230 CHAPTER 3
Long seaxes appeared during the first half of the 8th century in Avar
burials,235 and remained in use until the first half of the 9th century.236 A
chronology based on forging technology is only possible for the seax from
Grabelsdorf which is dated to the first half of the 8th century.237 The popular-
ity of long seaxes is explained by their similar function and use to single-edged
swords (E.II).
1.4.2 Typological Changes
The most striking development in the evolution of seaxes is the elongation of
their blades and an increase in their width, which results in a relative increase
in their overall weight. This heavier blade led to a longer hilt to ensure a
more even distribution of weight, while the stability of the longer blade was
enhanced by the addition of grooves.
This transformation of the blade was a significant development, and can
be observed most clearly in the change in the location of the tip: while short
seaxes are characterised by blade type ‘A’ (tips on the back), broad seaxes
usually have a symmetrical blade with tip in the midline (type ‘B’), and the
narrower blades of long seaxes resulted in an asymmetrical blade with curved
back and straight edge (type ‘C’). These trends appear to be valid for seaxes in
general, with the exception of those in Saxonia where broad seaxes are absent.238
235 These burials are dated by belt-sets: rectangular belt-mounts cut out of copper foil
(Bernolákovo–Sakoň grave No. 53 (Kraskovská 1962, 436–437. Obr. 11. Tab. XI/5);
Grabelsdorf bei St. Kanzian am Klopeinersee (Szameit – Stadler 1993, 213–242. Abb. 2),
rectangular cast mounts decorated by griffons (Bratislava–Čunovo grave No. 127 (Hampel
1905, II. 158–159. III. Taf. 134); Münchendorf grave No. 38 (Mitscha-Märheim 1941, 32. Taf.
17/10), cast strap-end decorated by animal-combat scene (Bratislava–Čunovo grave No.
127 (Hampel 1905, II. 158–159. III. Taf. 134); Münchendorf grave No. 38 (Mitscha-Märheim
1941, 32. Taf. 17/10) are all dated to the first half of the 8th century.
236 The examples from Valalíky grave No. 42 (Pástor 1982, 307–308, Obr. 11/1) and 84 (Pástor
1982, 315, Obr. 16/1) are dated to the second half of the 8th century, the seaxes from
Zalakomár are dated to the turn of the 8th–9th century with the Zalakomár–Lesvári dűlő
grave No. 26A, 89, 144 and 175 (Szőke 2002, 77. 9/a; 82, 11; 494. Taf. 12; 80. 12), while the long
seax from Hédervár–Gyulamajor (Lovas 1929b, 49; Fettich 1943, 7, Taf. XXXVIII. 1a–1b) is
probably dated to the first half of the Carolingian Period.
237 Erik Szameit and Peter Stadler (1993, 219) observed veneer pattern welding
(‘Furnierdamast’) on this artefact, which technical feature is characteristic for the Ist–
IInd phase of Herbert Westphal (1991, 337).
238 Westphal 1991, 272.