Iron, 775 grams, 90.2 cm overall length. This is a good example of a swordsmith’s craftsmanship, with a long tongue-shaped blade, large pommel and substantial lower guard. It dates from the 11th-12th century AD and is of the Kazakevicius transitional type T/Z, derived from the Viking Period types in use in the eastern Baltic into the 12th century. Swords of this period and type are generally a rarity in mediaeval archaeology. The blade is relatively narrow for its length with a distinct medial fuller. The blade is 42.87 mm wide at the lower guard, tapering to 16.06 mm at a location about 1cm above the tip. The fuller narrows gently, parallel to the edges of the blade. The pommel with its exaggerated, lobed medial feature is derived from the 10th century format displayed in Petersen’s Type S (Wheeler’s Type III) which features a trilobate pommel design with a bulbous larger central lobe flanked by smaller bulbs, above a rounded-section horizontal upper guard. The lower guard, with its pronounced downward curvature, is closer to the profile found in Petersen’s Type Z. The swollen central lobe of the pommel is paralleled by a median protrusion on the guard. The pommel is constructed as a ferrous metal casing over a hollow core, with a small part missing to the outer edge of one side. The guard is itself a hollow iron casting, probably originally filled with an organic material. The sword is long-bladed but light and manoeuvrable; its large pommel counterbalances the blade well, making it a useful weapon for fast cut-and-thrust fighting. References: Jones, L., Oakeshott, E. &Pierce, I. Swords of the Viking Age, Woodbridge, 2002; Kazakevicius, V. The Medieval Sword Found in the Nevežis River (Kedainiai Town) in Lietuvos archeologija vol. 28, 2006 and by the same author The find of an East European sword quillon in a barrow in Visétiskés, Änyksciai district, Lithuania in Fornvännen, vol. 87, 1992. Very fine condition. Ex an old private collection. An XRF ancient metal test certificate from Oxford X-ray Fluorescence Ltd accompanies the piece.

This item is accompanied by an illustrated Certificate of Authenticity.