Edged Weapons 265
frame-bands of ribbed or pearled decoration. The end of the chape is closed by
an oval metal plate. This type is dated to the Early phase and can be observed
both on single- and double-edged swords (E.I.B/1.b, E.II.A/1.b) and ring-pom-
mel swords (E.I.C/2.b, E.II.B/2.b). This type disappeared at the end of the Early
phase, and appears not to have been used together with suspension loops of
type ‘S.5.a’.
U-shaped chapes422 cover the edges of the scabbard end, and can be cast of
copper alloy or forged of iron, and have a cross section that is U-shaped. Their
appearance during the Early phase in the Carpathian Basin can be explained
according to Mediterranean influences.423 It was mainly used for decorating
knife scabbards during the Early phase but the form survived and can also be
found as part of the scabbards for Late Avar swords.424
3 Suspension
The suspension of edged weapons cannot be reconstucted from their positions
in burials, since most of them were unbuckled from the belt and the sword was
deposited next to the deceased or on the top of the coffin, and therefore the
reconstruction of such suspension must be based exclusively on the remains of
the scabbard and the suspension loops, as well as the representations of war-
riors with edged weapons on their belt.
Visual sources for the suspension of early medieval edged weapons are
spread across a large area and most of them cannot be linked directly to the
Avars.425 However, the similarities in the mode of suspension across such a
large area as that of Eurasia suggests that such representations can still be used
1992, 139–140, Taf. 18); Zillingtal grave No. D-3 (Mehofer 2006, 163, Abb. D); Zsámbok grave
No. 1 (Garam 1983, 140, Abb. 1/1,2, Abb. 6/1,2, Abb. 7; Simon 1991, 312, 16. kép 14).
422 Keszthely–Fenékpuszta, Horreum grave No. 16 (Garam 2001, 159); Kunszentmiklós–
Bábony grave No. 1 (H. Tóth – Horváth 1992, 32–34, Taf. V–VIII.); Leithaprodersdorf grave
No. 123 (Mitscha-Mähreim 1957b, 32, Taf. VIII/14–15); Szeged–Fehértó B grave No. 88
(Madaras 1995b, 146, Pl. 17/16).
423 The type is described by Éva Garam (Garam 2001, 159–160, Taf. 116).
424 Leithaprodersdorf grave No. 123 (Mitscha-Mähreim 1957b, 32, Taf. VIII/14–15); the chape
from grave No. 88 at Szeged-Fehértó B is dated to the Middle phase (Madaras 1995b, 146).
425 Mainly 7th century wall paintings and petroglyphs are used, such as that of the Sogdian
wall paintings from Pendžikent and Afrasiab, Sassanian rock-carvings from Takht-e
Suleyman and Taq-e Bostan and Sassanian silver plates (Harper 1983), and wall paintings
of Chinese burial chambers of the T’ang Period.