4th-5th century AD. An iron two-edged longsword or spatha with lentoid-section blade, shoulder slightly flared, tapering neck and narrow tang with transverse fixing pin for the scales and pommel; one section of blade carefully cleaned and conserved to reveal the profile with plain steel edges and damascus steel core. Cf. Menghin, W., The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, items I.34.5, I.38.1, for type.779 grams, 91.5cm (36"). Ex private collection of Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1980s.