Archaeologia Baltica

The subject of this paper is the inlay technique, namely the hammering of fine silver to an iron object specially grooved for the purpose, and early medieval Semigallian and Couronian military equipment decorated in this technique. This includes sword hilts, strap dividers and mounts made by Baltic smiths, and a unique armour plate. The study of the inlay technique permits the former silver decoration on objects to be reconstructed. The ornate Couronian sword hilts provide grounds for hypothesising that there was a specialist weaponry workshop at Talsi hill-fort.

The article is devoted to the history of tenth to 13th-century blade weapons in Belarus. The main tendencies in the evolution of blade weapons and the most important directions in military-technical contacts of the population of Belarus are defined.