296 CHAPTER 4
bloomers did not carbonize the pig-iron by its casting.25 All the data above
(low carbon content and ferrite-pearlitic structure) reveal that these artefacts
were forged of pig-iron contradicting the idea of iron casting.
These iron artefacts were of good quality, accounting for their well pre-
served state, rather than because of their casting or die forging manufacturing
technique. As for the connecting chap, die forging was not necessarily used
in its manufacture since it could be made by shouldering. One of the major
characteristics of die forging is standardised, serial production, whereas con-
necting chaps are actually of various shape and size, contradicting a theory of
die forging.
Metallographic examination can also offer important information on the
origin of spearheads of Merovingian origin as represented by the Dorfmerking
type spearhead (P.III.D) from the Környe cemetery. This spearhead was
made from iron of low carbon and phosphore content, which characterises
Piaskowski’s first group together with that of the umbo from grave No. 66 at
Környe. The material of a bearded axe (‘Bartaxt’) from grave No. 125 was also
composed of similar material, though its surface was cemented.26 Probably it
is not by chance that all of the artefacts showing similar technical characteris-
tics are of western, Merovingian origin and their material differs significantly
from that of reed-shaped spears.
An interesting technical feature has been observed on the Early Avar
spearhead from grave No. 437 at Budakalász where according to electron-
microscopic analysis the socket was soldered together by copper. This tech-
nique was also described by Theophilus Presbyter.27
Unfortunately very few metallographic examinations have been carried out
on Late Avar spearheads, with all of the studied weapons coming from the
cemetery at Košice-Šebastovce. L’ubomir Mihók examined three spearheads
(from grave Nos. 221, 238 and 321) of different types: triangular (P.IV), lentic-
ular (P.III) and conical (P.II) spearheads having been analysed respectively.
According to the metallographic data, the spearhead from grave No. 221 was
made of iron of poor quality: it was made of two different groups of raw mate-
rial, as shown by the welds, one of which had a coarse ferritic structure and the
other being fine and pearlitic.28
25 Piaskowski (1974, 123–124) classified these artefacts to his 2nd group. He listed its analo-
gies from central Poland.
26 Piaskowski 1974, 122–124.
27 Theophilus 1986, 145–146; Brepohls 1987, 291.
28 Mihok et al. 1995, 151–153.