242 CHAPTER 3
at Kunpeszér is decorated with a rhombic shaped rivet covered with silver
sheet,281 and the sword hilt from grave No. 107 at Kölked-Feketekapu A cem-
etery is decorated with a rhombic shaped copper alloy sheet (fig. 88/5).282 All
of these Early phase burials are dated to the middle third of the 7th century.
After the rhombic gold and silver sheets of the Early phase, the Middle
and Late phase are characterised by rivets with rhombic head cast of copper
alloy283 or forged of iron.284 Cast copper alloy rivets could be covered with
gold or silver foil285 or decorated with curved grooves (fig. 89/1).286 The shape
of these rivet-heads is identical, but their technical features represent a degree
of chronological order: rhombic rivet-heads covered with gold or silver foils are
only characteristic for the Middle phase. Similar rhombic decoration stamped
on the silver sheet covering the hilt is also known from a Sassanian sword of
the 7th century (fig. 89/2).287
Sabre hilts could be decorated with cylindrical rivet-heads on the upper
part of the hilt. These rivet-heads cast of copper alloy with grooved decora-
tion are known from the hilts of sabres from burials at Iváncsa288 and Igar.289
Cylindrical rivet-heads project from the surface of the hilt but their original
function is not known. Both examples are dated to the Middle phase.
Wooden hilts could be decorated with rosettes or rivets with big circular
heads. The sabre hilt from grave No. 64 at Gyenesdiás was decorated with three
such rivets with big circular heads which included stamped ray-ornament
281 H. Tóth 1984, 12; Simon 1991, 299.
282 Kiss 1996, 41, 232, Taf. 34/1.
283 Košice unknown site.
284 Kiskőrös–Városalatt grave No. 210 (Horváth 1935, 51, 53); Želovce grave No. 820 (Čilinská
1973, 180, Taf. CXXXI/1).
285 Dunaújváros–Öreghegy, Rákits D. földje (Dunapentele) grave No. 7 (I) (Garam 1994–95,
134, 8. kép); Igar–Vámszőlőhegy, Petőfi u. 56. grave No. III (Marosi 1931, 6–7; Fülöp 1987,
17, 8. ábra; Fülöp 1988, 167–168, Abb. 14); Ozora–Tótipuszta grave No. 1 (Wosinsky 1896,
1000–1008. Taf. 252–254; Hampel 1897. II. LV–LVII. táblák; Hampel 1905 III. Taf. 268; Bóna
1982–83, 104–109; Garam 1992, 145–146. Taf. 61, Taf. 62/8).
286 Igar–Vámszőlőhegy, Petőfi u. 56. grave No. III (Marosi 1931, 6–7; Fülöp 1987, 17, 8. ábra;
Fülöp 1988, 167–168, Abb. 14).
287 A Sassanian sword with similar decoration was found in the Amlash region (Römisch-
Germanisches Zentralmuseum in Mainz) decorated with silver foils. (Böhner – Ellmers –
Weidemann 1972, 42; Bálint 1978, 208; Bálint 1992, 317, 416, taf. 12b; Overlaet 1993, 177.
No. 35).
288 Bóna 1970, 243, 251. 8/5.
289 Marosi 1931, 6–7; Fülöp 1987, 17, 8. ábra; Fülöp 1988, 167–168, Abb. 14.