I am seeking opinions on a sword on display at the Worcester Art Museum, previously from the Higgins Collection.

http://vqs61.v3.pair.com:8080/emuseum/view/ob...b852a83d78

They have the item listed as "about 600-500 B.C.E.". Stylistically I would have considered this sword to be Urnfield/Hallstatt B1 and therefore would have assigned a date range of 1000-900 BCE. See: http://1501bc.com/files/vollgriffschwerter_de...ate103.jpg (image from "Die vollgriffschwerter der urnenfelderzeit aus Bayern" by Hermann Muller-Karpe) specifically #73.

What do you think?

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Image © Worcester Art Museum

I'd say you're right! That's not the style I know best, but I've always seen them given earlier dates (900 or before).

Matthew

It is late Bronze Age / early Iron Age. Definitely not 600-500 B.C

Matthew and Dan, thank you very much for your input, you have helped relieve that niggling feeling that I have missed something in my research. Very much appreciated.