Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 1. (2019)
Iosif Vasile Ferencz, Cristian Constantin Roman: A Late Iron Age Belt Buckle from Ardeu
A Late Iron Age Belt Buckle from Ardeu 45 Roman Civilisation from Deva in 2001. During the two decades of research further institutions joined the project: the '1 Decembrie 1918' University (Alba Iulia), the National History Museum of Transylvania (Cluj-Napoca), and the Corvin Castle Museum from Hunedoara.5 During the 2017 field surveys, on the eastern slope of the Cetajuie Hill (Fig. 2) C. Roman incidentally found an iron object (Fig. 3). The belt buckle was observed on the old path used before 2014 by the research team to reach the top of the hill. In earlier years, other artefacts were also found along the path from the eastern slope. Almost two decades ago, based on the shape and components of the numerous buckles discovered in four deposits of objects in the Gallic and Gallo-Roman sanctuary at Villeneuve-au- Chatelot (Aube), Gérard Bataille made a representative typological analysis.6 The artefact discovered at Ardeu could be interpreted starting from this typology.7 The belt buckle was made of an iron bar. The extremity providing the connection with the part made of organic belt material has a triangular shape. It continues in an intermediate part, a ‘tongue made by joining the ends of the iron rod from which the piece was made. The foot is short, and it was made by bending the end of the intermediate part. The termination of the piece is shaped like a spherical button. The piece has been worked by hot hammering until the bar ends were joined, even if the boundary between the two is visible (Pl. I). It is hard to say if this detail is due to the negligence, clumsiness or of the routine of the craftsman who made the object. Although not yet restored, the artefact is well preserved (Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilization in Deva inv. no. 53622). These type of buckles are components of organic belts, complemented by a garment made of metal fittings (iron and bronze) comprising a buckle and several rings. They are found often in men’s graves, and in many cases ensure the Fig. 3. The iron belt buckle from Ardeu (drawing: S. Ivan; photo: I. V. Ferencz). fastening of the belts that support the swords. However, there have also been cases in which the inventory of some graves is missing the scabbard or others in which, although the sword is present, the components of the belt are missing. That is why it can be assumed that such buckles could be also components of belts worn by other people than warriors, and sometimes the swords were hung by belts without metallic elements.8 Beginning with the end of the third century BC, and in the second century BC leather belts with iron or bronze rings and buckles begin to replace sword chains made entirely of metal elements.9 Their form evolved until the Augustian period, or more precisely until the beginning of the first century AD.10 According to the Bataille typology the belt buckle from Ardeu can be included in type 2B, which is characterized by V- shaped intermediate part and were dated beginning with the second half of the first century BC.11 Since the belt from Ardeu was discovered incidentally, it can be linked only with reserves to the first horizon of the fortress. It is also hard to determine if it was the buckle of a sword chain or of another type of belt. 5 Pescaru et al. 2002; Ferencz et al. 2003; 2004; 2005; 2010; 2011; 2014; 2015; 2016c; 2017; Beldiman-Sztancs 2014. 6 Bataille 2001. 7 Bataille 2001,443-444, fig. 2. 8 Dizdar 2013,177. 9 Rapin 1987; Lejars 1994, 49; Dizdar 2013, 177. 10 Bataille 2001, 446-455; fig. 4. 11 Bataille 2001, 448, fig. 3-4.
