Edged Weapons 249
at Aradac-Mečka315 and from grave No. 259 at Kölked-Feketekapu A.316 These
crossguards are probably the predecessors of short crossguards with rounded
ends and star-shaped crossguards discussed by Éva Garam.317
Short, narrow crossguards with rounded ends (CG.4.b) are only known from
burial No. X at Tarnaméra–Urak dűlő, the crossguard of this single-edged sword
with false edge being cast of copper alloy covered by silver foil (fig. 92/2). Its
length is 7.88 cm and is boat-shaped in plan.318 Its closest analogy was found
in the 2nd grave at Öskü and was forged of iron.319 Similar crossguards made of
iron are also known from Northeastern Bulgaria.320 The sword from Tarnaméra
was dated to the second half of the Early phase by both János Győző Szabó321
and Éva Garam.322
2.2.1 Short Crossguards with a Rhombic Central Part and Rounded Ends
(CG.4.c)323
This variant is the predecessor of the star-shaped crossguards, also with rhom-
bic central part. The iron crossguard is often decorated with gold324 or copper
alloy sheet325 which was the usual decorative style of the Middle Avar phase
(fig. 92/3). Such crossguards were mainly used on sabres with slightly curved
blade. The example from Székesfehérvár was cited by Garam as probably being
a modern fake on the basis of both its extremely good preservation and shape.326
All of the cited edged weapons are found in burials dating to the Middle phase.
A simple variant of this type is represented by the short, narrow crossguards
with rounded ends (CG.4.d)327 which comprise a late, transitional variant of
315 Aradac–Mečka grave No. 85 (Nađ 1959, 62, Tab. XXVII/1).
316 Kölked–Feketekapu A grave No. 259 (Kiss 1996, 75–76, Taf. 57).
317 Garam 1991a, 159.
318 Szabó 1965, 42, VIII. t. 1–3; Simon 1991, 307, 11. kép 2.
319 Rhé – Fettich 1931, 42–43.
320 Valeri Jotov (2004, 65, Tabl. XXXVII) listed 8 such crossguards from the following sites:
Veliki Preslav, Izvorovo fort, Dorbich, Senovo and Stărmen.
321 It is dated between 620 and 650 by stamped belt-set (Szabó 1965, 42).
322 Éva Garam (2001, 144, 159) dated the strap-end of Tarnaméra type to the middle of the 7th
century.
323 Kiskassa–Téglaház (Hampel 1897, 144; CXLVII; Hampel 1905, III. Taf. 276);
Kiskunfélegyháza–Pákapuszta (László 1955, 236, LXIX. t. 23; Simon 1991, 295; Garam 1991a,
143–144, 10. kép; Balogh 2002, 307); Tiszaeszlár–Sinkahegy (Csallány 1960a, 33, XVI. t. 4).
324 Kiskunfélegyháza–Pákapuszta (László 1955, 236, LXIX. t. 23; Simon 1991, 295; Garam 1991a,
143–144, 10. kép; Balogh 2002, 307).
325 Kiskassa–Téglaház (Hampel 1897, 144, CXLVII; Hampel 1905, III. Taf. 276).
326 Hampel 1900, 111–112; Garam 1991a, 144–145, 10. Kép.
327 Babarc–Halastó grave No. 3 (Kiss 1977, 11, Pl. LXI.A/1; Kiss 1979a, 394); Bóly–Sziebert puszta
A, stray find (Papp 1962, 168, XXVIII.b.2); Tiszafüred–Majoros grave No. 379 (Garam 1995,