The early medieval Old Prussian and Yatvingian communities, until the Teutonic conquest, remained a significant threat to their neighbours, which is confirmed by numerous historical sources. It means, contrary to the commonly held belief about their limited cultural potential, they possessed a substantial military force, supported by a system of rule allowing for its effective use in offensive actions.
In this context, the standard of the early medieval weaponry of the Old Prussians and Yotvingians - becoming better known thanks to the results of archaeological research carried out in recent years - remains a key issue. Its most spectacular elements, i.e. swords (along with the related problems of diversity and function - also symbolic), will be the subject of the presentation announced in this abstract.
