Technology of Sword Blades from the La Tène Period to the Early Modern Age

The case of what is now Poland

By (author) Grzegorz Zabinski

Book cover: Technology of Sword Blades from the La Tène Period to the Early Modern Age

Extent: 374 pages

Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing

Subjects: Early Modern & Renaissance Studies, Medieval Studies

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(December 2014)

ISBN: 9781784910280

8.27 x 11.69 inches

Price: $102.00

In stock

This book assesses the results of recent metallographic examination of 45 sword blades (mid-2nd century BC to early-16th century) from the territory of what is now Poland.


This book assesses the results of recent metallographic examination of 45 sword blades (mid-2nd century BC to early-16th century) from the territory of what is now Poland. Pre-Roman blades were usually made from one piece of metal of varying quality (better quality items were perhaps imported). Most high quality and complex technology Roman blades were in all probability of Roman provenance, while some low quality one-piece examples may have been made locally. The Migration Period and Early Middle Ages witnessed the greatest diversification of technological solutions. However it is much more difficult to define the provenance of blades based on their technology in these periods. The range of technologies in use strongly decreased in the High and Late Middle Ages.

Introduction
Distribution and Typochronology of Finds: Geography of Finds
Typochronology of Finds
The Pre-Roman Period
The Roman Period and the Early Migration Period
The Migration Period and the Early Medieval Period
Blades of Type X (E. Oakeshott) and its variants
Type X, A, 1 (E. Oakeshott)
Type X/Xa, A/B, 3 (E. Oakeshott)
Type X/XII, B, 1/1a (E. Oakeshott)
Type XI, A, 1 (E. Oakeshott)
The High Medieval Period and the Late Medieval Period
Type XIIa, I, 2 (E. Oakeshott)
Blade Type XIIIa (E. Oakeshott)
Type XIIIa, J, 1/2 (E. Oakeshott)
Type XIIIa, I, 5 (E. Oakeshott)
Type XIIIa/XVIa, H/H1/I, 1/7 (E. Oakeshott)
Type XIIIa, Z2b, 5 (E. Oakeshott)
Type XIIa/XVIa, I/J (E. Oakeshott)
Type XVIa, G/G3, 5 (E. Oakeshott)
Type XVIa, H/H1, 1/2 (E. Oakeshott)
Type XVIa, I/I1, 1/1b (E. Oakeshott)
Type XVIa, T3, 9 (variant)
Blade Type XVII (E. Oakeshott)
Type XVII, G/H/H1, 1/2/7
Type XVII, T4/T5, 2/7
Type XIX (variant), T6, 6 (variant) (E. Oakeshott)
Type XX (variant), T, 1a. Stamps, Marks and Inscriptions on the Examined Swords: The Early Medieval Period
The High Medieval Period and the Late Medieval Period
Marks on blades. Technological Examinations
Methods of obtaining iron and steel in Antiquity and the Middle Ages
Typochronology of sword blade construction
Methods of research
Classification of sword blade construction types
The Pre-Roman Period
The Roman Period and the Early Migration Period
The Migration Period and the Early Medieval Period
The High Medieval and Late Medieval Periods
Sax blades
Technology and provenance of sword blades
Technology and blade types
Technology of sword blades from the Pre-Roman Period to the Early Modern Age. Conclusions and Suggestions for Further Research. Appendix. Bibliography.

  • By (author) Grzegorz Zabinski