A SNAKE PATTERNED SWORD BLADE FROM WEST HESLERTON NORTH YORKSHIRE

Author(s): B Gilmour

A pattern-welded sword, dating to the 5th - early 7th centuries AD, was examined by radiography. Both cutting edges and core were made from multiple pieces of metal of different compositions welded together. The wiggly snake pattern has not previously been recognised on Anglo-Saxon pattern-welded swords. Two continental parallels are both later in date, and their patterns are coarser.

Report Number:
129/1991
Series:
AML Reports (New Series)
Pages:
12
Keywords:
Iron

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