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DANISH DAGGERS
DaGGER PERIOD
NORTHERN EUROPE
2,400 B.C. TO 1,500 B.C.
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CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
TYPE II DANISH DAGGER
DAGGER PERIOD
NORTHERN EUROPE
FLOYD RITTER COLLECTION

   This dagger heavily patinated dagger was made with percussion and pressure flaking and without the use of surface grinding. The original outer cortex can be seen on the end of the handle. This dagger measures 8 1/2 inches (21.6cm) long.

   There are six main categories of dagger styles that can be divided into as many as 24 different sub-types. The styles begin with type 1's that have the simplest form. The type 2's begin to have thicker handles but after that they begin to develop into very complicated forms with type 3's and 4's that have stitched handles. At the end of the dagger making period type 6's are back to a fairly simple form again.


TYPE II DANISH DAGGER
DAGGER PERIOD
NORTHERN EUROPE
FLOYD RITTER COLLECTION

   This light gray dagger would be classified within the type II category of Danish daggers. It doesn't have any "stitching" on the handle and it was not made with the use of surface grinding. Large percussion flakes can be seen on the surface of the blade and smaller pressure flakes around the edge. This dagger measures 7 3/8 inches (18.7cm) long.

   Type II daggers still do not have stitched handles but unlike the type I daggers that are uniformly thin, the handles on these daggers begin to increase in thickness. The handles also become more obvious which makes them begin to look something like metal daggers, at least in outline.

Type III Danish dagger.
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TYPE III DANISH DAGGER
DAGGER PERIOD
NORTHERN EUROPE
FLOYD RITTER COLLECTION

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE IMAGE OF HANDLE END

   This dagger is classified within the type III group of daggers. The cross-section of the handle is square shaped and both surfaces and edges of the handle has the classic "stitching" style of flaking. This dagger is very heavily patinated and measures 7 5/8 inches (19.3cm) long.

   Stitched handles first appear with type III daggers. The stitching or zigzag flaking is on both sides and edges of the handle. This configuration produces a square cross section which is a shape that is very unique among flintknapping cultures anywhere in the world.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
TYPE III DANISH DAGGER
DAGGER PERIOD
NORTHERN EUROPE
FLOYD RITTER COLLECTION

   This heavily patinated dagger was skillfully made with nicely controlled pressure flaking on the blade. Surface grinding may have been used prior to pressing off the final flake removals. There is also well done "stitching" on both sides of the handle. This dagger measures 5 5/16 inches (16cm) long.

   Type I through type III daggers do not have expanding handles. These three early styles of daggers are considered as a group to be lanceolate forms that were produced in the earliest phase of the dagger making period.

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"REFERENCES"

1872, Sir John Lubbock, "Pre-Historic Times, Ancient Remains and the Manners & Customs of Modern Savages"
1952, "Danish Antiquities, II Late Stone Age", by P.V. Glob, pp. 122-123.
1970, "Tools of the Old Stone Age," by Jacques Bordaz, p. 109
1983, "The Search For humanity's Roots", by Herbert C. Kraft and Gabriel DeCicco, pp. 58-59
1996, "The Oxford Companion To Archaeology, Beakers" by Brian M. Fagan, pp. 88-90.
1998, "Chips, Vol. 10, #2, Thor's Toothpick, A Type IV-B Danish Dagger", by D.C, Waldorf, pp. 12-18.
2001, "Chips, Vol. 13, #2, Type V-A Dagger", by D.C. Waldorf, pp.10-17.
Personal communications with Dave Waldorf.

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