At the end of the early Roman Iron Age and the beginning of the younger Roman Iron Age (phases B2b–C1a) a characteristic element of the outfit of warriors in the central European Barbaricum are relatively broad belts fastened with a rectangular buckle with a double tongue. The buckles are a rather mixed group in terms of the construction of their frame, proportions and size, the shape of the tongue (forked or H-shaped), the presence (or not) of a chape, ornamentation, and also, their material. Recent years have significantly added to our record on buckles with a double tongue from the European Barbaricum, as shown by the increase of the number of these finds from c. 105 to over 240 specimens, largely thanks to the newly gained access to archival materials from the territory of the former East Prussia. The map of the distribution of broad belts fastened with a buckle with a double tongue and fitted with a heavy strap-end (eg, with a ring- or a sub-rectangular terminal) in the European Barbaricum, phases B2b and C1a, is almost certain to be a reflection of contacts between groups of warriors originating from different cultural environments, and definitely, of their substantial mobility. This is true particularly of warriors from the territory of the Przeworsk Culture, West Balt Bogaczewo and Dollkeim-Kovrovo Cultures, and presumably, also of the Wielbark Culture. Apparently, from this region buckles with a double tongue spread to the lands on the Elbe, Jutland and the islands of Denmark. It is reasonable to attribute finds of these buckles recorded south of the Carpathians to Przeworsk Culture influences, and recognize bronze buckles found to the north of the Black Sea as evidence of the penetration of the Pontic region by the Wielbark Culture people. The latter interpretation would be confirmed by references in the written sources to the migration of Gothic peoples to the land of Oium.
On the maps illustrating the situation during Roman and Pre-Roman Iron Age the lower Orzyc region (located about 70 km north of Warsaw) was until recent considered as an empty area. Excavations and a series of accidental discoveries in the past 20 years revealed in this area the existence of at least 9 settlements and cemeteries located in close neighbourhood. Among many research problems related to this concentration of settlements, one of the most interesting is the question of the disappearance of the Przeworsk culture representatives and the appearance of the first settlers of the Wielbark culture at the turn of the early and Late Roman Iron Age. The last ones arrived probably from the area of today's northern Greater Poland. For some time, the populations of both cultures probably lived together in the Lower Orzyc region. This can be said due to the dating of related materials and graves with elements characteristic for both cultures.
The spectacular tombs of Mušov in Moravia (CZ) and Gommern near Magdeburg in Central Germany provide a deep insight into the self-understanding and internationality of Germanic elites before, during and after the Marcomannic wars. A synopsis of grave finds from the lower Elbe area, Central Germany and the region north of the middle Danube, clearly shows that contacts visible in the archaeological record between the lower Elbe area and the empire of Vannius, later the Markomannic-Quadic centre of power in present-day Moravia and Southwest Slovakia, existed from the Augustan-Claudian period up until after the Markomannic wars. At the same time, however, it becomes clear that during the 3rd cent. A. D. a distinct new orientation of the relations of the Germanic elites was taking place: away from the route to the middle Danube in the south via the central and southern Oder region, to a new connection upstream along the river Elbe to Central and Southwest Germany.
The war booty offering ‘Thorsberger Moor’ in Süderbrarup, Schleswig-Flensburg district, is one of the great offerings with deposits of military equipment from Roman Iron Age in middle and northern Europe. The analyses of the horse harnesses from ‘Thorsberger Moor’ produced new results for typology and development of Germanic harnesses. Different types of harnesses based on this research were defined in addition to previous research. The development of Germanic horse harnesses in general is based on different influences from different cultural areas for example the Roman culture which can be shown on many single elements of the harnesses from ‘Thorsberger Moor’. This article focuses on the connections and influences from the North Danubian area on elements of harnesses from ‘Thorsberger Moor’ from the 3rd century A. D.
The so-called bulls-head brooches are one of the most remarkable results of Roman Period barbarian art. Until now they were known mostly from the regions of the Western Balts and the neighbouring Wielbark culture in the North-Eastern part of Central Europe. The interesting question where those brooches were created was discussed broadly throughout many years. New finds – unfortunately all gathered by illegal metal detecting raids and offered for sale – shed a new light on the issue. Found at the Ukraine they show that the appearance of bulls-head brooches has to be seen in a broader, supra-cultural context. All specimens can be dated in a relatively short period of 60 – 70 years in the time before and after 200 AD. The same applies to so-called duck brooches that were known from a few sites only. All new-found brooches were offered for sale at East European web sites. In the second part of the paper I discussed the problem, how archaeology should treat such findings.
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