Experimental archaeology is a relatively new field and it is allowing experts to test their hypotheses about the past in a new hands-on way. A fascinating recent experiment has solved the mystery as to how swords were used in Bronze Age warfare and revealed how different fighting techniques spread across Europe.
Many thousands of Bronze Age swords have been found in peatland, rivers and burials across Europe. These weapons were made of an alloy of tin and copper and they were more likely to snap and become mangled in a fight than later iron blades. Science Magazine quotes Brian Molly, an archaeologist from University College Dublin, stating “clumsily use them, and you’ll destroy them.” This has led some to question if the bronze weapons were only used to show social status or as offering in religious rituals.
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