Dagger Blade

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Artist
Name	Unknown
Basic Info
Period	Geometric period to Classical
Created in	Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe
Century	8th-2nd century BCE
Culture	Greek
Dimensions	12 cm (4 3/4 in.)
Harvard Museum
Department	Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics
Division	Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact	am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Context

This heavily corroded blade is broken into two pieces, the smaller comprising the tip and part of the blade and the larger comprising the rest of the blade and part of the tang. Longitudinal and lateral cracks in the metal run the length of the object. With a semi-rectangular tang on one end, which appears to have been broken, the knife tapers gently into a broad rounded tip at the opposite end. The holes for two rivets are apparent at the shoulder of the blade near the tang, most likely for securing a handle made from another material.

David Smart

TechnicalDetails

Technical Observations

The patina is very heavily corroded with a cracked and splitting surface, exposing layers of green and red corrosion. The object is completely mineralized, as can be seen in the cross section, leaving the knife blade with little or no metal preserved and therefore quite brittle. The tang is broken off and missing. The blade was probably made by casting and hot working. Two rivets used for attachment to a handle are preserved in the corrosion products.
 
Carol Snow (submitted 2002)

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of the Misses Norton