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exchange

Coinage

Coinage emerged during the Iron Age as symbolic tokens, and gradually took on a role as a formalised method of exchange – first on the basis of their intrinsic value and later for their agreed symbolic value, as in our own fiat coinage. Throughout their existence coins have been hoarded, usually surviving due to accident but sometimes also because of their deliberate votive burial. Continue reading →

Bronze Age Dagger

A quartz crystal dagger with ivory handle was recovered from a Copper-Age tomb in southern Spain in 2008 within a highly unusual grave assemblage, dominated by exotic Ivory objects. This unique object has a blade, around 18cm long, made from a single piece of quartz crystal that was mounted in a highly decorated ivory handle and found accompanied by a carved ivory plaque, probably part of its sheath. Continue reading →