Knives from Eketorp. An evidence of the growing influence of the centralized production from medieval town communities

Abstract

A total of 241 knives has been found at the medieval settlement at the Eketorp ring-fort e.g. Eketorp III.Theknives seem to be evenly distributed all over the habitation area within the fort. Only one ofthe types, a knife with a curved edge, type B, has a more limited distribution. The reason probably being that it was a special tool, perhaps a tool for leatherworking.

The knives were examined and divided into types according to shape and size, e.g. type Aa,tigs 2-6,Ab,figs 1 l-16and26,A2b,tigs 17-18,Ac,fig19-21, whereA denominateknives withan accentuated tang and a straight or almost straightridge anda, b, c the sizegroups. Type B is aknife with curved ridge, tigs 22-23. Type Ca razor with a raised tang, unique in Swedish material, and type D represent clasp-knifes, tigs 24-25.

10 percent ofthe knives were analyzed for their metallographical properties. The construction techniques found are shown intig 1. It appeared that in typeA, construction 1 was most used, in type Aa with a total dominance. In type Ab was also construction type 2 used and in type Ac were only construction type 2 and 3 found.

The closer examination ofthe length showed that typeAb andAc had a certain standardization. This property in combination with the more complicated technical construction 2 and 3 may be evidences for that the production ofthese knives was centralized, e.g. produced in a medieval town community. For the big knife type Ac with construction technique 3, a Slavonic origin was proposed.