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

(Nandana) #1

Edged Weapons 281


This variant (S.4.c) is evenly distributed, with examples found in both


Transdanubia505 and the Great Hungarian Plain,506 with the number of finds


from the southern part of the Great Hungarian Plain being particularly high


(map 49). The use of this type from Kiszombor is dated by a solidus of Phocas


(602–610) to the beginning of the 7th century, but the same type was continu-


ously used even during the Middle phase.507


3.2.2 Semicircular Suspension Loops (S.5)


Semicircular suspension loops are chronologically later than the above men-


tioned P-shaped loops, and are found in pairs on both single-edged swords


and sabres (map 50, fig. 103). The name ‘D’-shaped can be misleading since


Éva Garam used it to describe the first variant of P-shaped loops (S.4.a), and


therefore it will instead be termed according to its geometric form as semi-


circular, while the elongated loops will be described as D-shaped. This type is


primarily characteristic of the Middle phase, though it had already appeared


during the end of the Early phase.


Regular semicircular suspension loops covered with silver and copper alloy


foils (S.5.a)508 are usually decorated with silver509 or copper alloy510 sheet on


example can warn us that artefacts of similar shape could have completely different
functions.
505 Biatorbágy (Horváth – Reményi – Tóth 2004, 30–31, 7–8. kép), Iváncsa (Bóna 1970, 243,251.
8/5), Győr grave No. 755 (Börzsönyi 1906, 320–321; Fettich 1943, 38–39. XIV), Szárazd
(Kovács 2001, 185. 187–190, 7. kép 10).
506 Aradac grave No. 31 (Nađ 1959, 58, Tab. VIII/1), Deszk (Csallány 1939, 127. 129. I. t. 2–2a, 2.
kép 2–2a), Gátér (Fettich 1926a, 7, Pl. X/24–24a), Kecskemét–Ballószög (Szabó 1939, 185–



  1. Taf. I. Abb. 1), Kiszombor (Csallány 1939, 125–126, I. t. 1–1a, 2. kép 1), Novi Kneževac
    (Hampel 1900, 170–175; Hampel 1905, 357–360).
    507 The finds from Biatorbágy (Horváth – Reményi – Tóth 2004, 30–31, 7–8. kép), Kecskemét–
    Ballószög (Szabó 1939, 185–187. Taf. I. Abb. 1) and Iváncsa (Bóna 1970, 243, 251. 8/5) are
    dated to the Middle phase, the Iváncsa burial being one of the leading finds of the Middle
    phase with its sabre, coin-imitation, granulated earring and harness-mounts (Bóna 1970,
    243–250).
    508 Čoka–Kremenjak grave No. 45 (László 1943, 66–78; Kovrig – Korek 1960, 262, fig. 6;
    Dimitrijević – Kovačević – Vinski 1962, 14–15; Bóna 1980, 50. Abb. 9, B, 2; Mrkobrad 1980,



    1. LXXIX/7; Simon 1991, 289); Győr–Téglavető-dűlő grave No. 58 (Fettich 1943, 12, 16);
      Maglód–Kertváros (Garam 2005, 414, 9–10. kép, 427–428); Pókaszepetk–Mesterföldek,
      Avar utca grave No. 332 (Sós – Salamon 1995, 166–167. Pl. XX); Tárnok (Garam 1991b, 222, 3.
      kép, 5 kép 2).
      509 Čoka–Kremenjak grave No. 45 (László 1943, 66–78; Kovrig – Korek 1960, 262, fig. 6;
      Dimitrijević – Kovačević – Vinski 1962, 14–15; Bóna 1980, 50. Abb. 9, B, 2; Mrkobrad 1980, 98.



  2. LXXIX/7; Simon 1991, 289); Maglód–Kertváros (Garam 2005, 414, 9–10. kép, 427–428).
    510 Győr–Téglavető-dűlő grave No. 58 (Fettich 1943, 12, 16).

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