'Living' Sword in Early Medieval Northern Europe - UCL Discovery

406 Pages·2013·1.99 MB·English

The ‘Living’ Sword in Early Medieval Northern Europe:
An Interdisciplinary Study
Volume 1: Thesis, Appendices and Bibliography

Susan Elaine Brunning

Institute of Archaeology, University College London

PhD

Supervisors:
Professor Andrew Reynolds (Institute of Archaeology)
Dr. Jeremy Tanner (Institute of Archaeology)
Dr. Chris Abram (formerly Department of Scandinavian Studies)

Word Count:
74,276
(excluding appendices and bibliography)
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Signed declaration:

I, Susan Elaine Brunning, confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own.
Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been
indicated in the thesis.

………………………………………….
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Volume 1
Table of Contents

Abstract ...................................................................................................................... 10
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... 11
Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................................. 13
Chapter 2. Literature Review .................................................................................... 16
1) Form and function .............................................................................................. 16
a) Typology ........................................................................................................ 16
b) Production and distribution ............................................................................ 18
c) Combat function ............................................................................................. 19
d) Concluding remarks ....................................................................................... 20
2) Social, Cultural and Symbolic Significance ...................................................... 20
a) Identity and status .......................................................................................... 21
i) Social status ................................................................................................. 21
ii) Military Identity and Status ........................................................................ 25
iii) Gender ....................................................................................................... 32
b) Ritual significance ......................................................................................... 36
c) Ancient swords ............................................................................................... 37
d) Artefact biography and ‘living’ swords ......................................................... 40
3) Areas for future study ........................................................................................ 43
Chapter 3. Aims and Methods ................................................................................... 46
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1) Introduction: Interdisciplinarity in Medieval Research ..................................... 46
2) Aims ................................................................................................................... 49
a) Topic aims ...................................................................................................... 49
b) Interdisciplinary aims .................................................................................... 51
3) Methodology ...................................................................................................... 52
a) Types of evidence .......................................................................................... 52
b) Research questions ......................................................................................... 54
c) Structure and method ..................................................................................... 55
4) Outline of research chapters .............................................................................. 56
a) Chapter 4: Images .......................................................................................... 56
b) Chapter 5: Archaeology ................................................................................. 59
c) Chapter 6: Texts ............................................................................................. 61
d) Chapter 7: Discussion .................................................................................... 64
5) Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 64
Chapter 4. Images...................................................................................................... 66
1) Introduction ........................................................................................................ 66
a) Critical and contextual issues ......................................................................... 66
b) Approach ........................................................................................................ 68
c) A note on the collected data ........................................................................... 70
2) Research Question 1: The Sword as a ‘Living’ Object ..................................... 71
a) Visual character.............................................................................................. 72
b) Swords with life-histories .............................................................................. 78
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c) Swords in action ............................................................................................. 84
d) Animated swords ........................................................................................... 93
3) Research Question 2: The Warrior-Sword Relationship ................................... 96
a) Swords, warriors and warrior identities ......................................................... 97
b) Women and swords ...................................................................................... 100
c) Social groups and the mobilisation of sword motifs .................................... 102
4) Research Question 3: The ‘Living’ Sword in Time ......................................... 104
5) Research Question 4: The ‘Living’ Sword in Space........................................ 108
6) Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 113
Chapter 5. Archaeology .......................................................................................... 115
1) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 115
a) Critical and contextual issues ....................................................................... 115
b) Approach ...................................................................................................... 117
2) Research Question 1: The Sword as a ‘Living’ Object ................................... 117
a) Method ......................................................................................................... 118
b) Wear ............................................................................................................. 123
c) Repair ........................................................................................................... 134
d) Modification................................................................................................. 136
e) Loose fittings and visual identity ................................................................. 141
f) Concluding remarks...................................................................................... 144
3) Research Question 2: The Sword-Warrior Relationship ................................. 145
a) Critical and contextual issues ....................................................................... 145
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b) Body side ..................................................................................................... 147
c) Physical proximity ....................................................................................... 149
d) Non-warriors ................................................................................................ 151
4) Research Question 3: The ‘Living’ Sword in Time ......................................... 153
a) Research Question 1: The Sword as a ‘Living’ Object ................................ 154
b) Research Question 2: The Sword-Warrior Relationship ............................. 159
5) Research Question 4: The ‘Living’ Sword in Space........................................ 162
6) Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 164
Chapter 6. Texts ...................................................................................................... 166
1) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 166
a) Critical and contextual issues ....................................................................... 166
b) Text selection ............................................................................................... 170
c) Approach ...................................................................................................... 173
d) A note on language, translation, spelling and referencing ........................... 175
2) Research Question 1: The Sword as a ‘Living’ Object ................................... 176
a) Characterisation ........................................................................................... 176
i) Blade .......................................................................................................... 176
ii) Hilt ............................................................................................................ 179
iii) Scabbards, harnesses and sword-belts ..................................................... 183
b) Personification ............................................................................................. 183
i) Naming ...................................................................................................... 184
ii) Personality and reputation ........................................................................ 186
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iii) History and associations .......................................................................... 187
c) Animation..................................................................................................... 189
i) Living things and natural forces ................................................................ 190
ii) Independent physical action ..................................................................... 195
iii) Feelings and emotions ............................................................................. 197
d) Conclusion ................................................................................................... 199
3) Research Question 2: The Warrior-Sword Relationship ................................. 199
a) Warrior weapons .......................................................................................... 199
b) ‘Favouritism’ ............................................................................................... 202
c) Warrior identity ............................................................................................ 207
d) Women and swords ...................................................................................... 210
4) Research Question 3: The ‘Living’ Sword in Time ......................................... 212
5) Research Question 4: The ‘Living’ Sword in Space........................................ 215
6) Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 220
Chapter 7. Discussion ............................................................................................. 224
1) Introduction ...................................................................................................... 224
2) Research Question 1: The Sword as a ‘Living’ Object ................................... 224
a) Swords as active objects .............................................................................. 225
b) ‘Person-like’ swords .................................................................................... 228
i) What is a sword? ........................................................................................ 228
ii) Visual identity .......................................................................................... 231
iii) Body and face? ........................................................................................ 233
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iv) Reputation ................................................................................................ 233
c) Old swords and sword biographies .............................................................. 235
d) Animation .................................................................................................... 239
3) Research Question 2: The Warrior-Sword Relationship ................................. 241
a) Identifying ‘warriors’ ................................................................................... 241
b) Warrior identities ......................................................................................... 243
i) Sword-wielders .......................................................................................... 243
ii) Grades of sword-wielder .......................................................................... 245
c) Swords and other social groups ................................................................... 247
i) Swords and women .................................................................................... 247
ii) Swords and ecclesiastical groups ............................................................. 248
4) Research Question 3: The ‘Living’ Sword in Time ......................................... 249
a) ‘Living’ swords ............................................................................................ 250
b) Warriors and swords .................................................................................... 253
5) Research Question 4: The ‘Living’ Sword in Space........................................ 254
a) ‘Living’ swords ............................................................................................ 254
b) Warriors and swords .................................................................................... 257
c) Swords as cultural markers? ........................................................................ 258
6) Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 260
a) The physical characteristics of swords......................................................... 260
b) The sword’s role in bloodshed ..................................................................... 262
Chapter 8. Conclusion ............................................................................................. 266
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Epilogue. Assessment of the interdisciplinary method ........................................... 269
Appendix 1. Database Descriptions ........................................................................ 272
Database 1 (DB1): Images ................................................................................... 272
Database 2 (DB2): Archaeology .......................................................................... 282
Database 3a (DB3a): Texts (Kennings) ............................................................... 291
Database 3b (DB3b): Analysed Poetry ................................................................ 294
Appendix 2. Catalogue of Referenced Images ........................................................ 295
Illuminated Manuscript (IM) ............................................................................... 295
Metalwork (M) ..................................................................................................... 299
Stone Sculpture (ST) ............................................................................................ 303
Textile (T) ............................................................................................................ 311
Coin (C) ................................................................................................................ 312
Carving (CV) ........................................................................................................ 314
Graffiti (G) ........................................................................................................... 315
Appendix 3. Catalogue of Referenced Swords ....................................................... 316
Anglo-Saxon Kent (ASK) .................................................................................... 316
Pre-Viking Scandinavia (SC) ............................................................................... 322
Late Anglo-Saxon England (LAS) ....................................................................... 325
Viking Scandinavia (VIK) ................................................................................... 327
Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 330

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Abstract

This thesis explores perceptions of two-edged swords as ‘living’ artefacts in Anglo-
Saxon England and Scandinavia between c. 500 and 1100. Taking inspiration from
recent anthropological and archaeological research into ‘artefact biography’, it
considers two interlinked avenues of ‘life’: (1) the notion that swords could acquire
life-histories, personalities and other person-like qualities; and (2) the nature of their
relationship with warriors (as opposed to other members of society).
The thesis compares Anglo-Saxon England and Scandinavia across a broad
chronological period in order to identify how attitudes towards swords developed
over time. The almost unique proximity to bloodshed which swords, by contrast with
other weapons, provided for their wielders is considered key in fuelling perceptions
of swords as ‘living’ artefacts, and strengthening the bond between warrior and
weapon. This special connection between swords and violence is interpreted as
contributing to the symbolic potency of swords in early medieval Northern Europe.
This thesis adopts an interdisciplinary approach, discussing archaeological,
pictorial and written evidence within a carefully-constructed methodological
framework. The different sources are integrated in a discussion chapter which
attempts to arrive at a holistic understanding of perceptions of ‘living’ swords in
early medieval Northern Europe. Finally, the interdisciplinary method deployed in
the thesis is assessed, and suggestions for future interdisciplinary research
frameworks are made.

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