Celtic nail, exact copy, oppidum Stradonice, Bohemia

An exact replica of a Celtic nail found at the Latenian oppidum of Stradonice in Bohemia. The nails were probably used to decorate wooden household accessories. It can also be used by blacksmiths, for example to decorate swords. This is a very rare replica. The nail is made by lost wax casting, the original method. The interested party can shorten the length of the nail according to their own needs.

• Diameter: 15 mm
• Material: bronze

The Celtic oppidum Stradonice, located in the Beroun district of the Czech Republic, is one of the most important archaeological sites associated with Celtic civilisation in Central Europe. The oppidum was founded in the 2nd century BC and served as an important trade, craft and political centre for the Celtic Boii tribe. The oppida, a large fortified settlement, represented an advanced stage of urbanisation in the Late Iron Age and Stradonice was one of the most important settlements of this type in the Bohemian area.

Archaeological finds from this site include a large number of bronze, iron, glass and gold objects, testifying to a high level of craft production. Among the most famous discoveries are gold coins, the so-called iris coins, which prove that Stradonice had strong trade links with other Celtic and Mediterranean areas. The fortifications of the oppida consisted of massive ramparts, often reinforced with wooden structures to protect the population from attacks.

The oppidum was strategically located on an eminence from where the surrounding countryside and important trade routes could be controlled. In its heyday, the settlement may have been inhabited by several thousand people. The function of the oppidum was not only defensive, but also administrative and economic.

Stradonice disappeared around the middle of the 1st century BC, probably as a result of the arrival of Germanic tribes and the disintegration of Celtic power in the region. Today, the Stradonice oppidum represents an important source of information about Celtic civilisation in Central Europe.