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

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Edged Weapons 285


II and Constantine IV, minted between 654 and 659, were found in the grave


of Gyenesdiás,523 while the burial of Ozora–Tótipuszta is dated by a solidus of


Constantine IV (668–685), was minted between 668 and 673.524 Both burials


are of considerable significance for the chronology of the Middle phase.


Not only the the edges of suspension loops of type ‘S.5.b–c’ were decorated,


but also their central part. A square standing on its corner was used for this pur-


pose, the corners of which were decorated with small leaf-shaped projections.525


All of the examples from known archaeological contexts were found on the


suspension loops of sabres with star-shaped crossguards covered with gold


or silver foil (CG.5.a).526 All of these examples were found in Transdanubia,527


and are dated to the Ozora – Igar horizon of the Middle phase.528


D-shaped edge coverings made of iron (S.5.d) are a semicircular or elon-


gated D-shape, and their cross section is U-shaped (fig. 104/4).529 Only the


outer edge of the loops were reinforced by iron bands. The type is known from


both sabres and single-edged swords. The type is common, with 15 examples,


and are mainly from the Great Hungarian Plain (ten specimens), though exam-


ples are known from the northern shore of the Danube and the Ipoly Valley.


These suspension loops are mainly characteristic of the Middle phase but


523 Müller 1989, 147. Abb. 13.
524 Bóna 1982–83, 114; Garam 1992, 146.
525 The position of this mount was observed during the excavation of grave No. 64 at
Gyenesdiás (Müller 1989, 144–145). Similar mounts from the IIIrd find of Igar were recon-
structed as part of the belt by Gyula Fülöp (1987, 17. 8. ábra). The example from grave No.
11 at Dunaújváros (Garam 1994–95, 146. 15. kép 4–7) and Keszthely (Garam 1991a, 12. kép).
526 Gyenesdiás (Müller 1989, 144–145) and Igar (Fülöp 1987, 17. 8. ábra).
527 Dunaújváros (Garam 1991a, 12. kép); Gyenesdiás (Müller 1989, 144–145), Igar (Fülöp 1987,





    1. ábra) and Keszthely (Garam 1991a, 12. kép).
      528 Garam 1991a, 152–153.
      529 Berettyóújfalu – Nagy Bócs-dűlő (Dani – Szilágyi – Szelekovszky – Czifra – Kisjuhász
      2006, 16); Bratislava–Devinska Nová Ves–A–Tehel’ňa grave No. 79 (Eisner 1933, tab. 91/1;
      Eisner 1952, 25, Obr. 13/1); Jászapáti–Nagyállás út grave No. 76 (Madaras 1994, 32, 137, Taf.
      XI/5); Kisköre–Halastó grave No. 32 (Garam 1979, 13–15. Taf. 9. Taf. 29/3); Komárno–8
      Shipyard grave No. 139 (Trugly 1993, 211–212, Taf. XLVII/13); Szeged–Fehértó A grave No.
      159 (Madaras 1995b, 31, Pl. 20/8); Szeged–Fehértó B grave No. 29 (Csallány 1946–48, 352–
      353; Madaras 1995b, 140, Pl. 5/17); Szeged–Fehértó B grave No. 113 (Madaras 1995b, 148. Pl.
      19/9); Tiszafüred–Majoros grave No. 186 (Garam 1995, 28–30, Abb. 11. Taf. 73. Taf. 174/10);
      Tiszafüred–Majoros grave No. 257 (Garam 1995, 37, Taf. 177/1); Tiszafüred–Majoros grave
      No. 326 (Garam 1995, 46. Abb. 19, 47, Taf. 177/2); Tiszafüred–Majoros grave No. 496 (Garam
      1995, 65, Abb. 27. Taf. 179/2); Želovce grave No. 44 (Čilinská 1973, 42, Taf. VIII/21); Želovce
      grave No. 167 (Čilinská 1973, 65, Taf. XXIX/1); Želovce grave No. 820 (Čilinská 1973, 180,
      Taf. CXXXI/1).



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