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112
Piotr N. KOTOWICZ
cent. 77
Sometimes the ornamentation in engraving technique is enriched by punching. It is
visible on another miniature axe from the Gągnowo Lake. The find (close to Type
IVe according to Nadolski) has a geometrical composition of spots and carving lines 78
(Fig. 6:4). This type of ornamentation also appears on the accidental find from
Perespa (Tomaszów Lubelski distr., Lublin Region). In this case two thin carving
lines with single and double lines of spots were engraved on the right side of the
neck 79 (Fig. 6:3). This axe belongs to Type Vb according to A. Nadolski and is widely
dated to the 11 th -13 th cent.
Undoubtedly, the most prestigious axes decorated with the inlay technique belong
to a group defined by P. Paulsen as Prunkaxten. Here belong the artefacts decorated
with inlaid technique which covers large parts of their surfaces. Three of them
(Poznań-Luboń, Lednica Lake and Pień) are dated to the 11 th cent., while the other
(Gubin and Żagań) come from the 13 th cent.
The following axe (in fact a battle-axe) ornamented with silver and copper inlay
belongs to the 11 th cent. Type Lunov according to P. Paulsen’s typology and it comes
from Luboń near Poznań (Poznań, distr., Greater Poland). The axe was accidentally
discovered before the Second World War in the inhumation cemetery 80 . Decoration in
the form of silver and copper stripes originally covered almost the entire surfaces.
Additionally, the figure of a horse was visible on its blade (unfortunately, it cannot be
seen now). The back side of the specimen’s hammer was decorated with the sign of
the cross potent (Fig. 7:3). The battle-axes of this type are quite rare, and their
concentration is visible in the Baltic See basin. Analogical ornamentation can be seen
on silver-decorated axes known from Lunov, and also from the Havel River near
Brandenburg, Germany 81 and Lund in Denmark 82 . Less complex ornamentation (two
engraved vertical lines on the neck) is visible on the axe from the cemetery in
Viskiauten, Sambia 83 .
Another axe from the Lednica Lake has rich ornamentation as well. This axe must
be classified as a unique version of Type Laptau according to P. Paulsen 84 .
Primarily 85 , on its surfaces there was a visible inlay decoration (in silver?) in the form
of combination of geometrical motifs and “fish scale” (Fig. 7:2). This last motif was
77 Гурин 1987, fig. 21:5 and plate.
78 Kaźmierczak, Niegowski, Ważny 2006, p. 462, fig. 5:g.
79 Unpublished. Collection of the Janusz Peter Regional Museum in Tomaszów Lubelski (Muzeum im.
Janusza Petera w Tomaszowie Lubelskim), No. MT/1122/1/A. It could be published in this article by
courtesy of Jolanta Bagińska M.A.
80 Rajewski 1937, p. 84-85, pl. XI:2; Nadolski 1954, p. 43, footnote 27; tab. B/72, pl. XV:4; Paulsen
1956, p. 158, fig. 84; Kara 1992, p. 169, fig. 1.
81 Paulsen 1956, p. 156, fig. 83 ; Szameit 2001, p. 78, il. 40.
82 Strömberg 1953; Paulsen 1956, p. 159-163, Abb. 85:a-b. This battle-axe bears the same kind of sign of
the cross (cross potent), which can indicate that the specimens from Lund and Poznań-Luboń were
made in the same workshop, certainly in the Slavic environment – Kotowicz 2011.
83 Paulsen 1956, p. 83, fig. 30:i.
84 Górecki 2001, p. 53, fig. 9:1; Borowczak 2008, p. 87, cat. 37.
85 During the examination of this artefact in 2009, the ornamentation was completely invisible.