Two-edged sword

A double-edged iron sword found in 1989 during the construction of the narrow-gauge railway near the village of Żydowo in the Koszalin district. Archival notes preserved at the National Museum (Muzeum Narodowe) in Szczecin indicate that it rested 125 cm below ground surface, together with two skulls or skeletons. There is no information about other objects accompanying the human remains and no description of the grave. The sword has not survived in its entirety. About two-thirds of the original length of the hilt, i.e., the part of the sword used for striking, survived, with a visible broad armour - a depression running in the middle. It is a double-edged weapon, with two blades on both sides of the head. Elements of the handle were made of iron. The element separating the blade from the hilt and protecting the sword-holder's hand is in the shape of a curved bar with the ends pointing towards the blade. The base of the hilt - the element crowning the handle - has its ends facing upwards. The cap of tripartite form is set on them. Its central part is the highest. The hilt pin is wrapped with a silver wire, forming the so-called stepped ornament on one side, and an X on the other. According to the systematics of the Norwegian researcher Jan Petersen from the beginning of the 20th century, the weapon from Żydowo should be assigned to the Z type of swords dated to the 11th century, most often discovered in the British Isles, Scandinavia and the Baltic areas.

Sławomir Słowiński