Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Burial in Chattalka of a cavalry officer from the Roman auxiliary and his belt.
#1
Military (Auxiliary) buckles of the Roman period from Great Thracian mound necropolis,location Chattalka ,district Stara Zagora city ,present Bulgaria. Currently in the Archeological Museum in Sofia.
The two buckles (from Chattalka and Karanovo) are made in a unique (non-analogous) way .The way of assembly, shape, technology everything is very similar between the two artifacts. I have no doubt that these two buckles are made into a same jewelry workshop. Possibly by the same master (or team). Unfortunately, this buckle (from Chattalka) is not accompanied by deco plates.
One major difference between this two artifacts is that the buckle from Chattalka is decorated  with Eagle heads and the one from Karanovo with swan heads. But this leads to the conclusion that the master is an admirer of Zeus. Because the birds are a sign of Zeus with which he identifies himself. Mythology proves it. So I do not recognize it as a difference, but on the contrary as a great similarity! What coincidence of mythology, forms and technologies between this two buckles!The antique jeweler master here in Chattalka buckle also uses the same techniques as like in the buckle from Karanovo ,inlay technology with silver wires. But here with Chattalka buckle red enamel is well visible also.
The buckle tongue of the Chattalka buckle is also unmatched! It is in the form of phallus with testicles! Of course this is without an erotic idea .Here it is about masculinity and bravery! Simply the master points out that the owner of the buckle has "balls" for the military tasks he has taken up. Nowhere can be seen such a buckle in Roman military archeology! Unfortunately the information on this subject is very limited. As regards dimensions and shapes, I have been using publications from the literature from 1986 ,Book  “Excavations and Studies by the Academy of Sciences”. Most probably the maid workshop in antiquity has produced many of these buckles of these models. Probably There were other variations and creative views. But to my regret we are  familiar only with these 2 findings.


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
           
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply
#2
This is my previous post in RAT regarding Karanovo belt  “Auxiliary belt Thracian I AD Karanovo model”  http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/thread-30405.html
The parallels I made getting familiar with the scientific publications and reviewing the limited amount of photos that circulates around in the internet ,I came to the conclusion that the two buckles are very similar and most likely have a common origin (the same jewelry antique shop).
 The destiny of their owners most likely is also similar. These are Thracian nobles, Roman cavalry officers of the auxiliary. They lived at the same time the first quarter of the 1st century.
Width of the Chattalka buckle (by archaeological data) is 80 mm. Although it is not visible because of the nuances of metals brass and silver in the center of the eyes there is a silver beaten as in the whole buckle and tongue. In the orbit of the eyes there is a red enamel (as in the original.)
This is the disassembled buckle in parts before I assembling it and preparing it for mounting on a leather belt.There are 2 washers on both sides of the hinges ,again a technical solution that I have not met before.


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
       
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply
#3
The finds from the grave №2 from the “Roshavata Dragana mound” in the region of Chatalka , Stara Zagora town district, of present Bulgaria from the distant 1963-1968.Carried out under the guidance of Dimitar Nikolov.
Grave No. 2 is from the Roman period, the first quarter of the 1st century AD. The rich burial inventory shows us that the Thracian aristocracy was buried here. In addition to the weaponry, a golden wreath was found. I will not stop now at the variety of other buried objects: bronze lantern, bronze candles, clay pots, bronze vessels, toiletries such as strigil, and more. The armamentaria   equipment is classic for the Thracian warrior from the Roman period: Helmet –mask, now exhibited in the museum in Stara Zagora.


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
   
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply
#4
Chainmail body armor, iron protector neck ring, pants armor (which is unique and very rare in its appearance). This leads us to the conclusion that this man in fact was a horseman (heavily armed).
In this sketch is visible the reconstruction of a Roman warrior (Herculaneum  one).3 injuries are observed here and  it comes on a severe defects in the femur. It is a clear break and then a successful healing of the bone itself. Together with others  two hits with a sharp weapon (most likely a sword) in the area of the femoral joint and knee .With these strokes, parts of the joints are cut off. Any such defeat will be avoided if the alleged horseman from Herculaneum has a serious leg protection (as in this case from the funeral of the Thracian cavalryman).


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
       
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply
#5
Another beautiful and richly decorated object  is a umbo for a shield.


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
   
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply
#6
Follow swords (2 different models), a quiver with arrows, a set of spears heads of different sizes.
There are segments of both armor chainmail and squamata  (scale armor). But it is not excluded that this is come about the armor for the very horse.
One of the swords (2 swords were found in the funeral) is of the so-called Sarmatian type.This one which is classified as Sarmatian is dated to 1st century and is decorated with magical symbols that originate from the monogamas of Apollo, Helios and Dionysus. It is very interesting the Jade clamp of this sword (depicting a lion). Such jade clamps for scabbards are very rare for the Roman sword and  are characteristic for Asia. Similar nephritis brackets for scabbards are described in artifacts from the distant Siberia.The presence of Sarmatian armor (sword) shows that the Thracians most likely have a relationship with the Sarmatians. Тhe possibility is not excluded to become а question about a military trophy here. But we can only guess ,this will remain a secret for us. A sword of Sarmatian origin is also found in a nearby burial from Karanovo.


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
       
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply
#7
From what has been shown here, the conclusion is that it is come to a burial of a Thracian horseman of high social status ,an Roman office with a high rank in the Roman auxiliary army.
This buckle from this burial of Chatalka  is described as the only detail of the belt. Unlike the similar one from Karanovo, where the belt is richly decorated with pates and decorative rivets.
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/images/ro...anovol.pdf
 The distance between this two funerals is relatively small about 35 klm.


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
           
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply
#8
So I've assembled a belt with a buckle only. But given that many similarities with findings from Karanovo (which is richly decorated) it will not be wrong  this model from Chatalka to be decorated with similar plates, for the needs of reenactment. Of course unless it is for the needs of museum exhibition with a replica of this funeral.
The hinge assembly of the buckles from Chattalka and Karanovo funerals is unique solutions for this Roman buckles models. In other models (except in here on the Thracian buckles) such technical solution cannot be seen.
Surely these two belts models (from Chatalka and from Karanovo) were distributed and well known among Thracian Auxiliary for this period. Given that the Thracian cohorts and cavalry Ala has been placed on all limes of the Roman Empire .Also inside the empire by performing gendarmerie functions on roads, castels, and other security points. So that these two models are very suitable to be used in the Thracian reenactment ,in events in all over Europe:Eastern Europe, the stream Rhine, the stream Danube to Britain including.


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
       
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply
#9
My finished wax models on the subject. All the details are made initially from wax and then when are finished on brass they are assembled into a buckle.


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
       
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply
#10
Тhe history of the Thracian auxiliary cohorts and their fate strongly excites me. It is little known and written about the auxiliary cohorts as a whole. Their history is of great importance for the Roman military history,given that the auxiliary cohorts assumed as a responsibility the  severe and ungrateful tasks and work of legions.First in intelligence, always first in battle and avant-garde,take hits on the on the flanks and cover up legions in retreat, guarding castrum and roads, obtaining of provisions and many other..
 THRACISCHE HULPTROEPEN IN GERMANIA INFERIOR  https://www.oalibrary.org/papers2/041155...9fa286d03/
Thracian Cohorts and Аla in the Roman Invasion of Britain
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php...itain.html
Another Thracian Cohort in Netherlands-Cohors II Thracum equitata.Northwest of the modern village of Maurik   http://www.livius.org/articles/place/mannaricum-maurik/
 
Raetia/Noricum
II Thracum
III Thracum .
III Thracum veteran
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ro..._regiments
 
Pannonia
I Thracum
I Thracum Germanica
I Thracum Syriaca equitata eq
II Augusta Thracum       
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ro..._regiments
Radostin Kolchev
(Adlocutio Cohortium)
http://legio-iiii-scythica.com/index.php/en/
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Auxiliary belt Thracian I AD Karanovo model Rado 6 1,990 05-19-2017, 09:19 PM
Last Post: Rado
  Cavalry Tunic with woven belt pictures Cheyenne 24 5,220 01-18-2012, 08:06 PM
Last Post: Gaius Julius Caesar
  Re: 1st century Auxiliary cavalry jvrjenivs 44 8,404 07-03-2011, 01:59 PM
Last Post: garrelt

Forum Jump: