Monica Gui
National Museum of Transylvanian History, Archaeology, Department Member
The current paper presents two previously unpublished Roman helmet cheek-piece fragments from the collection of the Zalău County Museum of History and Art, originating from northern Dacia (Porolissensis). Both copper-alloy cheek-piece... more
The current paper presents two previously unpublished Roman helmet cheek-piece fragments from the collection of the Zalău County Museum of History and Art, originating from northern Dacia (Porolissensis). Both copper-alloy cheek-piece fragments are decorated with embossed eagles and very likely belonged to cavalry helmets. The more complete fragment presents a series of similarities with the cheek-pieces of the famous pseudo-Attic cavalry helmet found at Theilenhofen. While eagles are a common decorative motif on military equipment, the representations on these cheek-pieces have their own peculiarities, which are explored in further detail. Construction, analogies and iconography are discussed at length. The paper is concluded by an annexe describing the H-RTI imaging technique used to reveal details which are otherwise difficult to observe.
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The current paper discusses a decorated copper-alloy plate found in northern Dacia, in the auxiliary fort at Porolissum – Pomet. This is shown to be a fragmentary breastplate originally fitted to a mail or scale cuirass. Unlike other... more
The current paper discusses a decorated copper-alloy plate found in northern Dacia, in the auxiliary fort at Porolissum – Pomet. This is shown to be a fragmentary breastplate originally fitted to a mail or scale cuirass. Unlike other breastplates of similar date (late 2nd – first half of the 3rd century AD), it features an imperial portrait. The depicted emperor is most likely Caracalla. The atypical pictorial programme of the Porolissum breastplate, possibly inspired by a coin effigy, can be related to his expected visit in Dacia.
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We present here a recent discovery made at Apulum, in 2010, during the systematic excavations started in 2009 by Anca Timofan in the southern quarter of the civilian settlement of the legion XIII Gemina at Apulum. After restoration, the... more
We present here a recent discovery made at Apulum, in 2010, during the systematic excavations started in 2009 by Anca Timofan in the southern quarter of the civilian settlement of the legion XIII Gemina at Apulum. After restoration, the artefact (Br E) turned out to be an element of a bronze breastplate depicting Victoria, with an incised inscription 1. I. Historical and archaeological context The breastplate depicting goddess Victoria was found in 2010, during a systematic archaeological excavation in the southeastern part of the civilian settlement of the legion XIII Gemina at Apulum (Alba Iulia, Alba County, Romania). The military artefact was discovered at a depth of 90 cm, inside a room of building CII, one of the two Roman dwellings ("strip-housesˮ type) unearthed and researched within the Apulum-Alba Carolina Citadel (St. Francis of Paola Ravelin) project. This research aimed to highlight the 1 The first part of this joint paper was redacted by A. Timofan, the second by M. Gui and the third by D. Dana; the two appendices are signed by D. G. Anghel and C. Şuteu.
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This paper analyses a recently found Künzing-type pugio originating from an area situated behind the limes stretch in front of Porolissum, lacking a more exact discovery context. On this occasion, the other four daggers of this type... more
This paper analyses a recently found Künzing-type pugio originating from an area situated behind the limes stretch in front of Porolissum, lacking a more exact discovery context. On this occasion, the other four daggers of this type previously found on the territory of Roman Dacia were readdressed and discussed in a larger context. Based on close analogies it was possible to tentatively date the new find to the late Antonine period, as well as to assign it to a group which might have been manufactured in the same workshop. Of special note is the fact that its overall shape, size and, more importantly, construction peculiarities are paralleled by some of the daggers included in the well-known Künzing iron hoard from Raetia.
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The present paper discusses two funerary monuments from Alba county (Romania) depicting riders. These had been published before, but only summarily, without taking note of the details of military equipment illustrated on them. This is... more
The present paper discusses two funerary monuments from Alba county
(Romania) depicting riders. These had been published before, but only summarily, without taking note of the details of military equipment illustrated on them. This is surprising because depictions of soldiers in full battle equipment are very rare in Dacia, not to mention that both monuments were dated to the 3rd century, a period in which such representations are scarce throughout the Empire. Therefore, the traditional art-historical approach to the study of Roman stone monuments will be by-passed and, instead of focusing on the type of monument, elements of style, workshops etc., the study will attempt to discuss at length the riders’ attire and the implications for the study of Roman military equipment.
(Romania) depicting riders. These had been published before, but only summarily, without taking note of the details of military equipment illustrated on them. This is surprising because depictions of soldiers in full battle equipment are very rare in Dacia, not to mention that both monuments were dated to the 3rd century, a period in which such representations are scarce throughout the Empire. Therefore, the traditional art-historical approach to the study of Roman stone monuments will be by-passed and, instead of focusing on the type of monument, elements of style, workshops etc., the study will attempt to discuss at length the riders’ attire and the implications for the study of Roman military equipment.
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Podoabe și accesorii vestimentare (exceptând fibulele), Unelte și instrumente domestice, Piese de joc, Instrumente de scris, Materiale de construcție, Piese incerte
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The recent excavations carried out at building B6 in the praetentura dextra of the main Roman auxiliary fort at Porolissum‒Pomet have brought to light a significant number of copper-alloy openwork ‘button-and-loop fasteners’. It is quite... more
The recent excavations carried out at building B6 in the praetentura dextra of the main Roman auxiliary fort at Porolissum‒Pomet have brought to light a significant number of copper-alloy openwork ‘button-and-loop fasteners’. It is quite possible that we are dealing here with the largest concentration of such finds at a single site. Until now, this kind of artefact was very rare in Dacia. These new finds certainly put the province on any distribution map of button-and-loop fasteners. However, it is notable that almost all of the specimens from this province are of a single type, which would suggest that it was a one-off occurrence, possibly related to the equipment of a single troop. The context of discovery and the closely associated mounts clearly point to their use on the harness of a military horse, though unfortunately their exact role remains obscure.
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The excavations conducted over the years in Roman forts from Dacia have yielded many pieces of equine equipment, but no set has been yet published. There is good reason to believe that the openwork fittings from Porolissum presented in... more
The excavations conducted over the years in Roman forts from Dacia have yielded many pieces of equine equipment, but no set has been yet published. There is good reason to believe that the openwork fittings from Porolissum presented in this paper, if not part of the same set, at least belonged to sets of the same kind. Thus, they offer some clues as to how elements usually found in isolation could be combined, as well as some insight into the look of military horses on the Dacian frontier in the latter half of the 2nd century.
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In 1977, a copper-alloy figurine perched on a socket, discovered some years earlier in the locality of Ortelec (at the outskirts of Zalău city, also near the ancient site at Porolissum) was published as a military signum. The strongest... more
In 1977, a copper-alloy figurine perched on a socket, discovered some years earlier in the locality of Ortelec (at the outskirts of Zalău city, also near the ancient site at Porolissum) was published as a military signum. The strongest argument in favour of this function was the fact that it illustrated a capricorn, mythical creature which was thought to be connected with legio XIII gemina. Later it turned out to represent a hippocamp, but the initial interpretation was maintained. Although there were some suggestions that it might, in fact, be a carriage fitting, it was never seriously analysed. The purpose of the present note is to discuss this possibility and at the same time provide adequate and complete description and illustrations, as some significant details were omitted in the previous publications.
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Although there are numerous figural monuments that testify to the Roman soldiers’ dress in the 3rd century, this type of data is scarce when it comes to Dacia. However, there was a gradual build-up of archaeological evidence concerning... more
Although there are numerous figural monuments that testify to the Roman soldiers’ dress in the 3rd century, this type of data is scarce when it comes to Dacia. However, there was a gradual build-up of archaeological evidence concerning this province. Most of the finds originate from funerary contexts located in and around the site at Apulum and are undoubtedly connected with soldiers serving in the XIII Gemina legion. A closer look at these and at similar assemblages reveals a rather specific type of Ringschnallencingulum worn by soldiers from Dacia. Furthermore, while some of the associated fittings are common throughout the Empire, others display the same marked Dacian bias in their distribution as the flat, grooved ring-buckles in question. Although a few good parallels are known from the neighbouring provinces (quite notably from Moesia Superior) there appears to be a clear regional pattern in their use.
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This paper deals with two millefiori inset artefacts discovered in recent years in the Roman sites at Micia and Porolissum. While the function of one of the objects, a simple plate pierced by two rivet holes, remains undetermined, the... more
This paper deals with two millefiori inset artefacts discovered in recent years in the Roman sites at Micia and Porolissum. While the function of one of the objects, a simple plate pierced by two rivet holes, remains undetermined, the other turned out to be an almost completely preserved, slightly trapezoidal hilt. The accompanying narrow, double-edged iron blade fragment poses some problems to the correct identification of the weapon (knife or dagger?). Two other hilts of this sort are located in inaccessible private collections, but a few miniature variants, most likely penknife handles, were noted in the literature. Because the slight resemblance between these hilts and millefiori glass inlaid strigil handles can cause some confusion, a more detailed analysis is carried out to explain the differences and set them apart. Lastly, a possible association of millefiori hilts with matching belt plates is briefly discussed.
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Abstract. The aim of this paper is to illustrate how small find of the Roman (imperial) period can have an important contribution, alongside written sources, to the understanding of even an ‘historical’ society. Some theoretical and... more
Abstract. The aim of this paper is to illustrate how small find of the Roman (imperial) period can have an important contribution, alongside written sources, to the understanding of even an ‘historical’ society. Some theoretical and methodological aspects involved in finds studies will also be briefly presented.
The debates started particularly in the field of prehistoric archaeology about the relationship between humans and the material world gave rise to an array of theoretical stances, which, until rather recently, had little echo in Roman provincial or classical archaeology. The strands picked up by post-processual archaeology revolve around the idea that material culture is ‘meaningfully constituted’ and that, consequently, artefacts should be studied from the perspective of the social practices they facilitated. Surely, Roman artefacts can be viewed in the same way.
Small finds are especially suited to addressing current issues (like general sociological matters, negotiating identities etc.) since they are much easier to quantify than other materials. However, their interpretation must derive from complete and detailed analyses, as well as acknowledged theoretical bases. A few concrete examples (mainly related to the military) are drawn from the vast bibliography on small finds, in order to show their potential and support the points previously made.
The debates started particularly in the field of prehistoric archaeology about the relationship between humans and the material world gave rise to an array of theoretical stances, which, until rather recently, had little echo in Roman provincial or classical archaeology. The strands picked up by post-processual archaeology revolve around the idea that material culture is ‘meaningfully constituted’ and that, consequently, artefacts should be studied from the perspective of the social practices they facilitated. Surely, Roman artefacts can be viewed in the same way.
Small finds are especially suited to addressing current issues (like general sociological matters, negotiating identities etc.) since they are much easier to quantify than other materials. However, their interpretation must derive from complete and detailed analyses, as well as acknowledged theoretical bases. A few concrete examples (mainly related to the military) are drawn from the vast bibliography on small finds, in order to show their potential and support the points previously made.
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Abstract. The aim of this study is to bring forth the evidence from Dacia regarding medical and personal care in the provincial army and to highlight all the strategies adopted to counter or avert illness, while at the same time trying to... more
Abstract. The aim of this study is to bring forth the evidence from Dacia regarding medical and personal care in the provincial army and to highlight all the strategies adopted to counter or avert illness, while at the same time trying to avoid too much speculation or generalisation (though examples from other provinces are recalled). First the epigraphic data will be analysed: inscriptions mentioning medical personnel, collyrium stamps, votive monuments, but also their location (medical sanctuaries, spas). The second part is dedicated to archaeological data, both architectural (valetudinaria, thermae) and artefactual (surgical and toilet implements). Since the latter category is the most consistent body of evidence, a more refined classification is attempted, as well as, wherever possible, an extended discussion on context, spatial distribution and patterns in use and deposition.