08-29-2003, 03:12 AM
Greetings Robert!<br>
<br>
I am the owner of the Roman plumata that you had posted from my webpage on this forum. Although I am always open to new information I think that your conclusions concerning the authenticity of the plumata are incorrect. I am sure that my plumata are authentic - There is absolutely no appearance of any tampering with these artifacts. Both plumata are quite heavy in that the clay feels and looks more like petrified rock - I take that this could mean that something had been added to the clay. A Weapons Collector friend of mine obtained his own Roman plumata artifact about a year ago and he stated the same - His plumata also has a clay body and is also quite heavy.<br>
<br>
You are correct on my fibulas being misdated - It's been something I have been aware of for a while as I have had tons of new information to add to my website business and collection. The reason that I have not gotten around to this is that I have been busy with other matters - I was vol. invol. mobilized with The US Marines and just returned home last month.<br>
<br>
Additional information on my Roman Sarmatian Scale Armor Piece:<br>
<br>
The Roman style scale armor piece is the finest that I have ever seen and I have handled dozens of Roman scale armor pieces - The gold gilt is almost completely intact. As far as I know the only Europeans that gold gilded their scale armor in antiquity were the Euro/Asiatic Sarmatians. Hence my conclusion that the scale armor is Roman Sarmatian.<br>
<br>
The piece was sold to me by an English Dealer who is really more of a Collector in that he rarely sells artifacts but owns one of the largest weapons specialty collections (not ancient) in England - Roman artifacts were all new to this Dealer/Collector. I bought the piece from this Dealer as "Roman Bronze" Scale Armor found along Hadrian's Wall.<br>
<br>
Last year I was doing a research project with Linda Malcor (Co-author of From Scythia to Camelot) and Linda requested that I find out more about the Roman Sarmatian Scale Armor Piece. I then asked the Dealer that I had made the buy from if he could obtain any more of the armor and also if he could find out the precise location where the armor piece had been found - Nothing like the mercenary drive to motivate! The Dealer agreed and went on an overnight trip to see the Digger. He returned a few days later with a few Roman Cavalry items but no armor pieces. He told me that the Digger had only two more pieces of Roman scale armor and that the Digger had decided to keep them. In all the Digger had found 4 pieces including the one I bought from the Dealer plus one that he had sold to someone else. The Digger gave the Dealer the precise location along Hadrian's Wall where the armor pieces had been found - As promised the Dealer then gave me that information. I then told the Dealer that the scale armor that I had bought from him was gold gilded- I also told him that if the Digger ever changed his mind on selling that he should buy the piece for himself. I bought one of the Roman Cavalry bronze pieces as to assist with the Dealer's buying trip. After reviewing all the information given the Dealer decided to keep the rest of the Roman Cavalry pieces and as far as I know is a Collector of Roman Military Artifacts!<br>
<br>
I have not had contact with this Dealer since we concluded our business in Dec. of 2002!<br>
<br>
<br>
All My Best!<br>
<br>
David Xavier Kenney <p></p><i></i>
<br>
I am the owner of the Roman plumata that you had posted from my webpage on this forum. Although I am always open to new information I think that your conclusions concerning the authenticity of the plumata are incorrect. I am sure that my plumata are authentic - There is absolutely no appearance of any tampering with these artifacts. Both plumata are quite heavy in that the clay feels and looks more like petrified rock - I take that this could mean that something had been added to the clay. A Weapons Collector friend of mine obtained his own Roman plumata artifact about a year ago and he stated the same - His plumata also has a clay body and is also quite heavy.<br>
<br>
You are correct on my fibulas being misdated - It's been something I have been aware of for a while as I have had tons of new information to add to my website business and collection. The reason that I have not gotten around to this is that I have been busy with other matters - I was vol. invol. mobilized with The US Marines and just returned home last month.<br>
<br>
Additional information on my Roman Sarmatian Scale Armor Piece:<br>
<br>
The Roman style scale armor piece is the finest that I have ever seen and I have handled dozens of Roman scale armor pieces - The gold gilt is almost completely intact. As far as I know the only Europeans that gold gilded their scale armor in antiquity were the Euro/Asiatic Sarmatians. Hence my conclusion that the scale armor is Roman Sarmatian.<br>
<br>
The piece was sold to me by an English Dealer who is really more of a Collector in that he rarely sells artifacts but owns one of the largest weapons specialty collections (not ancient) in England - Roman artifacts were all new to this Dealer/Collector. I bought the piece from this Dealer as "Roman Bronze" Scale Armor found along Hadrian's Wall.<br>
<br>
Last year I was doing a research project with Linda Malcor (Co-author of From Scythia to Camelot) and Linda requested that I find out more about the Roman Sarmatian Scale Armor Piece. I then asked the Dealer that I had made the buy from if he could obtain any more of the armor and also if he could find out the precise location where the armor piece had been found - Nothing like the mercenary drive to motivate! The Dealer agreed and went on an overnight trip to see the Digger. He returned a few days later with a few Roman Cavalry items but no armor pieces. He told me that the Digger had only two more pieces of Roman scale armor and that the Digger had decided to keep them. In all the Digger had found 4 pieces including the one I bought from the Dealer plus one that he had sold to someone else. The Digger gave the Dealer the precise location along Hadrian's Wall where the armor pieces had been found - As promised the Dealer then gave me that information. I then told the Dealer that the scale armor that I had bought from him was gold gilded- I also told him that if the Digger ever changed his mind on selling that he should buy the piece for himself. I bought one of the Roman Cavalry bronze pieces as to assist with the Dealer's buying trip. After reviewing all the information given the Dealer decided to keep the rest of the Roman Cavalry pieces and as far as I know is a Collector of Roman Military Artifacts!<br>
<br>
I have not had contact with this Dealer since we concluded our business in Dec. of 2002!<br>
<br>
<br>
All My Best!<br>
<br>
David Xavier Kenney <p></p><i></i>
