Edged Weapons 289
The chronological changes of these various blade types is shown in the follow-
ing diagram.
The Early phase is characterised by a predominance of double-edged
swords.541 The great number of weapons of form-group āE.Iā is not surprising,
as at the beginning of the Early phase only double-edged swords were used by
the Avars. The number of single-edged swords is similarly high,542 these weap-
ons becoming increasingly popular during the Early Avar period and by its end
they outnumbered the double-edged blades. The development of sabres begun
at the end of this period, while seaxes only played a secondary role (map 24).543
Far fewer edged weapons are known from the short, transitional Middle
phase which is characterised by a lack of double-edged blades and a prodomi-
nance of sabres with curved blades (map 25).544 Straight single-edged blades
also remained popular during this period,545 a considerable number of which
were equipped with crossguards.546 The significance of seaxes appears to have
541 120 examples, 50.4% of the examined Early Avar artefacts.
542 102 examples, 42.48% of the examined artefacts.
543 The short seaxes were a secondary weapon beside spathae, though broad seaxes already
appeared at the end of the Early phase as real edged weapons.
544 75 examples, 51.02%.
545 47 examples, 31.97%.
546 67 edged-weapons from the Middle phase were equipped with crossguards (45.5%) com-
pared to the 26 Early Avar crossguards (10.92%).
DIAGRAM 9 Chronological distribution of major blade types of Avar-age edged weapons.020406080100120140E.IE.IIE.III E.IVEA
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