Page 77 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 9(1) (2021)
P. 77
ia universitatisthe socket is dampened with oblique edges con- sole by E. Galli (number 657)11. Scramasax, in
lombar d weapons from fiesole, tuscan y (6th–7th century c.e.) ... 77 verge towards the socket. There is also a median association with spathae or alone, is a frequent
spine all along the blade. object that has been found in various sites and
warriors’ burial in Italy (von Hessen 1971a). As
About other aspects, both the spear heads known, the morphological evolution of this
have blades longer than the sockets and pres- weapon follows a progressive increase in the
ent truncated cone-shaped simple socket with- length and also in the width of the blade. The
out any decoration (as burin engraving or met- presence of grooves (Blutrillen) near the back on
al molding). both sides of the blade is another usual aspect for
this type of weapon.
The specimen number 650 belongs to one
of the oldest variants attested for the Lombards. From a material point of view, the scramasax
The considered specimen from Fiesole is 40 cm in Italy are divided into 3 groups depending on
length and 3,2 cm width and, at the moment, in the length of the blades (Giostra 2012, 229-231).
addition to the unpublished example of Fiesole Regarding this aspect, we have the kurzsax (dat-
analyzed here, this variant is known in Italy in able to the 6th century and to the beginning of
north-eastern contexts, like Lombardy, Veneto the 7th century C.E.) that presents a length of
(De Marchi and Cini 1988) and Friuli Venezia the blade between 19 and 30 cm and a maximum
Giulia and it is more present abroad than in Italy. width between 2,6 and 3,5 cm. Between 570 and
As comparisons we consider the specimen from 640 C.E., a more massive short sax (blade length
tomb 5 of Trezzo sull’Adda (Roffia 1986, 93) and 23-30 cm) with a width of 3,5-4 cm is also docu-
other examples from Pacengo (von Hessen 1968, mented. Since the end of the 6th century C.E.
31), from Brescia (Panazza 1964, 168), from tomb and up to the third quarter of the 7th century
35 of the necropolis of San Mauro in Cividale del C.E., a medium-sized sax (blade length 30-46
Friuli (Ahumada Silva 2010, 76) and from Of- cm; width 3,5-5,8 cm) spread, while, from the
fanengo (von Hessen 1965, 31). From a chrono- last quarter of the 7th century C.E. there is the
logical point of view, this type can be placed be- Langsax, with a significant increase (between 48
tween the beginning and the last third of the 7th and 80 cm) in the length of the blade (Giostra
century C.E. (De Marchi and Cini 1988). 2012, 229-231).
The second specimen of spear head (with- The scramasax number 657 here analyz-
out inventory number) is characterized by a ed has not a good complex state of conservation
rhomboid-shaped blade, longer than the socket with a 27 cm residual length (without the tip), a
and has been found both in North Italy and in thickness of 0,5 cm and a 3 cm width with the
the Centre of the peninsula (von Hessen 1971a; usual grooves (Blutrillen) near the back on both
Sesino 1989; Rupp 1997; Paroli and Ricci 2007). sides of the blade. The specimen number 657
The example of Fiesole is 26 cm length and 4 cm from Fiesole can be considered as a Kurzsax. In
width and, from a chronological point of view, Italy, reporting the comparisons listed by C. Gi-
could be dated throughout the 7th century C.E. ostra (Giostra 2012, 229-230), this type of weap-
In conclusion, as seen for the axe heads, the two on was found in the tomb 24 of necropolis of S.
specimens of spear head considered would also Stefano in Pertica (length 25 cm; width 3,3 cm,
be in line with the frequentation of the Area first decades of the 7th century C.E.; Ahuma-
Garibaldi, dated between the end of the 6th cen- da Silva, Lopreato and Tagliaferri 1990, 47 (n. 5),
tury and throughout the 7th century C.E. 102 (n. 11), tav. XXIII, 2) and in the tomb 43 of
necropolis of S. Mauro (length 24 cm, but the
The last object analyzed in this paper is a tip is missing; width 3,6 cm; last third of the 6th
specimen of scramasax (Figg. 5 and 11) which is
described as a spearhead in the aforementioned 11 There is also another scramasax known for Fiesole and it belongs to
inventory of the Archaeological Museum of Fie- tomb XX in the Area Garibaldi that was discovered in 2010. This
last specimen is inedited and is being studied by the writer.
lombar d weapons from fiesole, tuscan y (6th–7th century c.e.) ... 77 verge towards the socket. There is also a median association with spathae or alone, is a frequent
spine all along the blade. object that has been found in various sites and
warriors’ burial in Italy (von Hessen 1971a). As
About other aspects, both the spear heads known, the morphological evolution of this
have blades longer than the sockets and pres- weapon follows a progressive increase in the
ent truncated cone-shaped simple socket with- length and also in the width of the blade. The
out any decoration (as burin engraving or met- presence of grooves (Blutrillen) near the back on
al molding). both sides of the blade is another usual aspect for
this type of weapon.
The specimen number 650 belongs to one
of the oldest variants attested for the Lombards. From a material point of view, the scramasax
The considered specimen from Fiesole is 40 cm in Italy are divided into 3 groups depending on
length and 3,2 cm width and, at the moment, in the length of the blades (Giostra 2012, 229-231).
addition to the unpublished example of Fiesole Regarding this aspect, we have the kurzsax (dat-
analyzed here, this variant is known in Italy in able to the 6th century and to the beginning of
north-eastern contexts, like Lombardy, Veneto the 7th century C.E.) that presents a length of
(De Marchi and Cini 1988) and Friuli Venezia the blade between 19 and 30 cm and a maximum
Giulia and it is more present abroad than in Italy. width between 2,6 and 3,5 cm. Between 570 and
As comparisons we consider the specimen from 640 C.E., a more massive short sax (blade length
tomb 5 of Trezzo sull’Adda (Roffia 1986, 93) and 23-30 cm) with a width of 3,5-4 cm is also docu-
other examples from Pacengo (von Hessen 1968, mented. Since the end of the 6th century C.E.
31), from Brescia (Panazza 1964, 168), from tomb and up to the third quarter of the 7th century
35 of the necropolis of San Mauro in Cividale del C.E., a medium-sized sax (blade length 30-46
Friuli (Ahumada Silva 2010, 76) and from Of- cm; width 3,5-5,8 cm) spread, while, from the
fanengo (von Hessen 1965, 31). From a chrono- last quarter of the 7th century C.E. there is the
logical point of view, this type can be placed be- Langsax, with a significant increase (between 48
tween the beginning and the last third of the 7th and 80 cm) in the length of the blade (Giostra
century C.E. (De Marchi and Cini 1988). 2012, 229-231).
The second specimen of spear head (with- The scramasax number 657 here analyz-
out inventory number) is characterized by a ed has not a good complex state of conservation
rhomboid-shaped blade, longer than the socket with a 27 cm residual length (without the tip), a
and has been found both in North Italy and in thickness of 0,5 cm and a 3 cm width with the
the Centre of the peninsula (von Hessen 1971a; usual grooves (Blutrillen) near the back on both
Sesino 1989; Rupp 1997; Paroli and Ricci 2007). sides of the blade. The specimen number 657
The example of Fiesole is 26 cm length and 4 cm from Fiesole can be considered as a Kurzsax. In
width and, from a chronological point of view, Italy, reporting the comparisons listed by C. Gi-
could be dated throughout the 7th century C.E. ostra (Giostra 2012, 229-230), this type of weap-
In conclusion, as seen for the axe heads, the two on was found in the tomb 24 of necropolis of S.
specimens of spear head considered would also Stefano in Pertica (length 25 cm; width 3,3 cm,
be in line with the frequentation of the Area first decades of the 7th century C.E.; Ahuma-
Garibaldi, dated between the end of the 6th cen- da Silva, Lopreato and Tagliaferri 1990, 47 (n. 5),
tury and throughout the 7th century C.E. 102 (n. 11), tav. XXIII, 2) and in the tomb 43 of
necropolis of S. Mauro (length 24 cm, but the
The last object analyzed in this paper is a tip is missing; width 3,6 cm; last third of the 6th
specimen of scramasax (Figg. 5 and 11) which is
described as a spearhead in the aforementioned 11 There is also another scramasax known for Fiesole and it belongs to
inventory of the Archaeological Museum of Fie- tomb XX in the Area Garibaldi that was discovered in 2010. This
last specimen is inedited and is being studied by the writer.
