Metallographic examination of two medieval knives from Kobilić (Republic of Croatia)

Abstract

Archeological excavation conducted in 2010 in Kobilić (Turopolje region, Zagreb County, Republic of Croatia) yielded two knives from which one shows pattern-welding. This is the first pattern-welded knife reported among Croatian archeological finds. Our knowledge of pattern-welded knife production and trade within medieval Europe is still limited, therefore we decided to carry out a metallographic examination of both knives found at the Kobilić 1 site. Both knives are of excellent functional quality. The pattern-welded knife has a single-patterned core, which ends before reaching the pointed part of the blade, and to which another strip of phosphoric iron was welded from above to increase the overall decorative effect. The overall construction of the pattern-welded knife is fairly typical of such 13th-century pattern-welded blades. The other knife blade is made of one heterogeneous piece of steel, distinguishing it from the majority of contemporary knives. The provenance of the knives remains unknown, but considering that the pattern-welded knife is the only find known from the territory of Croatia to date, it is very likely that is was imported.