The Celts, as a warlike race, had a number of weapons at their disposal. The most common for the average soldier was the spear and the shield. Other weapons included swords, slings, and bows and arrows.

SPEARS

The spear was the weapon of choice of the common soldier. Partly due to the cost of swords, the spear would also serve as a hunting instrument during times of peace. The spear heads varied in form and function. Some were very wide. Some had vicious serration, causing a more severe exit wound. The heads were made of iron. Spears averaged between six and eight feet in length.

Shields

Shields were general made of wood. The construction was of flat boards, often bordered with leather. This would help protect the wood from the ravages of weather and swords. The shape was oval, or occasionally rectangular. The shields were most likely decorated in wild, bright, colors, and embellished with metal facing plates. The plates of surviving shields show animals and Celtic designs on the fronts. The size of the shields grew from about 3 feet eight inches to four feet ten inches at the time of the Roman conquest.

The shields had a single handle for holding them in battle. It ran horizontally, and was set in the central section of the board. The exterior had a middle section made out of wood, called a boss, that projected from the middle. This made the shield as much of an offensive weapon as a defensive weapon, in that it could be used to strike at opponents in a two front attack, with both shield and sword or spear pushing out at the enemy.

Armor

The Celts invented chain-mail, the protective devices made of linked metal rings. The smithing techniques involved in making this was very labor-intensive. Each ring had to be individually forged. Consequently, only the highest of the nobles or the most senior warriors would be allowed to wear it. With an average weight of between thirty and forty pounds, it was not a light load to carry into battle. It appears that the mail was passed on from one warrior to another, and thus was used for a number of generations.

Most Celts didn't wear armor. Many went into battle with only their breeches and tunics. Early on, however, most Celtic warriors went into the fray in the nude. By the end of the Celtic rule in Gaul, only certain groups were running naked towards the fight.

HELMETS

The Celts at one time rode into battle with terrifying helmets. Some were almost two feet high. At the start of the La Tene eras, most were made out of bronze. By the time of the Roman conquest, most were made out of iron. The typical helmet had a top button with a highly designed neckguard. A number had hinged check guards, an innovation from the Italian peninsula.

The Celtic helmets shrunk in height over the centuries. The last helmets used were smaller, smoother, and more compact. The designs were adopted by the Roman army for their helmets.

SWORDS

The Celtic sword was to evolve during the La Tene period. The blades on the early versions were shorter, at least during the fifth to the third century BC. The longer slashing sword that was made famous by the Celts increased in length because of two reasons: The style of fighting had gone from close combat to a longer range attack; and the changes and improvements in the iron that was being used allowed for a stronger piece of metal to be fashion. The Greek historian Polybius stated that the Celts had to spend time bending their swords back into shape after a slashing attack. However, in recent years, the swords of the later La Tene period that were found had proved to be of a very strong iron, with as much tensile strength as the contemporary Roman weapons.
The Celts wore their weapons on a chain that looped through a device that connect it to the scabbard. The swords were also worn on the right side of the body. This allowed the warriors free access to drawing their weapons, even with its great length. page21.html

Weapons of the Celts
SPEARS

The spear was the weapon of choice of the common soldier. The iron spear heads varied in form and function. Some were very wide; others had vicious serrations, causing a more severe exit wound. Spears averaged between six and eight feet in length.

Shields

Shields were general made of wood. The construction was of flat boards, often bordered with leather. This would help protect the wood from the ravages of weather and swords. The shape was oval, or occasionally rectangular. The size of the shields grew from about 3 feet eight inches to four feet ten inches at the time of the Roman conquest.

The shields had a single handle for holding them in battle. It ran horizontally, and was set in the central section of the board. The exterior had a middle section made out of wood, called a boss, that projected from the middle, that made the shield as much of an offensive weapon as a defensive weapon, in that it could be used to strike opponents.

Armor

The Celts invented chain-mail, the protective devices made of linked metal rings. Only the highest of the nobles or the most senior warriors would be allowed to wear it. With an average weight of between thirty and forty pounds, it was not light. Most Celts didn't wear armor. Many went into battle with only their breeches and tunics. Early on, however, most Celtic warriors went into the fray in the nude.

SWORDS

Burial Rites| Who Were the Celts?| La Tene|Halstaat
Burial Rites| TORCS| Hillforts and Oppida
Boudicca and the Romans| Druids||Social Classes
Terrifying Helmets|Arms And Weaponry|Gods and Goddesses
Were the Celts Illiterate?|European Celtic Place Names

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