Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 30/1. (2010)
Articles
SOME CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE WEAPONS DURING THE GREAT MIGRATIONS IN THE NORTH DANUBIAN AREA (4th—7th CENTURIES AD) ISTVÁN FÁBIÁN Petru Maior University, Tärgu Mure§ Keywords: barbarian weaponry, warrior graves, workshops In terms of traditional history, types of weapons and equipment like spurs, shield umbones, swords and axes spread in the Roman period in northern and eastern Black Sea areal. This spreading is made under the influence of the Germanic tribes of the Przeworsk, Wielbark and Luboszyce culture. This is where we can find a parallel between the evolution of weaponry and equipment used in Central Europe and those used in the eastern parts of the continent, where anyone could ultimately find certain Roman influence, explained by the presence of Roman troops at the Danube and Black Sea.1 The problem occurs in the presence of weapons in space north of the Danube and the manufacturing technology: it is clear that many weapons discovered north of the Danube (particularly in barbaric environment) are of Roman inspiration, without being used manufacturing typically Roman techniques. Historical records emphasised clearly that Germanic weapons (mainly swords) were more advanced in technical and dimensional terms than the Roman weaponry was. It is enough to remember the fear described by Ammianus Marcellinus about the barbaric weapons effects on the Roman troops in the frequent military confrontations of the 4th century. These confrontations culminated in the Battle of Adrianople (378 AD), when the Roman army was destroyed by the Gothic Confederation: “fighting spread like wildfire, and terrified the soldiers, many of which were pierced by spears and arrows with semicircular path [...] This never repairable loss which cost more Roman life ended when dark moonless night fall”.1 2 Also Ammianus describes the fear caused in the Roman army by long swords handled with both hands used by the Germanic warriors for cutting (ripping), not only to penetrate (like Romans did). We cannot forget that in Late Antiquity, Germanic peoples have developed techniques of melting, alloy making, welding, etc. “They knew how to make for their swords and axes special steel edge matchless until the 19"' century, infinitely superior to those produced in the manufactures of the Later Roman Empire.”3 Convincing examples are the eight bands swords blades hammer-wroughted toradated, welded together, with blades that eventually did not exceed 5 mm in thickness. This is also the situation of the battle-axes, considered ‘national’ Germanic 1 Kazanski 1994, 43. 2 Ammianus Marcellinus XXX. 13. 3 Musset 1965, 68. MARISIA XXX, p. 153-157
