Avar-Age Polearms and Edged Weapons. Classification, Typology, Chronology and Technology

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Polearms 135


obscure, although the find of Gâmbaş suggests that they date to the second


half of the Avar Age (probably Late phase). There is no connection with the


openwork spearheads of the Italian group.


1.4 Triangular Spearheads (P.IV)


Spearheads with triangular blades are not common during the Avar Age, with


only 29 such artefacts known from Avar-age burials of the Carpathian Basin.


These spearheads are chronologically evenly distributed, with ten examples


dating to the Early phase, two pieces belonging to the Middle phase and 17


examples dating to the Late phase. Such spearheads were used across all


regions of the Carpathian Basin but are only known in small quantities.


Spearheads with triangular blades can be divided into two types, the first


type being those spearheads with a narrow triangular blade (P.IV.A) which


are similar to the reed-shaped spearheads, their distinguishing characteristic


being that the edges of their blade is straight and not curved. The second type


is characterised by a broad triangular blade (P.IV.B), the blade width of which


is much longer than the width of the socket.


1.4.1 Spearheads with Narrow Triangular Blade (P.IV.A)


These spearheads are characterised by their narrow, triangular blade: the blade


width being between 2.5 and 3 cm (map 21, figs. 52–53).228 Their proportions


and size can vary considerably, with the longest spearhead of this type at


51 cm long (fig. 52/1),229 while the shortest is less than 20 cm. Four examples are


dated to the Early phase, the majority of which were found in Transdanubia


228 Bratislava–Devinska Nová Ves–A–Tehel’ňa grave No. 524 (Eisner 1952, 119–120, Obr. 71/1,
Obr. 52–54); Bratislava–Devinska Nová Ves–A–Tehel’ňa grave No. 842 (Eisner 1952, 181–182,
Obr. 89); Budakalász–Dunapart grave No. 452; Košice–Šebastovce grave No. 67 (Budinský-
Krička – Točík 1991, 18–19, Taf. VI/21); Košice – Šebastovce grave No. 94 (Budinský – Krička –
Točík 1984, 174, 176, Obr. 2/4; Budinský-Krička – Točík 1991, 25–26, Taf. XII/7); Košice–
Šebastovce grave No. 225 (Budinský-Krička – Točík 1991, 47–48. Taf. XXIX–XXX. Taf.
XXX/11); Kölked–Feketekapu A grave No. 211 (Kiss 1996, 64–65. Taf. 49/17); Mali Iđoš grave
No. 70 (Gubitza 1907, 357–358; Kovrig 1955b, 169; Dimitrijević – Kovačević – Vinski 1962,
45; Mrkobrad 1980, 98. 152. LXXX/1, 13); Mártély–Ómártély grave No. B (Hampel 1905, II.
107–108, III. Taf. 85/15); Mór–Akasztódomb (Török 1954, 57. XII. tábla 26); Söjtör–Petőfi
utca grave No. 12 (Szőke 1994a, 10. tábla 1); Tiszafüred–Majoros grave No. 272 (Garam 1995,
Abb. 16. Taf. 79, Taf. 177/1); Tiszafüred–Majoros grave No. 809 (Garam 1995, 99, Taf. 184);
Tiszafüred–Majoros grave No. 1197 (Garam 1995, 142. Abb. 57. Taf. 159. Taf. 188/1).
229 Bratislava–Devinska Nová Ves–A–Tehel’ňa grave No. 524 (Eisner 1952, 119–120, Obr. 71/1,
Obr. 52–54).

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