Date Acquired
|
2004 |
Location Discovered |
Balkans |
Material
|
Bronze/ Copper Alloy |
Dimensions |
4.1cm long x 2.3cm wide |
Roman Empire |
2nd or 3rd
Century AD |
Description |
|
A section
of a Lorica Segmentata buckle for the Corbridge style of segmented
plate armor. The standard armor for the Roman Legionary during Rome's
prime.
This piece
is only the front section and the hinge indicates that it matches to an
unknown rear section. There is no front rivet so the buckle is
weaker, and the center pin is longer than other examples. The front loop
also has a more oval shape to it.
Just
another set of variations visible on these similar armor attachments.
This type
of armor had many advantages over scale mail and chain mail, primarily
being that it could withstand much harder impacts from pointed weapons
while still allowing a good amount of flexibility. The only inherent
weakness, at least on these earlier versions was that all the buckles and
hinges could easily break and required constant repair. Furthermore the
leather straps trapped in moisture on the iron, making it harder to keep
corrosion free. This early version was also relatively hard to put on and
invariably required a second person to do the buckles up. It was not until
the Newstead type that the buckles, hinges and laces were largely done away with.
(1)(2)(3)
Click on Pictures for higher resolution
Reverse View |
Examples of similar
buckles & attachments |
|