A new study published in the journal PLOS ONE has finally answered the question of what Bronze Age daggers were used for. By analyzing the wear and tear on daggers from the Late Bronze Age, researchers have determined that they were primarily used for cutting and piercing, with some evidence of use as scrapers and awls.

The study, led by researchers from the University of Cambridge and the British Museum, analyzed 24 daggers from the Late Bronze Age (1200-800 BC) that were found in Britain and Ireland. The researchers used a variety of techniques, including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, to examine the wear and tear on the daggers.

The results of the study showed that the daggers were primarily used for cutting and piercing, with some evidence of use as scrapers and awls. The cutting edges of the daggers were typically sharp and well-defined, while the piercing tips were often blunted or rounded. The researchers also found evidence that the daggers were sometimes used to work with wood, as evidenced by the presence of wood fibers embedded in the wear and tear.

The study provides new insights into the use of Bronze Age daggers and sheds light on the daily lives of the people who used them. Daggers were clearly an important tool for these people, and they were used for a variety of tasks, including cutting, piercing, scraping, and awling.