Hi All...

I wanted to share the Aegean Bronze Age Sword typology chart I put together a few years ago trying to combine the classification systems of N.k. sandars and Imma kilian-Dirlmeier into one graphic. I have also developed charts for each type category. On these charts I have tried to abstract some of the conclusions from N.K. Sandars landmark articles on the subject published in the American Journal of Archeology (AJA).

N.K. Sandars, "The First Aegean Swords and Their Ancestry" (in AJA v.65) and
N.K. Sandars, "Later Aegean Bronze Swords" (in AJA v.67)

The information on the Kilian-Dirlmeier classification system, as with many of the examples in the charts, are from
Imma Kilian-Dirlmeier, "Die schwerter in griechenland, Bulgarien und Albanien" in Prahistorische Bronzefunde, abteilung IV Band 12

I invite any corrections or suggestions for improvement in these charts. (I have these stored in photoshop and can make changes easily,)

I believe that swords of the Aegean Bronze Age (as with those in the Nordic Bronze Age) are some of the the most beautiful and distinct swords ever discovered.

I hope these charts may be of assistance in helping you understand the theories on origins and trends in the development of Aegean Bronze Age swords.

Take care,

ks

---

 Attachment: 148.33 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 148.44 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 148.98 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 148.02 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 149.36 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 148.74 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 149.42 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 149.35 KB
[ Download ]

Here are the rest...

ks

---

 Attachment: 146.9 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 148.82 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 147.06 KB
[ Download ]

Wow - beautiful, wonderful, a great tool. If they haven't already, they should be published in a monograph.

Very nicely done. I can see that much thought and consideration went into these layouts. I am unfamiliar with these types of swords, and your charts have sparked an interest! Keep up the great work.

Whoa... :eek:
That looks like a lot of hard work and effort right there.
Sweet job! :lol:
I'd better get to saving these bad boys at some point.

This is really excellent work Kirk. Great Job. Very accessible and Interesting.

Thank you
Craig

Really nice work Kirk! Thanks!

Kirk, it always feels like Christmas day when you post. I love clear illustrations almost as much as I like typology charts. Thanks for putting these up.

I find this work interesting and rare.
Thank you, Kirk, for adding this here.
Ciao

Kirk,
Are you still here in DFW? I have quite a few photos of Bronze Age Aegean swords from various museums I've visited recently (Royal Ontario, Met, Allard Pierson, Onassis, etc.). I'm still in the process of uploading most of them, but next time Tom Carr has one of his "sword parties" remind me to bring my thumbdrives; I'm sure the photos and labels will prove useful to your system.

http://forensicfashion.com/BC2000CycladicWarrior.html

The Pierson especially is an under-appreciated resource, given its very impressive holdings and abundance of weapons, and the overall quality of its displays.

Kirk this is really good stuff. Thanks so much. tr

Bronze rapier with ivory, pommel and gold collars on the grip. A double row of connected spirals in relief on the central rib of blade.
From "Chieftan's Grave", cemetery of Zafer Papoura, Crete.
Total length 95,5 cm.
Late 15th century B. C.
(Archeol. Mus. Heraklion, Crete).

In the Mediterranean group we find the thrusting sword in the
shape of a rapier , with a leafshaped, pistil blade and a
pronounced point, or the so called carp's tongue point, as a very important
object used by footmen.

Arthur J. Evans: The prehistoric tombs of Knossos. (Archaeologia
1903. Vol. 59, p. 445 ff)

I hope is a little help
Ciao
Maurizio

---

 Attachment: 74.48 KB