358 CHAPTER 7
These differences between the listed regions are even greater during the Early
Avar period (late 6th-first half of 7th centuries): more than half of the spear-
heads were found in Transdanubia (148 specimens), 32 Early Avar polearms
are known from Transtisia and 28 from the Danube – Tisza interfluve, while
Transylvania is only represented by 23 spearheads (map 2). The only Slovakian
site dated to this period is Radvaň nad Dunajom–Virt, with only six polearms.
This result speaks for itself, showing that the great majority of the early
spearheads come from Transdanubia. This disproportionate distribution can-
not be explained exclusively by the differences in weaponry, though without
doubt there are certain differences in the weapon types of the western and
the eastern half of the Carpathian Basin, such as the complete lack of broad
lenticular spearheads (P.III.A/1) or narrow lenticular spearheads used as jav-
elins (P.III.B/1) in the Great Hungarian Plain. The distribution of reed-shaped
spearheads (P.I.B) is more even between the Great Hungarian Plain and
Transdanubia, however, this type is more frequent in Eastern Transdanubia.
Only 39 spearheads are known from the Middle Avar period, 18 of them being
found in Transdanubia, five in Southwestern Slovakia, one in Transylvania, one
in the Danube – Tisza interfluve and 12 in Transtisia (map 3). The dominance
of Transdanubia observed during the Early phase ceased and the proportion
of the Great Hungarian Plain rose during this period, although 61 % of the
spearheads of this phase were found in Transdanubia (together with those
from the Danubian alluvium). The decreasing number of spearheads cannot
be explained only by the short duration (c. 50 years) of the Middle Avar period.
200 spearheads are known from the Late Avar period, most of them from
burials (map 4). Significant changes occurred in the spatial distribution of
polearms during this phase: the role of Transdanubia decreased (only 24 exam-
ples), whilst the significance of the Great Hungarian Plain rose (58 spearheads
from Transtisia and two from the Danube – Tisza interfluve), and there is a
shift towards peripheral areas: more than half of the known 8th-century spear-
heads were found either in Slovakia or in Austria. This latter feature is mainly
emphasised by Slovakian research suggesting mixed Slavic-Avar population
and a material culture characteristic of this northern periphery.1
As shown by the diagram above the deposition of polearms is regionally
very unbalanced probably due to the various patterns of burial rite related to
weapons.
1 Zábojník 1995; Zábojník 2004.