The Poignards

All the male statues of groups A and B have a POIGNARD on the lower part of the body, as unique sexual distinction element.
This object, which has a deep symbolic significance, usually has a triangular blade (in some cases sub-triangular), a short handle and a semi-circular pommel. In the statues belonging to group A the poignard was drawn with its contour only, without any other detail. Instead the weapons on the statues of group B (Minucciano I, Taponecco, Filetto IV) have some structural details, as the central line of the blade and the strengthening along the side near the handle.
The dagger of Filetto IV is the most accurate one : the metal buttons along the curved side of the pommel are also shown.

 

The Daggers of Group A	The Daggers of Group B

 

The dagger shown on the statues of groups A and B is the typical triangular one of the Remedello Culture (Copper Age, northern Italy, about second half of the third millennium b.C.). It was represented also on the prehistoric stelae of Trentino and South Tirol and on many rock engravings of Valcamonica and Valtellina in the central Alps.

 

Scene with human figures and daggers. Second Rock of Cemmo, Capo di Ponte, Camonica Valley, Italy

 

One of these poignards was also found within the prehistoric burial cave near the Castle of Vecchiano (Pisa, Italy). It is probable that the blade was realized with copper, while the handle and the knob were done using wood or other materials.

Copper dagger from the Castle Cave, Vecchiano (Pisa, Italy)

 

The Dagger of Group C

The statues from Filetto I and Filetto II, both belonging to group C, have a particular dagger or a short sword on the right side. Its pommel is shaped as two curved arms. The figure shows the dagger of Filetto II which is represented with its shealt.
This weapon is typical of the Celtic Iron Age; more precisely it belongs to the Hallstatt Civilization, localized in the central Europe about in the first half of the first millennium b.C.

 

The Celtic Sword (VI sec. a.C.) (.JPG 15 KB)

 

The Dagger of CANOSSA

A different and particular weapon is represented on the statues from Canossa and Gigliana.
It has a rectangular blade with parallel axial lines and three cusps at the end.
This weapon cannot be find on the other Italian stelae or among the rock engravings. There are two main hypotheses: it can be the usual dagger represented within its sheath or a short sword of the Italian Iron Age.