Iron household items with cutlers’ marks from excavations in Veliky Novgorod 13th – the first half of the 15th century

Abstract

Experts in the blacksmithing of Ancient Russia have long been interested in iron household items with cutlers’ marks, such as knives and scissors. The research literature has already reviewed similar findings from Moscow, Tver, Torzhok, Pskov, Smolensk and Izborsk. In this study for the first time assembled, described and dated all iron knives and scissors with cutlers’ marks identified in the archaeological collection of Veliky Novgorod. All cutlers marks have been analyzed, and almost all have analogies in medieval Western European material. Almost all types of cutlers’ marks that are represented on Novgorod items are found on knives, and sometimes on swords or falchions found on the territory of Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and England. There are similar cutlers’ marks on the territory of Ancient Russia, but in much smaller numbers. All items marked with the cutlers’ marks are products of Western European production, the old Russian blacksmiths did not practice branding their products. Most items with cutlers’ marks were brought to Novgorod from Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Individual items could get to Novgorod and from England through Hanseatic merchants. Items with cutlers’ marks found during excavations in Veliky Novgorod date back to the 13th – first half of 15th centuries.