LILO

THE LILO SWORD AND THE TRIALETI CULTURE

The Trialeti culture (also known as Trialeti-Vanadzor) emerged in the South Caucasus—primarily within modern-day Georgia and Armenia—during the Middle Bronze Age, flourishing roughly between 2200 and 1500 BC. Succeeding the Kura-Araxes horizon, the Trialeti period is defined by a significant shift toward increased social stratification and specialized craftsmanship. This culture is most renowned for its "Great Kurgans"—massive burial mounds containing elite individuals interred with extraordinary grave goods. These finds include four-wheeled wooden wagons, sophisticated silver and gold vessels, and highly advanced weaponry.

Technologically, the Trialeti smiths were masters of metallurgy, pioneering the transition from arsenical bronze to tin bronze alloys and achieving unprecedented scale in their castings. Their work suggests a society with deep-rooted connections to the broader Near Eastern and Aegean worlds, marking a pivotal "leap" in the technological and artistic evolution of the Caucasus.

Transcaucasian longswords, or rapiers, were first discovered and classified in the late 19th century when they appeared in large burial mounds (kurgans) across modern Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. For nearly a century, both Soviet and Western archaeologists viewed these extremely long, narrow swords as imports or copies from the south (Mesopotamia, Anatolia) or the west (the Aegean). These swords received relatively little attention, in part because they were absent from the wealthiest burials. Unlike the situation in the Aegean to the west, where comparable Type A rapiers accompanied the uppermost elite in Grave Circles A and B at Mycenae, the Trialeti culture features a strata of rich burials without swords.

Eventually, a set of major challenges to the "import" theory began to crystallize: 1. They were seemingly older than the Aegean group. 2. Comparable blades were unknown in Mesopotamia and remained rare or non-existent in Anatolia. 3. The extreme length of both the Aegean Type A and Trialeti swords suggested a similarity best explained by contact—a connection supported by other artifacts, particularly metal vessels.

The rapiers are commonly placed in Trialeti Phase II, traditionally dated to ca. 1800–1500 BC. However, in recent decades, several archaeologists have argued for an earlier date of ca. 2100–1700 BC. This would mean the rapier era in the Transcaucasus was ending just as it began in the Aegean. To settle this timeline, more precise C-14 samples are required. The Lilo sword was discovered during construction work in 1963 near Tbilisi, Georgia. From the damaged burial came the sword, a dagger, a bronze arrowhead, a circular bronze plate (possibly a shield boss), fragments of gold and bronze pins, blue glass beads, a grinding stone, and fragments of approximately ten ceramic vessels.

THE LILO SWORD AND EARLY RAPIER SCABBARDS AND SUSPENSION SYSTEMS

The Lilo sword reconstruction features a hilt and pommel crafted from darkened elm, with scabbard and belt fittings consisting of (faux) gold foil and an antler belt-clasp. As the complete assemblage measures nearly 130 cm in length, a two-point suspension system appears functionally essential.

Archaeological contexts, specifically the Transcaucasian burials, offer no definitive evidence regarding scabbard construction or suspension mechanisms. Contrary to frequent assertions in literature, this lack of data extends to the Aegean; the Mycenaean shaft graves are devoid of preserved organic or structural components that clarify how scabbards were worn. However, the "Pylos Combat Agate" from the Griffin Warrior burial (c. 1450 BC) provides a crucial iconographic benchmark. Dating to the transitional or final phase of the "rapier era," the agate depicts long, narrow blades in active use. Notably, the scene seems to illustrate a remarkably simple suspension system. The scabbard of the fallen combatant is depicted with a single strap secured below the mouth, likely extending to a second attachment point near the mid-section (though the latter is obscured). Alternatively, the strap may represent a simple loop secured at a single proximal point. The protagonist’s scabbard is affixed to a wide waist belt; while the primary attachment is hidden, two loops—comparable to those on the opponent’s scabbard—are visible tucked beneath his belt.

Several interpretive models for this suspension can be proposed:

• Direct Suspension: A leather loop extending from the scabbard throat, secured by the tension of a tight-fitting waist belt.
• Two-Point Secondary Strap: As above, but with a secondary distal attachment point to stabilize the long scabbard.
• Mechanical Fastening: The strap is secured to the belt via knots or lashing.
• Clasp-Button Integration: The strap features slits designed to receive clasp-buttons mounted on the belt.
• The absence of functional buttons or beads with sufficient apertures in the Griffin Warrior burial suggests that such elements were likely ornamental (e.g., gold foil appliques) rather than structural. This implies that Mycenaean suspension systems were fundamentally minimalist.

Based on this analysis, the Lilo scabbard has been reconstructed using a modified version of the Griffin Warrior model. A single strap is secured at three points: the scabbard throat, the waist belt, and the mid-scabbard. Transversal bands beneath the leather cover serve a dual purpose: they provide structural integrity to the wooden laths and act as stops to prevent the suspension straps from shifting. This parsimonious solution proves effective, allowing the 125 cm system to be carried nearly horizontally.

Literature:

Abramishvili, M. (2001) 'Transcaucasian Rapiers and the Problem of their Origin', i Boehm, R. og Müller-Karpe, H. (red.) Lux Orientis: Archäologie zwischen Asien und Europa. Festschrift für Harald Hauptmann zum 65. Geburtstag. Rahden: Leidorf, s. 1–8. Abramishvili, M. (2010) 'In search of the origins of metallurgy – An overview of South Caucasian evidence', i Hansen, S., Hauptmann, A., Motzenbäcker, I. og Pernicka, E. (red.) Von Majkop bis Trialeti: Gewinnung und Verbreitung von Metallen und Obsidian in Kaukasien im 4.–2. Jt. v. Chr. Bonn: Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH, s. 167–172.