The artefact from Kwiatków: the earliest spur featuring a zoomorphic motif from the slavic lands

Abstract In 2014, a fragment of a spur was discovered at the site in Kwiatków, Turek District, Brudzew Commune, within section G75, in mechanical layer I. This artefact likely originated from an early medieval burial ground located nearby, with its original site possibly altered due to intensive farming. The presented spur exemplifies extraordinary craftsmanship. This paper is a case study, the purpose of which is to examine the title artefact, while referencing other analogous discoveries. The uniqueness of this artefact lies in the absence of direct parallels to other objects featuring horse motifs of similar chronology. Consequently, an effort has been made to compare the spurs from Kwiatków with those of the Lutomiersk type, specimens with hooked fastenings, and artefacts unrelated to equestrian equipment. Furthermore, an analysis of the ornamentation, including its significance and manufacturing technique, has been conducted. The artefact has also undergone laboratory testing. The results obtained from XRF spectrometry, carried out at the Conservation and Dating Laboratory of the Institute of Archaeology, University of Łódź, were correlated with the results of studies of spurs from Pomerania, Silesia, the upper Elbe River area, and Moravia. Specialised examinations of the Kwiatków spur revealed the presence of zinc as an alloying element. This paper also delves into the manufacturing techniques of the Kwiatków artefact, utilising current findings on the specificity of early medieval crafts. This spur contributes to a collection of similar discoveries associated with the products of communities inhabiting the West Slavic lands. Fragmentarily preserved and lacking contextual dating, the Kwiatków spur has no precise analogues in Polish lands to date. An attempt to classify the artefact resulted in its assignment to technotype I according to J. Żak, suggesting a chronology between the 8 th and 9 th centuries, corresponding to the pottery found at the Kwiatków site. The presence of these materials and of the title artefact, potentially linked to an early medieval cemetery, significantly enhances our understanding of this period in history.