Edged Weapons 211
of the Middle phase (eight examples)168 but some are dated to the Late phase,169
suggesting that curved blades became less common during the Late phase.
An implication of this classification of sabre blades according to their curva-
ture is that it refutes the traditional typological explanation for their develop-
ment, whereby they evolved from less curved blades to more strongly curved
blades over time. Most of the strongly curved sabre blades are dated to the
Middle phase (second half of the 7th century), while the 8th century is mainly
characterised by sabres with slightly curved blades and straight single-edged
swords. This suggests that there is no unilinear development of curved blades,
rather that the strongly curved blades of the second half of the 7th century
were likely an experiment, after which most of the blades became less curved,
which were probably more suited to Late Avar tastes in weapons.
1.3.4 The Length of False Edge and its Function
Unfortunately the length of the false edge is mostly unknown due to the uneven
preservation of the blade. Although the existence of the false edge is generally
accepted as a major attribute of sabres, there are some curved sabre blades of
Avar Age without a false edge: all of these finds are of good preservation and
therefore its absence cannot be attributed to corrosion, as in the cases of these
from grave No. 8 at Bágyog–Gyűrhegy,170 grave No. 49 at Záhorská Bystrica171
and Szeged–Átokháza.172 These three weapons raise the methodological
question as to the use of the false edge and the curvature of the blade as
amongst the primary attribute for classifying the sabre. As a consequence, it
should be noted that although the false edge is usually a part of the sabre, it
does not necessarily appear on every single weapon with a curved blade.
168 Berettyóújfalu–Nagy Bócs-dűlő (Dani – Szilágyi – Szelekovszky – Czifra – Kisjuhász 2006,
16); Gyenesdiás–Algyenes, Bartók Béla and Hámán Kató utca grave No. 64 (Müller 1989,
Abb. 2. 143–147, Abb. 3–5); Igar–Vámszőlőhegy, Petőfi u. 56. grave No. III (Marosi 1931, 6–7;
Fülöp 1987, 17. 8. ábra; Fülöp 1988, 167–168. Abb. 14); Kisköre–Halastó grave No. 24 (Garam
1979, Abb. 3. 13. Taf. 8, Taf. 29/2); Kunszállás–Fülöpjakab (Szentpéteri 1993, No. 397; Lezsák
2008, 44–45); Öskü–Agyaggödör grave No. 2 (Rhé – Fettich 1931, 42–43); Želovce grave
No. 818 (Čilinská 1973, 180, Taf. CXXX/12); Želovce grave No. 820 (Čilinská 1973, 180, Taf.
CXXXI/1).
169 Komárno–8 Shipyard grave No. 142 (Trugly 1993, 213–214. Taf. L/4); Košice–Barca grave
No. 4 (Pástor 1954, 137; Tab. I./1); Zillingtal grave No. B-23 (Mehofer 2006, 162. Abb. B).
170 Lovas 1929b, 255–257; Fettich 1943, 7.
171 Kraskovská 1972, 18, Obr. 19/1.
172 Csallány 1946–48, 350–352.