Rau, Andreas/Bertram, Marion/Quast, Dieter Das Schwert mit dem goldenen Griff. Eine Prunkbestattung der Völkerwanderungszeit

Comprehensive study of the finds from a splendid tomb of the Migration Period, presented in their entirety for the first time, which were acquired by the Berlin Museum for Pre- and Early History in 2007. The results of the fundamental and comprehensive archaeological analyses of the grave goods are presented for the first time in this publication, embedded in the larger cultural-historical context.

A separate contribution is dedicated to the runic inscription on the back of the silver-gilt sword-sheath mouth plate. As a result of the investigations, the origin of the grave furnishings and the date of burial can be narrowed down. The tomb of the "Berlin" chef militaire is one of the richest burials of the Late Antique Roman world. The magnificent sword with the golden hilt identifies the deceased as a member of a new elite, which in the turbulent times of the early 5th century achieved economic power and, building on this, political and military power. In northern Gaul as well as on the Lower and Middle Rhine, the richly furnished weapon graves of the first half of the 5th century bear witness to this development with their new custom of burial. The grave finds of the "Berlin" chef militaire were acquired by the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin in 2007. The location of the find has not been handed down. In addition to the gold-handled sword and its valuable accessories, the grave furnishings include other weapons, a gilded shield boss, fittings from the body belt and, as insignia of rank, a bow-button brooch and an eyelet neck ring. Testimony to the high rank of the deceased.