254 CHAPTER 3
equipped not only on sabres354 but also on single-edged swords.355 Most of
these crossguards are dated to the Middle Phase356 but are also still relatively
common during the first half of the 8th century,357 and a small number are
even known from the second half of the 8th century.358 Their geographical dis-
tribution is even throughout the Carpathian Basin.
Elongated star-shaped crossguards (of iron) (CG.5.c)359 are longer, with
ends that taper, the sides being concave and the central part rather narrow (fig.
93/3). These crossguards are often decorated, such as the horizontal grooves on
the crossguard from grave No. 8 at Bágyog–Gyűrhegy,360 or the silver inlay in
vertical lines on the sabre crossguard at Szeged-Átokháza.361 Such crossguards
are also known from slightly curved sabre blades362 and single-edged swords.363
This variant was used during both the Middle phase364 and beginning of the
Late phase.365
Cross-shaped crossguards (of iron) (CG.5.d)366 are angular, the ends are
straight and tapering, the central part is narrow like a pike and is not decorated
354 Most of these crossguards were found on curved blades (14 pieces, 70%).
355 Only seven such crossguards (30%) have been found on single-edged swords.
356 Eight pieces (42%) are dated to the Middle phase (see list).
357 Six pieces (30%) are dated to the first half of the 8th century.
358 These crossguards are dated according to the cast strap-ends decorated by flat circular
tendrils (Pástor 1961, 378–379, 362, Obr. 153).
359 Apatin–Dunavska u. (Dimitrijević – Kovačević – Vinski 1962, 34, Abb. 4; Mrkobrad 1980,
98, 155, CXXXVIII/5); Bágyog–Gyűrhegy grave No. 8 (Lovas 1929b, 255–257; Fettich 1943, 7);
Szeged–Átokháza (Csallány 1946–48, 350–352); Želovce grave No. 335 (Čilinská 1973, 97,
LVII/1).
360 Lovas 1929b, 255–257; Fettich 1943, 7.
361 Csallány 1946–48, 350–352.
362 Bágyog–Gyűrhegy grave No. 8 (Lovas 1929b, 255–257; Fettich 1943, 7); Szeged–Átokháza
(Csallány 1946–48, 350–352); Želovce grave No. 335 (Čilinská 1973, 97, LVII/1).
363 Apatin–Dunavska u. (Dimitrijević – Kovačević – Vinski 1962, 34, Abb. 4; Mrkobrad 1980,
98, 155, CXXXVIII/5).
364 Bágyog–Gyűrhegy grave No. 8 (Lovas 1929b, 255–257; Fettich 1943, 7); Szeged–Átokháza
(Csallány 1946–48, 350–352).
365 Apatin–Dunavska u. (Dimitrijević – Kovačević – Vinski 1962, 34, Abb. 4; Mrkobrad 1980,
98, 155, CXXXVIII/5); Želovce grave No. 335 (Čilinská 1973, 97, LVII/1).
366 Aiudul de Sus (Horedt 1956, 396; Horedt 1958a, 93, fig. 17/3; Horedt 1968, 71; Bóna 1986a,
116; Bóna 1989, 88; Cosma et al. 2013, 60, fig. 31); Čataj I. – Zemanské-Gejzove grave No.
60 (Hanuliak – Zábojník 1982, 498; Zábojník 1995, No. 17, Abb. 4); Kisköre–Halastó grave
No. 32 (Garam 1979, 13–15, Taf. 9, Taf. 29/3); Komárno–8 Shipyard grave No. 30 (Trugly
1987, 256, Abb. 3; Taf. V/6); Komárno–8 Shipyard grave No. 71 (Trugly 1987, 265, Taf. XV/15);
Komárno–8 Shipyard grave No. 72 (Trugly 1987, 265–266, Taf. XVI/17.); Želovce grave No.