Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 34-35. (2014-2015)
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Medieval Weapons from Bistra Muresului 121 the 11 — 14th century.41 According to Jessop, these arrowheads might have been used both in battle and hunting,42 similarly to the Central European data, their chronological classification is quite large (10— 16th century). Moldavian analogies of our bay leaf-shaped arrowheads come from 14-15th century settlements.43 Similar examples dated to the 12-15th century were classified by Jessop as type M10 and defined as armourpiercing arrowheads.44 The barbed arrowhead (cat. 12), whose analogies have turned up at several Transylvanian sites must have been used for hunting down wild animals. Earlier (12-13th century) items were published from Chilieni (Kilyén),45 the Rika forest tower,46 Cernat (Csernáton)-lka fortress.47 Those specimens that were found in Transylvanian fortresses - Codlea (Feketehalom),48 Tili^ca (Tiliske),49 Breaza (Bráza),50 Loman (Lomány),51 Racu (Csíkrákos)52 - and settlements - Cernat (Csernáton)-Fülöp garden,53 Barátos-Horváth garden54) can be dated to the late Árpád period and the 14—15th century. Close to 50 arrowheads coming from a 14-15th century find have been identified in Moldova,55 and Wallachian examples share the same chronology.56 This shape was used in Hungary both during the Árpád period,57 and later.58 It is the Ruttkay A1 type that corresponds to our items,59 and the Medvedev 2 type60 on Kievan Rus’ territory, with the same chronological frames in both cases (9-14th century). Analogies stemming from Polish fortresses and castles are dated similarly to the above mentioned territories.61 Its Central and Western European parallels are type T5-8 of Zimmermanns synthesis which 41 Zimmermann 2000, 61-63, Taf. 16. 42 Jessop type MP3: Jessop 1996, 194. Fig. 1,196. 43 Mandache 2013, 57-58, type B3. 44 Jessop 1996, 194. Fig. 1, 199. 45 Bartók - Bordi 2000, 179, fig. 5/3. 46 Bordi - Dénes 1999, 177, 8. ábra 1. 47 Székely 1977, 62, 16. kép 2. 48 Costea 1968, 80, Fig. 3. 49 Nägler 1967, Taf. Ш/4. 50 Nägler 1969, 114, fig. 6/1. 51 Ghenescu 2009, 120, pl. II/4, pl. V/4. 52 Székely 1977, 63, 24. kép 6. 53 Bordi 2009, 50, 5. kép. 54 Bordi 2009, 49, 3. kép. 55 Mandache 2013, 56-57, type Bl. 56 Ioni^á 2005, 95 (type II.2), 223. fig. 51/4-6. 57 Kovács 1986, 226-230. 16. á. 24-25, 274. 58 Kalmár 1971, 148. 59 Ruttkay 1976, 327-328, Abb. 54. 60 Medvedev 1966, 39. Tab. 30/2, 92. Tab. 13/1, 97. Tab. 18/1,99. Tab. 20/2. 61 Nadolski 1956, 64-66,type I., Tabl. XXX/5-6; Bron 1978, 75. the author dated to the 11 — 13th century, but based on pictorial sources assumed that their use exceeded this period.62 The MP8, H3, H4? types in Jessop’s general work correspond best to the Transylvanian examples, however their dating to the 13-14th century follows more likely the Central European typologies’ values.63 One of the barbed arrowheads deserves special attention. Between its socket and edge a twisted part can be distinguished (cat. 11). The different arrowhead typologies sometimes discuss this as a separate variant.64 The purpose of the spiral-like twisted part has been explained in several ways, but no unequivocal proof can support either of these explanations. Ruttkay explains the socket’s form with structural considerations.65 Other possibilities, such as their use as igniter or poisoned arrowheads, among others, have also been discussed. The latest thesis dedicated to these suppositions belongs to M. Stapor and considers the last possibility the most likely.66 In clarifying the proposed functions, experimental methods might be of help. Until then it is worth considering the possibility of looking at this arrowhead as a multi-purpose one. Zsigmond Bordi attempted to create a typology based on the ratio of the barbed arrowhead’s edge and the socket’s length.67 In our opinion the different shapes were simultaneously used during the Middle Ages. Analogies of the shorter socketed arrowhead which he considered late medieval had occurred already in the 9-10th century,68 while the longer socketed type, taken for an Árpád period object is also known from 14-15th century sites.69 Their purpose has been much debated,70 but most researchers highlighted their use in hunting. Conical arrowheads that turn narrower at the socket’s alignment were most probably used for hunting. Each of them (cat. 13-17) has a slightly blunt tip. The edge that connects organically to the socket and follows it without any transi-62 Zimmermann 2000, 64-66. 63 Jessop 1996, 194. Fig. 1, 197, 200. 64 Nadolski 1956,270, type I., Tab. XXX/5; Medvedev 1966, 92, Tab. 13/1, pieces of a very early date, Ruttkay 1976, 324 (type Alb, Abb. 54), 325. 65 The shaping of the socket may have kept the arrowhead from ’sliding’ toward the edge: Ruttkay 1976, 328. 66 Stupor 2013, 63. 67 Bordi 2006, 93, 99, Figure 4. 68 Medvedev 1966, 92, Tab. 13/2. 69 Mandache 2013, 56-57. 70 János Kalmár defines them as igniting arrowheads and takes them for hunting arrows only starting from the 15th century: Kalmár 1971, 148.
