About an engraving of a weapon from Citânia de Briteiros (Northern Portugal)

Warrior iconography at the end of the Iron Age

Abstract

An engraved motif has been recently identified in the building known as the "Council House", in Citânia de Briteiros (Guimarães, Northern Portugal). It is a falcata type sword from Late Iron Age and it was carved in the surface of the inner stone bench of the building. After a general description of the space, here we make a classification of the object depicted, mentioning eventual similar examples and searching for an interpretation of the engraving. The carving of this motif would be related with the function of the house, a possible space of commensality, celebration, ceremony or political activity. Here we propose its interpretation as a marker of status and hierarchy, among the people that use to sat on this enclosure.