388 CHAPTER 7
The rate of burials with polearms and edged weapons presents a similar
dynamic, though the number of swords is much less than that of the polearms.
Polearms could be buried in the graves of juvenile individuals, while swords
appear only in adult graves. The frequent occurrence of weapons in senile buri-
als, as well as in horse offering, could be the sign of respect of aged persons.
The examination of Anglo-Saxon weapon burials by Heinrich Härke showed
similar results, though in Anglo-Saxon cemeteries most of the weapons were
buried in adult male burials, though senile male individuals got weapons as a
higher percentage.28
All the above contradicts the suggestion of the social maturity of 14–15 years
old being assigned by the acquision of a belt.29 Social maturity probably had
various levels, and the burial rites at the very least suggest a more complicated
phenomenon.
In light of the age determinations of relevant anthropological examinations,
we are not in a position to discuss so-called warrior graves, since the militarily
most active age group appears very poorly represented amongst these weapon
burials, with most of the weapons having been deposited with aged or even old
men. The act of weapon deposition probably had social reasons with weapons
in burials not necessarily representing social status but also age groups which
were closely interrelated with each-other. The study of burials with horses
from the same perspective has resulted in a similar conclusion, with horses
being deposited mostly with senile individuals. The same is true for female
burials with horses.30
Of course, it need not have only been the age of the deceased that was the
only basis for such depositional decisions, in respect of who got weapons in
their grave and who did not, and nor does it explain the social significance of
these weapons in the burial, though it can highlight some important features.
Nothing is known about the inheritance of weapons among the Avars, and
even the weapons in these burials could have been the property of someone
else.
Several other factors could also have influenced the deposition of weap-
ons in burials besides the age of the deceased, like their economic and social
position, the customs of the burying community and the prestige of the
deceased amongst that community. The individual fate of the deceased could
also have affected the funeral in respect of communal rules.
28 Härke 1992, 183.
29 Unfortunately no extensive analysis was made on the relationship between age and the
inclusion of belt-costumes buried in a grave in respect of this anthropological data.
30 Čilinská 1990, 135–146.