Iron & copper-alloy, 385 grams, 666 mm. Circa 3rd-2nd century BC. An impressive sword complete with scabbard and belt hangers. The sword is of La Tène style with a short tang and copper plates decorated on both sides with three punched dot crosses enclosed by dotted borders. The blade expands slightly with a pronounced midrib then tappers to a sharp point. The scabbard has a semi-circular copper-alloy frame with two attached plates; one plain, the other decorated with punched rings and crosses within punched dotted borders. The rest of the scabbard would have been made of leather and has not survived. Accompanying this is the original set of belt hangers that would have supported the scabbard and other accessories that the sword barer would have carried. Some restoration and conservation to the blade. Reference: for similar examples see Celtic Art by Ruth and Vincent Megaw page 134. British Museum Guide to Early Iron Age Antiquities 1925 page 58, figure. 56. A rare set in very fine condition. Ex old European collection. This item is accompanied by an XRF ancient metal test certificate from Oxford X-ray Fluorescence Ltd.