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

Introduction 35

The blade, due to its functionality, is regarded as the main attribute both of

polearms and edged weapons. These two weapon types are, however, funda-

mentally different from each other in their structure and therefore have been

classified separately. The secondary attribute for polearms is the ratio between

the blade and socket length followed by consideration of how the socket was

manufactured. The edged weapons were classified differently: the secondary

attribute is the existence of crossguard, while the decoration of scabbard or

hilt is the attribute for distinguishing variants. The specific details of edged

weapons (crossguard, scabbard, suspension loops) are classified separately.

The typological method is based on types created by a classification con-

cerned with their development, and therefore is a useful device for establish-

ing a relative chronology.

3.1.4 Classification of Polearms

Polearms (P) are classified into four form-groups according to the shape of the

blade: reed-shaped (P.I), conical (P.II), lenticular (P.III) and triangular (P.IV)

(fig. 3).

Figure 3 Form-groups of polearms.