A Medieval sword found in river Rhine close to Bonn - Conservation, scientific investigation and historic classification

Abstract

In summer 2003, a Medieval sword was found by chance in the dried out area of the Rhine near Bonn which was acquired by the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn. The paper gives a detailed description of the sword and the considerable conservation measures as well as the results of material analyses regarding the determination of the types of wood from the remains of the scabbard and the metal analyses of the pommel. Based on typological characteristics, the investigation of comparative swords in European collections and the examination of mediaeval depictions and sculpture the piece was classified historically and dated to the end of the 13th century. The results presented result from the interdisciplinary cooperation of conservation, natural sciences and art history.