Archaeologists have discovered the grave of a Frankish warrior who was buried with his weapons and shield more than 1,300 years ago. Weapons include the spatha, a long sword based on the cavalry swords of the late Roman Empire.
livescience.com
Archaeologists believe the tomb dates to the early Merovingian period, between about 500 and 750 - the early stage of the German-speaking Frankish empire, which after 768 was under Charlemagne (Charles the Great) and his Carolingian descendants.
The warrior was also buried with a short hewing sword called a sax, with an iron blade and a heavy iron knife.
livescience.com
Examinations of the swordsman's belt show that its iron buckle and fittings contained silver wires, a style that "reached its peak in the seventh century," says Christoph Bassler. He and his colleagues plan to radiocarbon date the organic remains of the burial and analyze the bones for signs of battle to determine the cause of death.
