300 CHAPTER 5
earlier periods (like the age of Gepid and Lombard kingdoms of the early 6th
century) did survive the Avar conquest. Such chronological continuity can
be observed in the case of reed-shaped spearheads with long blade (P.I.B/1,
fig. 22), a type which had already appeared in Lombard and Gepidic burials
before 568,2 and the broad lenticular spearheads with long blade and short,
closed sockets (P.III.A/1.e, fig. 37–43) which were also known from Lombard
cemeteries before the Avar conquest.3 The continuity of edged weapons of the
6th century Germanic kingdoms can also be observed in the case of spathae
(E.I.A/1.a, fig. 56–59) and short seaxes (‘Kurzsax’) (E.IV.A.1.a, fig. 82/1–2). All of
these weapon types are suggestive of the Germanic tradition of the Carpathian
Basin surviving during the Early phase of the Avar Age according to both
archaeological and written sources,4 though the occurrence of these weapons
cannot be treated as evidence of any kind of ethnic continuity.
The first half of the Early phase is characterised by the predominance of
reed-shaped spearheads with connecting chap (P.I.A, fig. 14–18) and simple
reed-shaped spearheads (P.I.B, fig. 25–27), though broad lenticular spearheads
are also known from the same period in considerable numbers (P.III.A/1, fig.
37–43). Earlier research dated these reed-shaped spearheads with connecting
chap and grid-patterned rings to the period of the Avar conquest (568) by his-
toric interpretation,5 although newer studies have suggested that a Byzantine
origin is more probable,6 which raises questions over its early dating.
Simple reed-shaped spears (P.I.B, fig. 25–27) remained in use contiuously
from the Early to the Late phase, with developments in the socket represent-
ing a chronological indicator: open (P.I.B/3.a) and clasped socket (P.I.B/3.b)
and socket-wings abutting (P.I.B/3.c) are dated exclusively to the Early phase,
while sockets with rings pulled over (P.I.B/3.f ) were only characteristic of the
Late phase. Socket-wings abutting (P.I.B/3.d) and closed socket (P.I.B/3.e) are
generally used in all phases and are not chronologically useful.
The first half of the Early phase can be characterised by double-edged swords.
Spathae (E.I.A/1.a, fig. 56–59) are known in great numbers from Transdanubia
and Transylvania but double-edged blades of lenticular cross section (E.I.B,
2 See Bóna 1978, 157–158.
3 From Lombard burials: Vörs grave No. 3; Kajdacs grave No. 31; Maria Ponsee; Szentendre grave
No. 44; Sedriano-Rovena; Testona (Bierbrauer 1991, 34. fig. 11) Their chronology in Germany:
(Schretzheim I–III. phase: 545/550–590/600 (Koch 1977, 37, 109–110); South German 5th
phase: 530–600 (Koch 2001, 62, 75).
4 See chapter I.1.c.
5 Kovrig 1955a, 40; Kovrig 1955b, 190–192).
6 von Freeden 1991, 621–623; Schulze-Dörlamm 2006, 488. 494–497.