Una posible espada de periodo romano de Grzybowo (Grzybowen), Masuria, NE. de Polonia. Contexto arqueológico y tecnológico

The paper discusses a recent stray find of a sword fragment with a possible stamp from Masuria in NE Poland. It was found close to a Roman Period cemetery of the Bogaczewo Culture. On typological grounds, the sword can be classified as a Roman Period weapon. However, the results of metallographic examinations suggest that the find may have been made either from very clean bloomery steel (or hypoeutectoid crucible steel) or from mass-made Industrial Age steel (Bessemer, Thomas, Siemens-Martin, etc.). On the other hand, the chemical composition of the sword would rather imply a pre-Industrial Period steel. In conclusion, it is carefully suggested that the weapon may be a genuine Ancient sword, although its final recognition as a Roman Period weapon could only be verified by finds made from similar metal in undoubted Roman Period contexts.En este trabajo se analiza el fragmento de una espada con posible sello de Masuria hallada en el NE de Polonia. Fue encontrada cerca de una necrópolis romana de la Cultura Bogaczewo. Tipológicamente es una espada romana. Sin embargo, los resultados de los análisis metalográficos sugieren que fue fabricada o bien con un limpio hierro forjado (o hipotéticamente con hierro fundido) o con acero preindustrial (Bessemer, Thomas, Siemens-Martin, etc.). Por otro lado, la composición química de la misma implicaría el empleo de acero pre-industrial. Para concluir, se sugiere, con cautela, que la espada puede ser una espada antigua, pero esta conclusión solo puede verificarse si aparecen hallazgos similares del periodo romano

Ankstyvųjų Viduramžių Makarovo 2 tipo miniatiūriniai kirviai Baltijos jūros regione

Straipsnyje aptariamas išskirtinis ankstyvasis viduramžių miniatiūrinių kirvių, gamintų iš metalo (dažniausiai bronzos) tipas, vadinamasis Makarovo 2-asis tipas. Šio tipo kirviai žinomi visame Baltijos regione ir datuotini XI–XII a. pirmąja puse. Jiems būdingi vėduoklės formos simetriški ašmenys su kabliuko formos išsikišimu vidinėje briaunoje. Arti pusės žinomų pavyzdžių yra dekoruoti, dažniausiai geometriniais motyvais. Šie kirvukai siejami su magine-garbinamąja sfera ir dažniausiai laikytini kilusiais iš Rusios. Vienas išskirtinis egzempliorius, kuriame galima įžvelgti lyg ir irkluojančius vyrus, leidžia straipsnio autoriams daryti išvadą, kad Makarovo 2-ojo tipo kirvukai-amuletai yra formalūs valčių atvaizdai. Autoriai įsitikinę, kad šie dirbiniai neturėtų būti laikomi būdingais tiktai rytų slavams. Šie kirvukai būdingi visoms etninėms Baltijos regiono grupėms. Kirvukų paskirtis buvo labai įvairi ir priklausė visų pirma nuo naudotojo

Early medieval swords from the collection of the National Museum in Szczecin in the light of a new typological-chronological and technological analysis (part 2)

This study is devoted to four early medieval swords stored in the National Museum in Szczecin. The paper is a continuation of the weapon collection from the Szczecin Museum presentation, with first part published recently (Klimek, Kucypera, Kurasiński, Pudło 2011). All swords presented here were posted before, but, thus far, bereft of detailed formal, chronological and technological analyzes. The oldest presented specimen was found in Smołdzino, Słupsk District. No detailed location of the find is known, apart from the fact that it was uncovered by sand from a dune. It is preserved as a few pieces coming from a broken blade. Another two swords were also preserved partially, both with almost completely missing blades. They are most probably stray finds from the River Oder near Szczecin. The last, youngest specimen, is a loose find from Złocieniec, Drawsko District. The Smołdzino sword has been dated to the 2nd half of the 8th–half of the 10th centuries, however, it has to be noted that the technique in which its blade was forged (piled/sandwitched) does not allow to completely rule out the possibility of the sword’s earlier (La Tène period) metric. First of the Oder (Szczecin) swords has been classified as the younger type X by Petersen and dated to the 10th–half of the 11th centuries. The second specimen has been identified as Oakeshott’s type ?,B,3 and Geibig’s Kombinationstyp 15-III. It has been linked with the period of the 10th–beginning of the 12th centuries. Both specimens picked from the Oder River had blades forged by welding cutting-edge rods into central core pieces. Their lower guards and pommels (with, possibly, one exception) were formed from single homogeneous billets of iron. By far, the best preserved sword was the one from Złocieniec, classified here as type XI,E,1 by Oakeshott and Kombinationstyp 19 (hilt) and 10 (blade) by Geibig. In view of the presented analogies, it has been fixed to the chronological frame of the 12th–beginning of the 13th century. Unfortunately, due to external factors, no materials examination has been carried out on this weapon

Late medieval sword from Lutomiersk-Koziówki 3a–c, Pabianice County

The paper deals with a late medieval longsword found during recent excavations at Lutomiersk-Koziówki, Pabianice County. The slender, hexagonal blade tapering acutely towards the point was identified as a late variaton of Oakeshott’s type XVII, the smooth-surfaced, slightly elongated pommel represents type T3, while the simple guard square in cross-section with convolute both ends pertains type 1a. The carried out analyzes of organic, heavily-mineralized residues found on the weapons surface were identified as remains of a scabbard and grip fittings.The handle cladding was made of ash wood and the scabbard slats of spruce wood. The scabbard was coated with sheepskin of high quality. A piece of fabric, which was lifted from the sword’s surface, was qualified as silk and considered as coming from an attire of Italian origin. Quantative chemical composition and possible method of blade’s manufacture are also presented and discussed, as well as the conservation process, which the artifact underwent

Manufacture technology of early medieval sword and hammer axe from the relics of the bridge leading to the Ledniczka island on Lake Lednica in the light of archaeometallurgical investigations

Dwa egzemplarze wczesnośredniowiecznej broni odnalezione w reliktach mostu wiodącego na wyspę Ledniczkę na jeziorze Lednica zostały poddane nieinwazyjnym badaniom archeometalurgicznym. Przeprowadzone analizy pozwoliły na ustalenie metod fabrykacji oręża oraz określenie materiałów, które wykorzystano do jego wykonania. Oba przedmioty są wyrobami kompozytowymi odkutymi ze stopów żelaza o różnych właściwościach. Zarówno miecz, jak i czekan były bogato zdobione metalami żelaznymi i nieżelaznymi. Wykonane badania pozwoliły w większości na odtworzenie pierwotnego wyglądu tych ornamentów.Two early medieval weapons discovered within the relics of the Ledniczka bridge on Lake Lednica were subjected to non-invasive archaeometallurgical investigations. The conducted analyses allowed to determine the methods of their manufacture, as well as the characteristics of materials that were used in their making. Each specimen was a composite product forged from iron alloys of varying properties. Both the sword and the hammer axe were richly decorated with ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The research allowed in most parts to recreate the original appearance of these ornaments