224 CHAPTER 3
1.4.1.3 Broad Seax (‘Breitsax’: E.IV.C)
Broad seaxes (‘Breitsaxe’) are edged weapons with a blade width of more than
4 cm, and in some cases this even reach 58 mm, and the tip is located in the
midline of the symmetrical blade (map 38, fig. 83). Light and heavy variants
are evident among them, which also appears to represent a chronological dif-
ference.202 Their blade length is between 30 and 45 cm203 but the heavy broad
seaxes can even reach 54 cm.204 Altogether 15 examples are known from Avar-
age burials.205
Broad seaxes first appeared at the beginning of the 7th century amongst
Merovingian weaponry and remained in use until c. 680. The increase in their
weight is a characteristic feature, the earlier examples being lighter than the
later weapons, with a similar process also evident in a lengthening of the hilt.206
These developments are particularly evident in the Avar cemeteries where
the light and heavy variants can be easily distinguished. Light broad seaxes
also appeared during the Early phase in some Transdanubian cemeteries
under Merovingian influences.207 Both known examples are dated to the Early
202 This distinction was first used by Ursula Koch (1968, 84), and was verified by the hori-
zontal stratigraphy of the Schretzheim-cemetery, where seaxes of 4–4.5 cm blade width
are classified to the light variant, and seaxes of blade width of 4,8–5,6 cm classified to
the heavy variant (Koch 1977, 107). These weapons are dated to 590/600–620/630 (Koch
1977, 25).
203 Wernard 1998, 771.
204 Hübener 1988, 227.
205 Bratislava–Devinska Nová Ves–A–Tehel’ňa grave No. 124 (Eisner 1952, 41–42, Obr. 19/5);
Čataj I.–Zemanské-Gejzove grave No. 148 (Hanuliak – Zábojník 1982, 498); Csolnok–
Szedres, Kenderföldek grave No. 7 (Erdélyi 1988, 193); Kehidakustyán–Kehida, Központi
Tsz-major grave No. 10 (Szőke 2002, 77, 9/d); Komárno–6 Hadovce grave No. 24 (Čilinská
1982, 361. T. XVII/1); Komárno–8 Shipyard grave No. 78 (Trugly 1987, 268. Abb. 8. Taf. XX/6);
Kölked–Feketekapu A grave No. 324 (Kiss 1996, 91–92. Taf. 68/12); Solymár–Dinnye-hegy
grave No. 20 (Török 1994, 10. 31. Taf. IX/1); Sommerein am Leithagebirge grave No. 74/A
(Daim – Lippert 1984, 47, 231, Taf. 50/10); Štúrovo–Vojenské cvičisko grave No. 208 (Točík
1968b, 55, Taf. XLII/19); Szekszárd–Bogyiszlói út grave No. 350 (Rosner 1975–76, 881. V. t.
13; Simon 1991, 306; Rosner 1999, 49, Taf. 24/14); Visonta–Nagycsapás grave No. 74 (Nagy
1970, 56); Zagreb–Kruge, prudiste Strbca grave No. 4 (Vinski 1960, 52); Želovce grave No.
311 (Čilinská 1973, 91, Taf. LII/23); Zillingtal grave No. D-451 (Daim 1998, 102, 108. Taf. 14/1).
206 The appearance of the light broad seaxes is dated to the 7th south German phase (580–
600) by Ursula Koch (2001, 87). Heavy broad seaxes appeared during the IVth phase of the
Schretzheim cemetery (Koch 1977, 107), which is parallel with the 2b phase of Wernard’s
system (600/610–630/40) (Wernard 1998, 776–778).
207 Kölked–Feketekapu A grave No. 324 (Kiss 1996, 91–92. Taf. 68/12); Szekszárd–Bogyiszlói út
grave No. 350 (Rosner 1975–76, 881. V. t. 13; Simon 1991, 306; Rosner 1999, 49, Taf. 24/14).