Silicite daggers from the Late Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age in Bohemia

Finds of silicite daggers in Bohemia (52 specimens) come from two productions circuits - the southern, subalpine circuit, and the northern, Baltic circuit - and date to five horizons between the Middle Eneolithic and the Early Bronze Age. Some of the lance-shaped daggers from the context of Eneolithic cultures are of southern origin (Chain, Rivnac Corded Ware culture - from Bavarian tabular chert), while others are of northern origin (proto- and early Unetice culture). Later types of Nordic daggers with handles date to the Early Bronze Age (late Unetice culture). A substantial difference is evident in the function of the daggers from the two periods. The Eneolithic daggers represented a valuable commodity that was often buried with members of the elite as a grave good. On the other hand, two-thirds of the Nordic daggers from the late Unetice period show a link to river and overland routes; a substantial number of these daggers are from settlements with the nature of a central location or junction points. In this period daggers were apparently not a subject of exchange but rather an attendant trait. It is probable that some of the daggers were part of the gear of people involved in the operation of travel over the long-distance routes connecting the ore territory in the Alps with Unetice culture and the Nordic circuit.