They mounted heads in doorposts and hung them from their belts. To them, the seat of spiritual power was the head. By taking the head of an enemy warrior they took that power for themselves.
The Humber is a Celtic river name meaning 'good- well'.
