The carp's tongue sword is the name given by modern archaeologists to a type of bronze sword that was common to western Europe during the 8th century BC.
The blade of the carp's tongue sword was wide and parallel for most of its length but the final third narrowed into a thinner end.
The design was probably developed in north western France and combined the broad blade useful for slashing with a thinner, elongated tip suitable for stabbing. Its advantages saw its adoption across Atlantic Europe.
In Britain, it replaced earlier Bronze Age slashing swords from the Ewart Park Phase and has given its name to the Carp's Tongue complex of metalwork in the south east.
Last updated: 05-25-2005 02:31:16