Dagger

The dagger depicted on the stele statues, whether representing a stone or metal weapon, shows similarities to those recovered in the Remedello necropolis (Brescia), which can be dated to the period between 3400/3300 and 2300/2200 BCE, corresponding to the Late Copper Age. This weapon is consistently depicted at the level of the abdomen, just below the hands, in a horizontal position with the tip pointing to the left. Occasionally, it may be associated with an axe.

The stele statues of Group A feature a type of dagger with an ogival or triangular blade, flat, without a central ridge, with a cylindrical handle and a semicircular pommel reminiscent of the Central European daggers with an ogival blade and flat tang from the Baden culture.

The male stele statues of Group B, on the other hand, are characterized by the presence of a dagger with a triangular blade, with or without a central ridge, and a semicircular pommel sometimes equipped with rivets. This type of weapon begins to appear in Eneolithic contexts but can be found until the Early Bronze Age.

The stele statues of Gigliana and Canossa I depict a dagger inserted into a probable rectangular scabbard that has ribs on the sides, and in one case, it ends with three points. A ceremonial dagger is likely represented on the stele statue of Filetto IV.

Sword and dagger with antennae

The dagger or “antennae sword,” found only on the statues stele of Group C, suggests a dating of these monuments to the centuries immediately preceding Romanization, specifically the late Hallstatt period or La Tene II or III periods. The oldest example appears on the stele of Lerici, which can be classified among the Hallstatt iron swords with antennae of the “cylindrical hilt” type and dated between the late 7th and mid-6th century BCE. More advanced examples can be seen on the statues stele of Filetto I and II, featuring curved tips and dating to the central decades of the 6th century BCE.

Often the sword is depicted attached to a belt and shown within its scabbard. In the case of Lerici, the sword is suspended from the neck by means of a baldric.

Ax

The axe, absent in the stele statues of Group A, appears instead in those of Group B. It is of the type with flat edges and a rectangular blade, with a handle at a right angle or slightly acute, almost like a “boomerang,” and it represents an archaic type characteristic of the Copper Age. It is generally associated with the daggers and is depicted in a vertical position on the chest, with the blade facing left.

The axe finds correspondence with types found in excavations such as Remedello, Spilamberto, and some caves in the Versilia and Pisa areas, and it seems to have appeared from the beginning of the Copper Age around 3300 BC. A similar weapon was found in 1991 alongside the mummy of Ötzi the Iceman in the Similaun Pass.

The axes present on all the stele statues of Group C, except for Campoli and Lerici, have a wide quadrangular blade inserted into a handle, sometimes slightly curved (Bigliolo, Filetto I, Filetto II, Reusa). The insertion of the blade can start directly from the top of the handle or be slightly lower. They likely reproduce iron weapons found in central Italy contexts dating from the 7th to the 6th century BC.

Javelin

The javelins, found only on the stele statues of Group C, are depicted in pairs and held in hand, but their representation is rather generic, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific type. This weapon could be made entirely of iron (archaeological evidence is found in the Celtiberian region, such as Haute-Pyrénées) or with an iron tip and a wooden shaft (found in Etrusco-Italic and Central Adriatic areas). In Lunigiana necropolises from the second Iron Age, javelin tips are well-documented, and they all imply the use of a wooden shaft.

Javelins are depicted on the stele statues of Campoli, Filetto I, and Filetto II. The stele statue of Montecurto, on the other hand, features a single javelin that, due to its size, could represent a large spear.

Disc or Shield

On the stele statues of Lerici and Reusa, which belong to Group C, there is a visible object held in hand that resembles a disc. This object could represent a throwing weapon made of metal or stone with a sharp edge, or more likely, it could represent a shield. Circular shields have been found since the times of the Urnfield cultures or the early Hallstatt period (from the end of the Bronze Age to the beginning of the Iron Age) and were used alongside oval shields around the 7th century BCE.

Metal discs, also known as falerae, were worn on the chest, either individually or in pairs, to protect vital points. They are well-documented throughout central-western Europe, with a particular concentration in areas immediately north and south of the Alps.

Helmet

The helmets depicted only on the steles of Group C (Lerici and Reusa) were likely made of bronze with a smooth or slightly ridged low apex. They were probably attached to leather caps with cheek guards. The helmets could be plain or decorated. The plain ones are associated with the later stages of the Urnfield culture, while the decorated ones are attributed to the early Iron Age with influences from the Central Italian regions.

Ornaments

The jewelry appears only on certain female steles of Group B.

Collar: Some steles of Group B feature a collar that resembles multi-coiled bronze necklaces with looped ends, dating back to a later phase of the Early Bronze Age. Their distribution in Italy seems to be associated with a series of workshops located in the areas of the intermorainic lakes of Varese and Lake Garda. In a European context, similar collars are found in the Baden culture, already present in Eneolithic contexts.

Necklace: The steles of Filetto III and Filetto X, on the other hand, feature a necklace with one or two strands that resemble necklaces made of stone beads found in caves from the early Metal Ages in northwestern Tuscany, such as Buca di Fondineto (Massarosa, LU), Grotta del Castello and Grotta dell’Inferno di Vecchiano (Pisa), or those made of biconical steatite beads found at Tana della Volpe in Equi.

Circles and cup marks: On some of the older stele statues, there are depictions of two raised circles or cup marks on either side of the face. These can also be arranged in pairs on each side. Indeed, these circles and cup marks can be found on both male and female stele statues, and their interpretation goes beyond representing ears. They can be seen as decorative elements such as earrings, hairpins, or headdresses. The exact meaning and purpose of these markings may vary, and they could hold cultural or symbolic significance within the context of the statues and the societies that created them.

Belt and thong

The stele statues of the Iron Age, belonging to Group C, are frequently accompanied by a wide belt – Bigliolo, Reusa, Filetto I, Campoli – to which the sword can be attached. In one case (Filetto II), there is a double belt. Sometimes, they also feature a triangular loincloth – Reusa, Bigliolo.