Origins And Cultural Contacts 319
Sabres were first used as evidence for the migration of the Onogurs dur-
ing the Middle phase (second half of the 7th century) by Gyula László based
on his study of finds from Budapest–Tihanyi tér.88 This theory was reinforced
by the study of Samu Szádeczky-Kardoss,89 and the idea of an Onogur–Bulgar
migration became deeply rooted in Hungarian research. This theory was elab-
orated upon using a number of archaeological arguments by István Bóna who
described the sabre of Iváncsa as a newly appeared weapon type, which he
dated to the last third of the 7th century.90 This migration theory and its chro-
nology became an axiom of Avar archaeology.91 Transoxiana has been regarded
as the place of origin of these sabres by István Bóna who cited the weapons on
the wall painting at Afrasiab as an analogy for the sabre from Ozora.92
The eastern origin of these sabres remained a focus for attention, with
Éva Garam enlisting analogies of Middle Avar sabres and crossguards from
Eastern Europe.93 Csanád Bálint placed the emergence of the sabre to the
north Caucasian and Central Asian periphery of Sassanian Iran and dated it to
the second third of the 7th century based on a number of similar attributes to
Sassanian swords (slightly curved blade and finger-hold).94 István Erdélyi also
studied these eastern influences on Avar material culture, suggesting that the
sabre originated from Asia and that a number of the Late Avar sabres were of
Eastern European (Saltovo) origin.95
The interpretation of sabres as an indicator of migration in the Middle Avar
period was first questioned in light of the find from Tarnaméra which was
dated to the Early phase.96 László Simon observed the false edge (one of the
attributes of sabres) on several Early Avar edged weapons,97 and identified a
group with sabre-like attributes: those with false edge or curved blade.98
Avaren und vielleicht bereits die Hunnen den einschneidigen Säbeln mit sich gebracht.’
(Hampel 1905, 193).
88 László 1941, 112.
89 Szádeczky-Kardoss 1968, 84–87; Szádeczky-Kardoss 1971, 473–477.
90 Bóna 1970, 251.
91 Bóna 1971a, 245 (29).
92 Bóna 1982–83, 112.
93 Éva Garam (1979, 63–64) cited the finds from Glodosy, Galiat, Arcybashevo and Zachepilovka.
94 Bálint 1978, 184. The Sassanian origin of these swords is in question, since they were
mostly found in Daylaman, a periphery of the empire and their suggested date (second
third of the 7th century) is already the end of the Sassanian Empire (651).
95 Erdélyi 1982, 181.
96 Szabó 1965, 29–71; Simon 1991, 270, 307.
97 Simon 1983, 38–42; Simon 1991, 270; Simon 1993a, 171–192; Bálint 1995a, 65–67.
98 Simon 1991, 270; Simon 1993a, 171–192.