Frankish Medieval Warrior Found in Germany Was Buried With Weapons, May Have Died During Early Merovingian Period

Archaeologists were able to find a Frankish medieval warrior's grave in Germany. The man, who was buried over 1,300 years ago, had his shield and weapons with him in the grave.

Frankish Warrior's Grave

According to the archaeologists, the man may have died when he was 30 to 40 years old and possibly during the seventh century. The skeleton's slightly raised and narrowed shoulders show that the man was initially kept inside a coffin, though there are no wooden remains that are preserved.

The grave was found during an excavation at an early medieval cemetery that has been a dig focus since March this year. The excavation site is situated in Ingelheim town, which is 40 kilometers west of Frankfurt and beside the Rhine River.

According to archaeologist Christoph Bassler from Kaiserpfalz Research Center, the cemetery was actively used by farmsteads and settlements during the fifth to eighth centuries. He adds that several burials that were nearby were looted much later. However, this specific grave may have been missed by thieves.

Archaeologists think that the specific burial site is from the early Merovingian period, which was the early phase of the Franks' German-speaking empire.

Weapons in the Frankish Warrior's Burial Site

The weapons found in the grave include a long spatha, which is based on the late Roman Empire's cavalry swords, and a seax, which is a short sword used for slashing. There was also a spear and a heavy knife made of iron.

Wooden shield remains were also found. However, only its metallic center was found preserved.

Based on the weapon and shield style, the warrior was most likely to be a Frankish man. The Franks settled "forcibly" in present-day Germany starting from the sixth century. They controlled Franconia, which covered Munich, Struggart, and Frankfurt, until the eighth century.

According to Bassler, the spatha could have been the Frankish warrior's primary weapon. The sword spans around 37 inches from its tip to pommel, while its blade is around 30 inches in length.

Horse-mounted troops had used such swords back in the late Roman Empire, given the need for longer swords in order to fight more efficiently. Bassler adds that these swords then became a warfare standard. The "spatha" term, which mixed "spade" and "spatula," is now employed for usual one-handed and double-edged swords that were used across early medieval Europe.

Bassler explains that though the man may have been wealthier compared to his communal neighbors, he was not considered filthy rich. Despite the quality of his weapons, there were no telltale signs within the grave that there were prehistoric imported goods that only the elite could get their hands on.

He adds that the warrior could have fought on his feet, as there were no signs of horse equipment or spurs in the grave.

Check out more news and information on Archaeology in Science Times.