Late Roman belt

[Robert Vermaat]

Aw, great stuff indeed.

I suggest that these belts all belong to the Field Army, and their wide spread use yet similarity reflects this mobile force?

I don't think they can be limited to just the field army though, as they turn up in urban cemeteries in graves with no other military items(eg Lankhills).
They're also depicted on mosaics of the period. I think all of the hunters on the Romano del Tellaro hunt mosaic are wearing wide belts....mind you, I suppose that with their spears and shields, that could be depicting a military unit out hunting whilst it's commanders relax and drink hot wine.

I agree with Matt. Continental evidence would also not bear that out, belts like these were military, but not limited to the field army alone I think.
The hunters were almost certainly military. We see such hunts too on the Villa Armerina mosaic, plkus the 'military hunt' as training practise is advocated by Maurice for one, but others too if memory serves me.

And I agree re wide belts being much used- but I was more thinking about the dragon headed buckles, belt stiffeners and strap ends as indicators of the Field army rather than just the width of the belt? Thoughts?

Ahh, I'm not familiar enough with specific distribution patterns in Europe to debate this; we need Stu Laycock to join in really.
"Soldiers and Settlers in Britain, 4th to 5th Century - Revisited (Leahy, in Collectanea Antiqua. BAR International Series 1673) takes a fresh look (after SC Hawkes)at the belt fitting evidence for Britain and proposes an interesting alternative to explain the quality and distribution of such fittings. Seen it yet?

Matt could you provide us with the full reference to that one please?