Page 75 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 9(1) (2021)
P. 75
ia universitatis mens of bearded axes have been found between
lombar d weapons from fiesole, tuscan y (6th–7th century c.e.) ... 75Figure 4. Head axes n. 670 and n. 679 Cividale del Friuli (Ahumada Silva, Lopreato
(photo: Andrea Biondi). and Tagliaferri 1990, 43, XIX, 1), Testona (von
Hessen 1971a), Sirmione (Bolla 1996), Langas-
Overall, axe heads number 667 and 670 have a co di Camporone (Bianchi and Cagnana 1995),
width between the nape and the blade of 18 and Tesis di Vivaro (Ahumada Silva 1991, 76, 165),
21 cm. The other two axe heads are smaller in Castelvecchio di Peveragno (Micheletto 1996,
this value, presenting 14 cm (number 666) and 122-123) and near Imola (Baruzzi 1978, 426-427;
16 cm (number 679). Finally, the downward de- Gelichi 2005, 367, 16.3). In particular, a specimen
velopment of the blades of all the specimens os- very similar to the one with a trapezoidal blade
cillates between 14 (numbers 666, 667 and 670) from Fiesole (number 679), but with a slight-
and 15 cm (number 679). ly narrowed blade, it has been found near Imo-
la in Emilia Romagna and reported by S. Gelichi
According to current literature, from a cro- (Gelichi 2005, 367, 16.3). However, the find, now
nologichal point of view, the bearded axes found kept in the Museum of Imola, does not come
in Italy are generally dated to the late 6th and from a certain context and it is not datable with
throughout the 7th century (Parenti 1994a, 117; certainty. Another possible comparison for the
Parenti 1994b, 483) and, about the specimens axe head number 679 from Fiesole, is constitut-
considered here, they would be in line with the ed by the axe head found in tomb 24 of the ne-
frequentation currently known for the necrop- cropolis of S. Stefano in Pertica in Cividale del
olis of the Area Garibaldi dated between the Friuli (Ahumada Silva, Lopreato and Tagliaferri
end of the 6th century and the 7th century. 1990, 43, XIX, 1). This last one is overall slight-
Just to make a concise summary, in Italy speci- ly smaller than the Fiesolan specimen and, with
the tomb, is dated to first years of 7th century
C.E. (Brozzi 1990). In conclusion, among all the
Italian sites, in this moment Fiesole retains the
highest number of specimens of bearded head
axes with a total of 4 currently known cases.
About the two analyzed spear heads, as
known, this type of weapon is one of the most
frequently attested weapons in the depositions
of warriors (on foot and horsemen) in Italy, in
association with spatha and shield (Giostra 2012,
232). Therefore, for Lombard the spear was an
object which, in addition to its functionality,
had also a strong social and cultural value sanc-
tioning, in fact, the maturity of a young man and
was also deeply related to kings’ power (Gaspar-
ri 1983).
From a material point of view, it is possi-
ble to classify the spear heads on the shape of the
blade, which corresponds by definition to the
part of the weapon between the two wires. Oth-
er criteria of analysis are the blade-socket ratio
and the shape and decoration of the socket.
lombar d weapons from fiesole, tuscan y (6th–7th century c.e.) ... 75Figure 4. Head axes n. 670 and n. 679 Cividale del Friuli (Ahumada Silva, Lopreato
(photo: Andrea Biondi). and Tagliaferri 1990, 43, XIX, 1), Testona (von
Hessen 1971a), Sirmione (Bolla 1996), Langas-
Overall, axe heads number 667 and 670 have a co di Camporone (Bianchi and Cagnana 1995),
width between the nape and the blade of 18 and Tesis di Vivaro (Ahumada Silva 1991, 76, 165),
21 cm. The other two axe heads are smaller in Castelvecchio di Peveragno (Micheletto 1996,
this value, presenting 14 cm (number 666) and 122-123) and near Imola (Baruzzi 1978, 426-427;
16 cm (number 679). Finally, the downward de- Gelichi 2005, 367, 16.3). In particular, a specimen
velopment of the blades of all the specimens os- very similar to the one with a trapezoidal blade
cillates between 14 (numbers 666, 667 and 670) from Fiesole (number 679), but with a slight-
and 15 cm (number 679). ly narrowed blade, it has been found near Imo-
la in Emilia Romagna and reported by S. Gelichi
According to current literature, from a cro- (Gelichi 2005, 367, 16.3). However, the find, now
nologichal point of view, the bearded axes found kept in the Museum of Imola, does not come
in Italy are generally dated to the late 6th and from a certain context and it is not datable with
throughout the 7th century (Parenti 1994a, 117; certainty. Another possible comparison for the
Parenti 1994b, 483) and, about the specimens axe head number 679 from Fiesole, is constitut-
considered here, they would be in line with the ed by the axe head found in tomb 24 of the ne-
frequentation currently known for the necrop- cropolis of S. Stefano in Pertica in Cividale del
olis of the Area Garibaldi dated between the Friuli (Ahumada Silva, Lopreato and Tagliaferri
end of the 6th century and the 7th century. 1990, 43, XIX, 1). This last one is overall slight-
Just to make a concise summary, in Italy speci- ly smaller than the Fiesolan specimen and, with
the tomb, is dated to first years of 7th century
C.E. (Brozzi 1990). In conclusion, among all the
Italian sites, in this moment Fiesole retains the
highest number of specimens of bearded head
axes with a total of 4 currently known cases.
About the two analyzed spear heads, as
known, this type of weapon is one of the most
frequently attested weapons in the depositions
of warriors (on foot and horsemen) in Italy, in
association with spatha and shield (Giostra 2012,
232). Therefore, for Lombard the spear was an
object which, in addition to its functionality,
had also a strong social and cultural value sanc-
tioning, in fact, the maturity of a young man and
was also deeply related to kings’ power (Gaspar-
ri 1983).
From a material point of view, it is possi-
ble to classify the spear heads on the shape of the
blade, which corresponds by definition to the
part of the weapon between the two wires. Oth-
er criteria of analysis are the blade-socket ratio
and the shape and decoration of the socket.
