Pages: 43-95

The article is devoted to Slavic weapons, gear rider and horse equipment in 5th—7th centuries (Prague, Penkovka and Kolochin cultures). These are spears and javelins, swords and daggers, axes, arrows, quiver and bow details, fragments of armor, spurs, bits etc. According to Byzantine authors and archaeological data, there are two phases of Slavic armament in the 6th—7th centuries:
1) before 580s. — the bulk of the Slavic troops of light infantry, armed with spears, bows and arrows and shields, using mostly “guerrilla” warfare techniques;
2) 580s—670s. — the troops with heavy defensive armament appear. This weapon requires certain skills which can only be trained in a professional environment.

Keywords: Slavs, Prague culture, Penkovka culture, Kolochin culture, 5th—7th centuries, weapons, horse rider's equipment, harness.

Information about author:

Michel Kazanski (Paris, France). Doctor Habilitat on History. National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 52, Paris, 75005, France
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]