MEDIAEVAL WEAPONRY. ABOUT THE SPEARHEADS WITH WINGS FOUND IN GRAVES IN AREAS OF MEDIAEVAL POLAND

• Authors: Kurasinski T.
• Languages of publication: DE

Abstracts

EN

The author writes about significance and functioning of spearheads with wings (type VI acc. to A. Nadolski) in Middle Ages in Poland. Analyzed spearheads with wings come from grave assemblages. Iconographic and written sources were used also. Spearheads with wings are known only from three cemeteries in Poland. Spearheads with wings were used effectively in fighting and during the game. However, this effectiveness was not caused by the attached wings. It seems, that the real sense of this weapon is manifested mainly on the symbolic level. It is confirmed by the fact, that all of them are very long, and have special ornamentation, which is not important in warfare. This kind of spear could function also as an ensigns (badges). Preserved items have a character of insignia or relic, too. One can assume, that persons buried with such weapons belonged to the members of the ruler's body-guard. Only the warriors performing functions of commanders or advisers could make use of them.

Keywords

EN

BURIAL RITUALS; MEDIAEVAL WEAPONRY; SPEARHEADS WITH WINGS; WEAPON SYMBOLIS

Discipline

• ARCHAEOLOGY: ARCHAEOLOGY

• Publisher: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Sprawozdania Archeologiczne
• Year: 2005
• Volume: 57
• Pages: 165-213
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Kurasinski T.

• T. Kurasinski, Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii PAN, Oddzial w Lodzi, ul. Tylna 1, 90-364 Lódz, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

06PLAAAA01332991