Roman Straubing-Nydam Spatha Sword 4th-5th century A.D. A double-edged long sword (spatha) of Straubing-Nydam typology; the blade with damask pattern (fishbone technique) running all its length, narrow parallel cutting edges tapering towards the point, battle nicks to the edges; long tang. Cf. Miks, C., Studien zur Romischen Schwertbewaffnung in der Kaiserzeit, I-II Banden, Rahden, 2007, cat. A32, no.65; Humer, F., Kremer, G; Pollhammer, E., Pülz A., AD 313 Von Carnuntum zum Christentum, Bad Voslau, 2014, n.371, for similar type; for similar examples of pattern-welding on Roman swords found in Danish bogs see Engelhardt, C., Sonderjyske og Fynske Mosefund, Bind I-III, Copenhagen, 1869 (1969), pl.VI (Nydam). 395 grams, 88 cm long (34 3/4 in.). Dutch collection, circa 2000. With Mr D.V.B., Netherlands, 2017. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. In the 'rod structure' (B.H.) of some late Roman swords, the material layers in the cross-section of the blade were vertically arranged, showing a construction of rods forged together. These elaborated patterns of the blade are nowadays defined as 'pattern-welding' technique or 'Damascus'. Usually the term 'damascened' is only used for blades, from the way in which their individual rods are forged to create a desired pattern effect that remained visible on the surfaces of the finished product (technique B.II.1.2.).