Spatha

Spatha

This spatha, found by fishermen in the Kupa near Sisak during a low water level in the 1980s, belongs to the Lauriacum-Hromówka type.

After 15 or so years in the possession of private collectioners, it was purchased in 2000 by the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, where it was restored and conserved. That spatha, measuring 80,5 cm in total and having a blade length to width ratio of 12,3:1, matches the standards of the Lauriacum-Hromówka type. Its blade is channelled, as is usual for that type of spathae.

Interestingly, the blade displays clear traces of damascening. The second important detail is the fact that the blade was decorated with inlay on both sides: on one side a stylized figure of a warrior is clearly visible, whilst the representation on the other side is, unfortunately, very damaged and present only in traces.