Studies of Viking Age swords: metallography and archaeology

Abstract

-rEsumEnThe paper is a comment on Alan Williams investigation 'A Metallurgical Study of some Viking Swords' published in Gladius XXIX. Williams' paper comprise metallurgical investigations of 44 Viking Age Swords, all with ULFBERHT inscriptions. Such investigations, made by a well qualified metallurgist, are essential to archaeology. Unfortunately, this one has some serious limitations. In order to give a good description of the quality of a sword-blade, samples showing at least the section through both the edge and the central part of the blade are necessary. This is mostly not the case in Williams' investigations, and he gives insufficient information about his samples. Other weak points are his group division and his interpretation of the production area for blades containing high-carbon steel.Este trabajo es un comentario sobre la investigación de Alan Williams 'A Metallurgical Study of some Viking Swords` publicado en Gladius XXIX. El artículo de Williams incluye un estudio arqueometalúrgico de 44 espadas de época vikinga, todas ellas con la inscripción ULFBERHT. Estas investigaciones, realizadas por un arqueometalúrgico altamente cualificado, son esenciales en arqueología. Sin embargo, esta en concreto presenta algunas serias limitaciones. Para poder proporcionar una buena descripción de la calidad de la hoja de una espada, son necesarias muestras de al menos la sección desde el filo y hasta la parte central de la hoja. Este no es el caso de la mayoría de las muestras de Williams, quien proporciona insuficiente información sobre su toma de muestras. Otros puntos débiles son su clasificación en grupos y su interpretación del área de producción para las hojas que contienen un acero con elevado contenido de carbono. KEywords -palabras clavEViking Age sword-blades; Metallography; Archaeological context. Hojas de espada de época vikinga; Metalografía; Contexto arqueológico.ULFBERHT and other inscriptions on sword blades are marks of good quality blades. This statement has been repeated over and over again until it has become a truth. The problem, however, is that hardly any systematic investigations of these blades have been carried out, and our knowledge of the constructions and qualities of ULFBERHT blades is very poor. This is only one out of many problems concerning the production and distribution of these blades.Alan Williams' investigation of 44 ULFBERHT swords, including a few earlier investigations is indeed of great interest. We hoped for basic new information about their construction and quality. We are, however, left with some serious questions concerning his investigation