ROMAN SACRIFICIAL KNIFE 1ST-2ND CENTURY AD

Iron, 4 7/8” length of heavy wedge section. Thick at the root and tapering to the point. Originally with a cast bronze grip now missing. See British Museum #1873.8.20.31, for a related example with the grip intact and note that, as here, the grip rises above the back edge of the blade. These were used for sacrifice of small animals and birds in Pagan rituals.