A Roman iron sword with a largely solid blade that is still partially covered in what is believed to salt and/or lime deposits and encrustations.  Restoration & conservation has been completed, revealing what is believed to be wood impressions over the length of the blade on both sides.  The heavily corroded iron was stabilized and large portions of the encrustations removed.  The majority of these deposits are believed to be maintaining the stability of the sword.  There are clear indications of where the pommel piece was as well as where the guard once existed(indicated by the perpendicular impressions on the hilt).  The rectangular bronze washer is still present at the end of the hilt, meant to divide the pommel from the butt of the iron.  The Butt would then be hammered down to lock all the grip sections into place.  Restoration work was completed to secure a crack in the hilt(indicated by the visible fiber at the end of the hilt).

PDF Link to Restoration Photo's

PDF Link to Restoration Report

This sword has been somewhat difficult to directly identify, although it certainly is Roman the exact period is still not 100%. Through out the Roman period especially after the 2nd Century, the Roman army lost some of its consistency and there were many local variants of swords and equipment. This is not unusual when considering the empire spanned from Britain to Jerusalem. This sword does fit somewhere within a certain period and can be ruled out of most centuries. The following is a step by step analysis of why the date range was picked.

The ogival shape of the point(as opposed to triangular) makes it most likely later than 200AD(it's not of the pompeii/republican type)

The blade length does make it a short sword. Far shorter than the more dominant Spatha of that period would have been(they were around 60cm to 100cm in blade length).

It doesn't however fit the 3rd Century AD Kunzing type short sword find, as it is too long (thier blade length was between 23-39cm)

It also doesn't fit into the two classifications styles of the period."Staubing/Nydam"(blade length of 65-80cm with a blade width of 4.4cm max, tapering blade ) and the "Lauriacum/Hromowka" (blade length of 55-65cm with a width of 6.2cm-7.5cm, triangular point and parallel edges)

The blade width coupled with the tappering style and length does however make it fit somwhere in between the two clasification systems above.  The hilt is ready to serve the classic 3 part Roman design. The brass plate then the wooden hilt piece, grip section(with possible grip impressions) and then finally the pommel.  Consistent with other Roman sword examples.

There are no Fuller/grooves visible down the center of the blade, normally consistent with later Roman spatha/short swords, again making me believe this sword is early 3rd Century AD

Provenance: ex collection of Bernard Estermann since 1967(#19) Germany believed to be from the Xanten or Castra Vetera(South Western Germany) near the Rhine River.  Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix was posted there from the 122AD until at least 400AD defending the Roman frontier as part of the ‘Nedergermaanse Limes’ or groups of forts that ran along the border there.

Future work:

The item will soon be submitted to x-rays in an attempt at determining the forging method as well as the possible metal composition, which would provide hints as to where it was forged.  Attempts will also be made to the this item properly published.

-painting by M. Daniels

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