Re: 1st century Auxiliary cavalry

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Being on a grave stella, the saddle cloth over the saddle could be the ancient form of putting the riders boots backwards in the stirrups.
This could even be the riders cloak that he used to wear.
Who will tell.

I'm looking forward to the presented prototypes of saddles according to the present historical and archaeological data.

Stirrups?

Historical and archaeological evidence - including tombstones, mosaics etc - are not in favour of stirrups.

Unless they were painted on tombstones? But the rider's leg position in almost all the ones I have seen suggest no stirrups.

None.

Nada.

Zilch.

(May be different for archers, but that is a different matter and beyond the scope of this discussion)



Sadly, Point 5 of Crispus/Paul's post presupposes "frame" again.

A scientific reconstruction cannot be based on one find from one site.

I will say again - the START point is a saddle made purely of leather with horns. Stuffing is assumed/presumed. Rigidity will come from experimental - and archaeological - evidence. Experimentation (of an OPEN MINDED scientific type) should progress in association with the action of the bit (given iconographic evidence and great archaeological evidence than the saddle).

And if those of you who ride in a Roman fashion are not acquainted with how the bit acts on the horse in association with the saddle, may I recommend that you do a little more research on the subject. Xenophon is a good start - and he is still referred to by some Classical dressage training establishments in Europe.