Metallographic examination of four 7th–8th century long-blade weapons from Želovce (Slovakia)

Abstract

The article presents the metallographic examination of three sabres and one double-edged sword coming from the 7th–8th century Slavic-Avar site of Želovce (Slovakia). All four weapons had been subjected to metallography as early as 1975, but the results were not published in sufficient detail. With this article, written in honour of Radomír Pleiner, the authors wish to repay this debt. The blades are compared with other (metallographically examined) weapons from Želovce, and the manufacturing methods of early medieval production of sabres are discussed.

Keywords

• Želovce
• Avars
• sabres
• sword
• metallography
• archaeometallurgy