Evans, Arthur J.: The Palace of Minos: a comparative account of the successive stages of the early Cretan civilization as illustred by the discoveries at Knossos (Band 1): The Neolithic and Early and Middle Minoan Ages (London, 1921)

IOO

THE PALACE OF MINOS, ETC.

Silver
and

Copper
Daggers.

these triangular dagger-forms that can with great probability be ascribed to
the lower limits of the present Period, that reproduced in Fig. 71 1 has an
exceptional interest. It is one of a pair of silver daggers found with a
copper specimen of the same type2 in a primitive ' tholos' ossuary of
Kumasa by Dr. Xanthudides. It has rivet holes about its upper margin and
is characterized by a sharp and well-marked median rib, which in itself must
be regarded as a somewhat advanced feature. The silver material recalls the

Fig. 71. Silver Dagger from 'Tholos' Ossuary, Kumasa (^).

Fig. 72. Copper Two-pronged Spearhead, H. Onuphrios Deposit (-§-).

blade-like silver ingots of Hissarlik and, like these, it may have served as a
form of primitive currency. Copper daggers representing a somewhat elon-
gated outgrowth of the present example, though with less prominent ribs, are
found in Cycladic graves 3 contemporary with E. M. III. But what is specially
interesting is the fact that a practically identical dagger-blade of copper has
been found in a sepulchral cave belonging to the Chalcolithic Age of Central

1 Mosso; Le armi pin anticlie di rame e di PI. XII, 8. The forms of the associated marble
bronzo (Memorie della R. Accad. dei Lincei, images and other objects suggest an advanced
1908, p 491, Fig. 8). Early Cycladic phase. Unfortunately, however,

2 R. Dussaud, Les civilisations prehelle'niqiies, tomb-groups are not distinguished. A some-
&C, 1914, p. 41, Fig. 22. what shorter specimen without any definite rib

3 Tsuntas, Ku/<AaSiKa ('E</>. 'Ap^., 1898), is given, together with its handle, by Diimmler,