O jednom izuzetnom nalazu iz Singidunuma

Abstract

Prilikom istraživanja vojnog logora legije IV Flavije u Beogradu pronađen je jedan, za sada, na tlu Srbije izuzetan primerak ušice kanije mača izrađen od kosti ili slonovače. Na osnovu odgovarajućih analogija iz drugih provincija rimskog carstva (Britanije, Sirije, Panonije i Donje Mezije), kao i drugih nalaza iz sloja u kome je beogradski primerak nađen, ova ušica kanije mača datovana je u period III veka. Ovaj karakterističan način nošenja mača centralno-azijskog je porekla, a pojava navedene ušice na tlu antičkog Singidunuma hronološki odgovara vremenu stalnog angažovanja mezijskih legija u vojnim operacijama na istoku, kao i učestalijem angažovanju stranih najamničkih trupa u rimsku vojsku, u ovom slučaju trupa sa azijskog tla, koje su sa sobom donosile specifično naoružanje i tehnike ratovanja.

Beside architectural remains of Castrum at Singidunum occupied by Legio IV Flavia, archaeological excavations at Upper Town of Belgrade Fortress have shown a great number of different minor objects which represent, more or less, common finds at roman military camps. Among them, one object (fig.l) can be identified as a slide or suspension loop of sword scabbard of the late roman period. According to the find of round brooch found in the same layer scabbard slide from Singidunum can be dated in III century AD. The main body of this object (dim: L 10.7 cm, W 1.1 cm, H 1.6 cm), made of bone or brownish ivory, is rectangular in section but tapers regularly from its broad upper end to the narrower tail. The main feature is a oblong slot cut trough from side flanked by small circular hole bored close to each end. The upper end of the main body is rounded off, whilst the lower end curves up forming a hook with a knob, which is almost circular disc. The other long side of the body is completely flat with exemption of small part missing, probably broken. Surface of this side is deliberately roughened with shallow longitudinal carves. The ends of slide have small projecting tongues. There has been no attempt to decorate any of the surfaces. Identical (ivory and bone) examples dated mainly in II-III century are known from Denmark (Vamoose), Britain (London, South Shields), Syria (Khisfine) Pannonia (Intercisa, Mursa), and Steklen (Novae) close to Svištov in Bulgaria. All known scabbard slides are exceptionally rare in comparison with other finds of roman military equipment. Mostly late in date, they occur at a time when an increasing number of barbarian troops were being brought into the Roman army.