The wood of Merovingian weaponry

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F86652079%3A_____%2F16%3A00473256" target="_blank" >RIV/86652079:_____/16:00473256 - isvavai.cz</a>

Výsledek na webu

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2015.11.011" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2015.11.011</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2015.11.011" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.jas.2015.11.011</a>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

The wood of Merovingian weaponry

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

After metal, wood was the second most important material for weapon production in early medieval Europe. The weaponry of Merovingian warriors consisted of a double-edged long sword (spatha), a single-edged short sword (seax), a shield, a spear, an axe, as well as a bow and arrows. Belowground organic material remains have often been preserved through mineralisation processes over centuries to millennia. Although these objects are frequently found as grave goods in burials, systematic material identification is still missing. Here, we present wood anatomical features of 316 weapons from 42 cemeteries of the Merovingian Dynasty in northeastern France. The most commonly used wood for weapons was ash (Fraxinus excelsior), followed by alder (Alms sp.) and hazel (Corylus avellana). While guaranteeing optimum quality and utility, these taxa were mostly considered for spears, arrows, spatha scabbards and shields. Density and mechanical properties further influenced wood selection. An attractive appearance of representative weaponry also affected species preference. At the same time, wood choice rooted in tradition, as knowledge transfer persisted over many centuries and cultures.

Název v anglickém jazyce

The wood of Merovingian weaponry

Popis výsledku anglicky

After metal, wood was the second most important material for weapon production in early medieval Europe. The weaponry of Merovingian warriors consisted of a double-edged long sword (spatha), a single-edged short sword (seax), a shield, a spear, an axe, as well as a bow and arrows. Belowground organic material remains have often been preserved through mineralisation processes over centuries to millennia. Although these objects are frequently found as grave goods in burials, systematic material identification is still missing. Here, we present wood anatomical features of 316 weapons from 42 cemeteries of the Merovingian Dynasty in northeastern France. The most commonly used wood for weapons was ash (Fraxinus excelsior), followed by alder (Alms sp.) and hazel (Corylus avellana). While guaranteeing optimum quality and utility, these taxa were mostly considered for spears, arrows, spatha scabbards and shields. Density and mechanical properties further influenced wood selection. An attractive appearance of representative weaponry also affected species preference. At the same time, wood choice rooted in tradition, as knowledge transfer persisted over many centuries and cultures.

Druh

J_x - Nezařazeno - Článek v odborném periodiku (Jimp, Jsc a Jost)

CEP obor

EH - Ekologie – společenstva

OECD FORD obor

—

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/EE2.3.20.0248" target="_blank" >EE2.3.20.0248: Vytvoření interdisciplinárního vědeckého týmu se zaměřením na výzkum sucha</a><br>

Návaznosti

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Rok uplatnění

2016

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

Journal of Archaeological Science

ISSN

0305-4403

e-ISSN

—

Svazek periodika

65

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

JAN

Stát vydavatele periodika

US - Spojené státy americké

Počet stran výsledku

6

Strana od-do

148-153

Kód UT WoS článku

000370458000014

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-84949575497