Budapest Régiségei 30. (1993)

TÁRGYI EMLÉKEK ÉS LELETEK = DENKMÄLER UND FUNDE - Kocsis László: A recently identified cavalry sports helmet from Aquincum = Új lovassági sportsisak lelet Aquincumból 281-292

László KOCSIS A RECENTLY IDENTIFIED CAVALRY SPORTS HELMET FROM AQUINCUM Bronze plate fragments from the excavation surveyed by János Szilágyi were found in Aquincum Museum during the classification of the earlier collection. Csúcshegy mansio, Budapest Illrd district is registered with a short note as archaeological site of the objects in the inventory. Detailed inspection proved that 11 helmet fragments are registered under 8 inventory numbers. Inventory numbers of the fragments are in ascending order as follows: Fragment No. 1, the largest one, Inv. No. BTM Ro 64. 8. 7. (Plate 1-2, Fig. 1.) Dimensions: Width: 95 mm Height: 111 mm Thickness: 1,2 mm at rim, 0,6 mm at decorated part The fragment is a lower right portion of the rim. It shows the original rim in short section together with an irregular line of tiny dots in a distance of 12 mm from the rim. Roughly engraved pairs of lines in a 8-10 mm sequence are situated between the rim and the dotted line in perpendicular mounting. On the lower part of the fragment in connection with the perpendicular line an other line of dots bigger in size than the previous ones decorates the engraved part. On a 24 mm wide field a third line of dots formed by the largest dots continuous to the intact part of the rim at 5-8 mm below the second dotted line. The initiation of rim designed in almost rectangular bend to the neck can also be observed in traces on the lower edge of the fragment. The frame described above surrounds the front and bottom part of the bended, round shaped fragment. Curl pattern embossed from the back side decorates the surface. The pattern is emphasised by bended carving on the front. The plate is slightly flattened out on the upper part of the fragment and patterns of embossed long hair and decorating cord can be observed on it. The fragment can be matched on to a circle with a diameter of 185 mm corresponding to a hat size of 58 (7 1/8 British). The best matching pair of this piece is fragment No. 7. Fragment No. 2, Inv.No. BTM Ro 64. 8. 8. (Plate 1-2, Fig. 2.) Dimensions: Width: 55 mm Height: 24 mm Thickness: 0,5 mm This fragment is most probably a portion of the bottom left rim without any embossed decoration. The upper part is decorated with a double line of dots similar to the ones observed on the previous plate. The bottom portion is fragmented. The original rim section is missing. The fragment No. 8 is a part of the left corner of the helmet and can thoroughly be fitted with facture surface to this part. • Fragment No. 3, Inv.No. BTM Ro 64. 8. 9. (Plate 3-4, Fig. 3.) Dimensions: Width: 62 mm Height: 63 mm Thickness: 0,5 mm The embossed curl pattern emphasised by bended carving clearly appears on this fragment. The curl pattern is a relief design while the hair motif is flat like on fragment No. 1. The curls are smaller in size and support the idea that this fragment is a part of the back side of skull-piece. Fragment No. 4, Inv. No. BTM Ro 64. 8.11. (Plate 3-4, Fig. 4.) Dimensions: Width: ,13 mm Height: 19 mm Thickness: 1 mm This fragment corresponds to a piece of the rim. The parallel lines of tiny dots in a distance of 10 mm from the edge of the rim and a pair of lines in perpendicular mounting are identified on it. Fragment No. 5, Inv. No. BTM Ro 64. 8.12. (Plate 3-4, Fig. 5.) Dimensions: Width: 26 mm Height: 37 mm Thickness: 0.5 mm The fragment is decorated with a piece of a human face formed by high relief technique. Right half of a high quality female(?) face together with hair motif is well preserved on this fragment. Nevertheless the female face motif represents a rarity among the helmet ornaments. Fragment No. 6, Inv. No. BTM Ro 64. 8.14. consist of four separate parts. 6/a (Plate 3-4, Fig. 61a.) Dimensions: Width: 28 mm Height: 21 mm Thickness: 0,6 mm The fragment decorated with high relief technique is in close connection to the fragment No. 5 although there is no common surface between them. A hair pat281