Late 5th-early 6th century A.D. A rare long seax, with a finely tapered blade with traces of battle nicks; boat-shaped cross followed by a broad tang pierced by an iron nail for the fastening of an organic hilt. Cf. Menghin, W., Das Schwert im Frühen Mittelalter, Stuttgart, 1983, item 8, Alamannic grave 71 from Pleidelsheim; cf. Archäologischen Landesmuseum, Die Alamannen, Stuttgart, 1997, p.221. 344 grams, 69 cm long (27 1/4 in.). Dutch collection, circa 2000. With Mr D.V.B., Netherlands, 2017. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. The sword and the long seax of the grave 71 from Pleidelsheim were produced most probably by a Danubian or Constantinopolitan workshop, as it is possible also for our specimen, based upon its guard. In the Eastern Empire, these long single-edged blades continued the tradition of the late Roman semispathae, and were used by Roman, Nomadic and Germanic warriors within and outside of the Roman army.