- Chapter Twenty-Eight -
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Figure 28.8 Sculptures and metal objects in Northern Iberia. Key: f'::., Stone sculptures of
human figures; 0 Stone sculptures of animal figures; 0 Guerreros galaicos; f'::., Torques with
tulip-shaped terminals; \l Torques with conical terminals; • Symmetrical fibulae; T Swords
with sheaths; ... Foot-decorated fibulae with rectangular foot-plates.
Only 16.8 per cent of all graves in La Cogotas (Avila) contained finds, and of
these, only 18 per cent had weapons; only five possessed a full warrior panoply,
consisting of spears, dagger and shield (Kurtz 1987). In Sector VI of La Os era, which
has been published, the proportions are similar: 355 out of 5 17 burials were without
any finds. Only 65 of those with finds contained weapons, mostly 1-2 spears, with
only a few possessing a dagger or a sword and shield. These rich graves otherwise
contain horse-harness, fire-dogs, roasting-spits and large cauldrons. It is probable
that the dead were the leaders of the clans. Daggers and swords were not only
weapons but also status symbols. Thus it was the upper class of the Meseta popula-
tion who wore elements of La Tene personal equipment and who used the La Tene
sword as a prestige weapon. Many of these rich graves contain tools, which must be
regarded as punches or awls and were possibly used in the decoration of belt-plates,
dagger sheaths, etc. (Lenerz-de Wilde 1991: 2II, with ill. 152). In Grave 60 at La
Osera, which contained one of the most beautiful dagger sheaths, two small hammers
were found, clearly the tools of a fine metalworker. Therefore it is possible that a
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