Grotem w dół, grotem w górę. Deponowanie włóczni w grobach wczesnośredniowiecznych na ziemiach polskich
Spearhead up, spearhead down. Deposition of spears in Early Medieval Graves in the Polish lands

Summary/Abstract: The paper discusses the issue of deposition of shafted weapons in Early Medieval graves in the Polish lands, with particular stress on the location of spearheads near the feet of the deceased. The analysis of distribution of spearheads in the space of the grave pit points to a diversified manner of burying the dead with the weapon in question. Three zones can be identified (cf Fig. 1): I – upper part of the torso with the head (61 graves); II – vicinity of the pelvis and the femora (6 graves); III – vicinity of the feet and the tibiae (25 graves; cf Figs. 2-5). Attempts at clarifying this diversity in the deposition of shafted weapons in the space of the grave pit have hardly been undertaken in scholarship. Furthermore, they do not offer a satisfactory explanation of this phenomenon. This paper presents an interpretation which is somehow different than those hitherto proposed. The deposition of spearheads in Zone III probably expresses a certain scheme of thinking which is founded on a mythical order of the world, especially on an archaic motif of the “divine duel”. It was an outline of numerous tales, images and beliefs. Its essence was the fight of a positive hero against a dragon or another monster which represents powers of chaos and destruction. Following this path, the dead for whom the weapon was deposited near his feet, may have been posthumously honoured due to his especially remarkable deeds (of war or other ones) done during his life. These deeds were considered significant for the maintenance or restoration of the social order.

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