This research project was designed as a large scale detailed study of British swords and spearheads, of the period from approximately 1250-750BC. 202 small metallurgical samples and 4 large sword cross sections were examined metallographically. Chemical compositions were ascertained. Sections of 'sword edge' were prepared and impacted experimentally to reproduce combat damage and the results used to help assess the 499 swords and 485 spearheads, which were measured and examined visually. The results were analysed statistically according to regional and typological groupings. The distribution of manufacturing characteristics showed significant regional and typological variations and indicate a hierarchy of technical proficiency. Metallographic examinations also revealed a number of weapons which had been burnt. The compositional analyses showed metal being recycled and mixed, although alloys used were similar. Aspects of typological classification were quantified and regional patterns of distribution were assessed. Patterns of damage confirmed that that the majority of the weapons had probably been used in combat before deposition. There were significant regional and chronological differences in the proportions so used. Patterns of non-combat damage, breakage and depositional context showed that despite evident similarities some highly significant regional, chronological and typological differences existed. The weapons indicate that warfare was endemic but probably sporadic and low level. Communities appear to have exercised some form of social sanctioning over warriors, in part by incorporating weapons and the concept of war symbolically within their ceremonials. Deposition practices varied with time and locality but many do appear to have been ritual. There were also distinct regional and chronological traditions in the design, manufacturing and pre-depositional combat use of weapons. The evidence points to an escalation in long distance travel and exchange of goods and ideas, increasing contacts between regions, where people adapted the new to their own society.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington. / Bibliography: l. [278]-290.

Thesis (A.M.L.S.)--University of Michigan, 1949. / "L.S. 391"--Cover.

Research about viking age swords is nothing new but for a long time the main focus have been different aspects of typologies which have evolved since early 20th century. During the last 30 years the still growing communities of Viking reenactment have shed new light upon the fighting skills of pre Christian Nordic societies. With developing knowledge of ancient metallurgy and understanding of swordsmithing we might have new ways to interpret the swords found originating in the 8th to 11th centuries. In this paper the author will be making an attempt to assess and analyze swords on Gotland to uncover whether they were made as practical fighting weapons or merely symbols of social status and power, or both.The main source of information regarding the swords found on Gotland comes from the extensive catalogues Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands I-II by Lena Thunmark-Nylén 1996, 1998 and Viking Swords by Fedir Androshchuk 2014. For a deeper understanding of the materials used in sword- and weaponsmithing, information from metalurgically examined specimens presented by Lena Thålin Bergman will be used as cross reference.

Denna kandidatuppsats täcker användningen, deponeringen och handeln av Hallstattsvärd i Sverige under den yngre bronsåldern. Mycket har sagts om fynden, spridning och användning av svärden som hittats inom Hallstattkulturens geografiska gränser men jämförelsevis har lite skrivits om den rika samlingen av Hallstattsvärd som hittats i Sydskandinavien. Denna avhandling syftar till att diskutera kontexten kring dessa fynd genom rumslig och jämförande analys tillsammans med tolkningar av tidigare forskning för att ta reda på hur dessa främmande föremål kan ha använts utanför deras ursprungsområde. Resultaten drar slutsatsen att de svenska Hallstattsvärden har deponerats i de traditioner som rådde i Skandinavien under YBÅ, många av dessa visar även spår av lokal produktion. Svärdens eggskador tyder även på att de kan ha använts annorlunda från den tolkade användningen som kavallerivapen inom Hallstatt. Svärden har tolkats ur ett postprocessuellt perspektiv som levande föremål vars förstörelse och deponering efterliknar den mänskliga användarens död och begravning. / This bachelor’s thesis covers the usage, deposition and trade of hallstatt swords in Sweden during the late bronze age. While much has been said about the findings of hallstatt swords within the geographical boundaries of the Hallstatt culture comparably little has been written about the rich collection of the same swords found in southern Scandinavia. This thesis aims to discuss the context of these findings through spatial and comparative analysis together with the interpretations of previous archaeologists to figure out how these foreign objects may have been used outside of their area of origin. The findings conclude that the Swedish hallstatt swords have been deposited in the traditions prevalent in Scandinavia at the time and many of them show signs of local production. The blade damage prevalent on some swords suggest a different usage from the perceived cavalry weapons observed in Hallstatt. The swords have been interpreted from a post processual perspective as living objects whos destruction and deposit mimics that of the death and burial of the human user.

Varias técnicas de física nuclear tem sido aplicadas no estudo de artefatos arqueológicos e de arte contribuindo para seu restauro e preservação. A aplicação destas técnicas são indicadas por não serem destrutivas, preservando o material a ser analisado. Neste trabalho, propomos um procedimento para a investigação indireta da dureza de espadas antigas, por meio de técnicas não destrutivas. Com este proposito as técnicas PIXE, NRA, XRD e RBS se adequam ao nosso estudo de espadas antigas, especificamente uma espada Indiana (Damascena) e outra Japonesa (Wakizashi). Com a técnica PIXE esperávamos identificar os elementos presentes nas laminas das espadas e em suas empunhaduras. Na espada Indiana os elementos identificados foram: Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn e As. Para a espada Japonesa somente o elemento Fe foi identificado, mas com o auxílio da técnica RBS identificamos também, um filme fino de carbono na superfície da lamina, medindo 0; 75 _m de espessura. Nas empunhaduras foram identificados os elementos Cr, Fe, Cu e Au para a espada Indiana; Fe, Cu, As e Ag na peca Habaki e S, Cl, K, CA, Fe, As e Au na peca Fuchi, estas duas pecas fazem parte da empunhadura da espada Japonesa. A técnica XRD foi usada para verificarmos as estruturas cristalinas que se formam na superfície das laminas durante o processo de forja (variação de 6 temperatura e deformações plástica). Estas informações possibilitam inferir sobre a temperatura de forja e consequências da deformação plásticas. A fase cristalina da superfície das laminas foi identificada como ferro na forma cristalina cubica de corpo centrado. Nesta estrutura, ha a formação de pequenos cristais orientados (cristalitos), que apresentaram tamanho médio da ordem de 200 _A. Foi verificado que ha também uma fase amorfa do ferro na espada Japonesa, sugerindo que o processo de forja alcançou temperaturas menores quando comparada com a espada Indiana. A espada Damascena _e muito famosa pela dureza e ductibilidade apresentada por sua lamina. Um elemento que pode contribuir para estas caraterísticas e o nitrogênio, que pode ser identificado usando a técnica NRA, mais especificamente a reação 15N(p; _)12C. O nitrogênio poderia ser introduzido na lamina durante o processo de endurecimento da região de corte. Neste processo a lamina era resfriada em urina animal, composta principalmente por acido úrico (C5H4N4O3) e ureia (NH2)2CO. Não foi possível identificarmos a presença de nitrogênio dentro do nosso limite de detecção (acima de 0; 263(4)% em massa de nitrogênio, valor referenciado para a amostra padrão CRM-298). / A set of physical techniques have been applied to characterize archaeological and art artifacts and contribute to its preservation and restoration. The application of these techniques are indicated because they are non invasive methods, preserving the material to be analyzed. In this work, we propose a procedure to investigate indirectly the hardness of ancient swords, by nondestructive techniques. With this aim, we decided to apply the techniques PIXE, NRA, XRD and RBS in the study of ancient swords, specially Indian (Damascus blade) and a Japanese (Wakizashi) swords. With PIXE we identified the major compounds in the blades and in their grips. In the Indian blade were identified the following elements: Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn e As. In the Japanese only iron was identified, although, with RBS we could identified a thin _lm of carbon on its surface. The grips were also analyzed and the results indicated to Indian were: Cr, Fe, Cu and Au; and to Japanese: Fe, Cu, As e Ag in the peace Habaki, and S, Cl, K, CA, Fe, As e Au in the peace Fuchi, those pieces are part of the grip. The XRD technique was applied to verify the crystalline structure which were formed during the forging process (hammering and quenching). These information can help to understand more about the quenching and hammering process. The crystalline phase in the surface of the blade was identified as iron. The surface is composed by crystallites oriented with grain size in order to 200_A, oriented as the result of hammering process. Also there is an amorphous phase in the Japanese blade, suggesting that in the forje process the temperature achieved was lower when compared with the Indian sword. The Damascus blade is famous due its hardness and ductility. An element that can improve these characteristics is the nitrogen. Its determination is possible using NRA technique, more specially the reaction 15N(p; _)12C. The nitrogen could been insert in the blade during the edge hardness process (in this process the blade was quenched into animal urine that its main compound are uric acid (C5H4N4O3) and urea (NH2)2CO, or in a brine). It was not possible to identify the presence of nitrogen within our limit of quantification.

Thesis (Revise). / Includes bibliographical references (p. [337]-363).

Varias técnicas de física nuclear tem sido aplicadas no estudo de artefatos arqueológicos e de arte contribuindo para seu restauro e preservação. A aplicação destas técnicas são indicadas por não serem destrutivas, preservando o material a ser analisado. Neste trabalho, propomos um procedimento para a investigação indireta da dureza de espadas antigas, por meio de técnicas não destrutivas. Com este proposito as técnicas PIXE, NRA, XRD e RBS se adequam ao nosso estudo de espadas antigas, especificamente uma espada Indiana (Damascena) e outra Japonesa (Wakizashi). Com a técnica PIXE esperávamos identificar os elementos presentes nas laminas das espadas e em suas empunhaduras. Na espada Indiana os elementos identificados foram: Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn e As. Para a espada Japonesa somente o elemento Fe foi identificado, mas com o auxílio da técnica RBS identificamos também, um filme fino de carbono na superfície da lamina, medindo 0; 75 _m de espessura. Nas empunhaduras foram identificados os elementos Cr, Fe, Cu e Au para a espada Indiana; Fe, Cu, As e Ag na peca Habaki e S, Cl, K, CA, Fe, As e Au na peca Fuchi, estas duas pecas fazem parte da empunhadura da espada Japonesa. A técnica XRD foi usada para verificarmos as estruturas cristalinas que se formam na superfície das laminas durante o processo de forja (variação de 6 temperatura e deformações plástica). Estas informações possibilitam inferir sobre a temperatura de forja e consequências da deformação plásticas. A fase cristalina da superfície das laminas foi identificada como ferro na forma cristalina cubica de corpo centrado. Nesta estrutura, ha a formação de pequenos cristais orientados (cristalitos), que apresentaram tamanho médio da ordem de 200 _A. Foi verificado que ha também uma fase amorfa do ferro na espada Japonesa, sugerindo que o processo de forja alcançou temperaturas menores quando comparada com a espada Indiana. A espada Damascena _e muito famosa pela dureza e ductibilidade apresentada por sua lamina. Um elemento que pode contribuir para estas caraterísticas e o nitrogênio, que pode ser identificado usando a técnica NRA, mais especificamente a reação 15N(p; _)12C. O nitrogênio poderia ser introduzido na lamina durante o processo de endurecimento da região de corte. Neste processo a lamina era resfriada em urina animal, composta principalmente por acido úrico (C5H4N4O3) e ureia (NH2)2CO. Não foi possível identificarmos a presença de nitrogênio dentro do nosso limite de detecção (acima de 0; 263(4)% em massa de nitrogênio, valor referenciado para a amostra padrão CRM-298). / A set of physical techniques have been applied to characterize archaeological and art artifacts and contribute to its preservation and restoration. The application of these techniques are indicated because they are non invasive methods, preserving the material to be analyzed. In this work, we propose a procedure to investigate indirectly the hardness of ancient swords, by nondestructive techniques. With this aim, we decided to apply the techniques PIXE, NRA, XRD and RBS in the study of ancient swords, specially Indian (Damascus blade) and a Japanese (Wakizashi) swords. With PIXE we identified the major compounds in the blades and in their grips. In the Indian blade were identified the following elements: Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn e As. In the Japanese only iron was identified, although, with RBS we could identified a thin _lm of carbon on its surface. The grips were also analyzed and the results indicated to Indian were: Cr, Fe, Cu and Au; and to Japanese: Fe, Cu, As e Ag in the peace Habaki, and S, Cl, K, CA, Fe, As e Au in the peace Fuchi, those pieces are part of the grip. The XRD technique was applied to verify the crystalline structure which were formed during the forging process (hammering and quenching). These information can help to understand more about the quenching and hammering process. The crystalline phase in the surface of the blade was identified as iron. The surface is composed by crystallites oriented with grain size in order to 200_A, oriented as the result of hammering process. Also there is an amorphous phase in the Japanese blade, suggesting that in the forje process the temperature achieved was lower when compared with the Indian sword. The Damascus blade is famous due its hardness and ductility. An element that can improve these characteristics is the nitrogen. Its determination is possible using NRA technique, more specially the reaction 15N(p; _)12C. The nitrogen could been insert in the blade during the edge hardness process (in this process the blade was quenched into animal urine that its main compound are uric acid (C5H4N4O3) and urea (NH2)2CO, or in a brine). It was not possible to identify the presence of nitrogen within our limit of quantification.

This thesis deals with the famous Ulfberhtswords ​​that were created in Europe during the 9–12th century. In the thesis, several researchers' own research on Ulfberhtswords  ​​and their results is addressed. The focus of the thesis is put on the swords that has been found in northern Europe and how the manufacturing technology for Ulfberhtswords ​​came to northern Europe. The result in the thesis is that Ulfberht sword has a long history of forgery and crushed blades. The falsification of Ulfberhtsword was widely spread across the north and almost all the swords found in Nordic graves are fakes. The Nordic smiths began to manufacture Ulfberhtswords at about the same time as the genuine Ulfberhtswords ​gained a reputation.

Nearly 27,000 vehicle occupants are killed annually in the United States, with passenger car and light truck occupants amassing 25,000 of these. Over 50% of passenger car and light truck occupant fatalities are due to frontal crashes. Although advancements in safety technology have reduced the number of fatalities and injuries, motor vehicle collisions are still a major issue in the United States. Continued development of computational models and biofidelic anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) necessitates benchmarking of current surrogates and further analysis of an occupant's biomechanical response in automobile collisions. This thesis presents data from low-speed frontal sled tests performed with human volunteers, a Hybrid III 50th percentile male ATD, and post mortem human surrogates (PMHSs). The first study sought to investigate the effects of muscle bracing by human volunteers. The second study sought to compare the responses of the relaxed and braced volunteers in the first study to those of the Hybrid III and PMHS subjects. Overall, these two studies provide novel biomechanical data that can be used to refine and validate computational models and ATDs used to assess injury risk in automotive collisions. The third study was focused on quantifying the ability for children to swing a sword-like toy. Over 200,000 toy-related injuries occur every year in the United States. Currently, data is unavailable with regard to sword-like toys. Incorporating the knowledge gained by this study will allow manufacturers to reduce the inherent risks associated with their products as well as market them to the correct target age groups. / Master of Science