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

(Nandana) #1

Edged Weapons 171


The only late sword of this variant is known from Čierný Brod (fig. 62/3),67


and is probably dated to the first half of the 9th century by analogy with a


sword found in the Carolingian cemetery from Garabonc (9th century).68


1.1.3 Double-edged Ring-pommel Swords (E.I.C)


These swords are characterised by a ring-pommel at the end of the hilt, are


always equipped with a crossguard, and their blade is narrow, double-edged


and of lenticular cross section. Very few such swords have been found in Avar-


age burials: only seven examples are known, all from the Early phase (map 29,


fig. 63).69 All of these swords were found in the Great Hungarian Plain except


for the sword of Visegrád which was recovered from the riverbed of the Danube


(map 29).70 Most of the examples (four pieces) were found in the Danube-


Tisza interfluve,71 while only two such swords are known from Transtisia.72


The majority of these swords (four examples, 57.1%) are decorated by gold


or silver foil on their ring-pommel, crossguard, locket, chape or suspension


loops (E.I.C/2.b). The type has strong links to the single-edged ring-pommel


swords (E.II.B/2.b), as demonstrated by the similar decoration about the hilt,


crossguard and scabbard. These swords can also be regarded as ostentatious


weapons, although there are considerable differences in the quality of the


applied techniques.


67 Čierny Brod I.–Homokdomb grave No. 2 (Čilinská – Točik 1978, 46; Točík 1992, 9–12. Obr.
7; Zábojník 1995, No. 19).
68 Garabonc–Ófalu I. grave No. 55 (Szőke 1992a, 504, Taf. 20).
69 Csengele–Jójárt grave No. 1 (Csallány 1939, 9–11, I. tábla 3–3a; II. tábla; Simon 1991, 290. 15.
kép 8); Deszk L grave No. 13 (H 22) (Csallány 1939, 137; Csallány 1972, 24–26, Abb. 4, Taf.
VI–VII; Trogmayer 1984, 88. 12. lh; Simon 1991, 291. 11. kép 5. 18. kép; Lőrinczy 1994, 114–115);
Kunszentmiklós–Bábony grave No. 1 (H. Tóth 1971, 15, 5. kép; H. Tóth 1972a, 150, 4. kép;
Simon 1991, 300, 15. kép 5; H. Tóth – Horváth 1992, 32–34, Taf. V–VIII); Szegvár–Oromdűlő
grave No. 903; Tiszavárkony–Hugyin-part grave No. 39 (Kiss 1962, 30–31. XXXVII. t. 4.
XXXVIII. t. 1; Simon 1991, 309); Tiszavárkony–Hugyin-part grave No. 84 (Kiss 1962, 64–66.
XXXVII. t. 6; Simon 1991, 309); Visegrád, Duna-meder (Tavas 1978, 175–200; Simon 1991,
310–311, 11. kép 7. 14. kép 5. 15. kép 9. 22. kép 2).
70 Tavas 1978, 175–200; Simon 1991, 310–311, 11. kép 7. 14. kép 5, 15. kép 9, 22. kép 2.
71 Csengele–Jójárt grave No. 1 (Csallány 1939, 9–11, I. tábla 3–3a; II. tábla; Simon 1991, 290. 15.
kép 8); Kunszentmiklós–Bábony grave No. 1 (H. Tóth 1971, 15, 5. kép; H. Tóth 1972a, 150, 4.
kép; Simon 1991, 300, 15. kép 5; H. Tóth – Horváth 1992, 32–34, Taf. V–VIII); Tiszavárkony–
Hugyin-part grave No. 39 (Kiss 1962, 30–31. XXXVII. t. 4, XXXVIII. t. 1; Simon 1991, 309);
Tiszavárkony–Hugyin-part grave No. 84 (Kiss 1962, 64–66. XXXVII. t. 6; Simon 1991, 309).
72 Deszk L grave No. 13 (H 22) (Csallány 1939, 137; Csallány 1972, 24–26, Abb. 4, Taf. VI–
VII; Trogmayer 1984, 88. 12. lh; Simon 1991, 291. 11. kép 5. 18. kép; Lőrinczy 1994, 114–115);
Szegvár-Oromdűlő grave No. 903.

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