A Roman Late-republican Gladius From the River Ljubljanica

7/27/2019 A Roman Late-republican Gladius From the River Ljubljanica

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171Arheoloki vestnik (Arh. vest.) 51, 2000, str. 171-182

A Ra la-rlica gladius r rivr Llaica (Slvia)

Janka ISTENI

Izvl

V Ljubljanici je bil priblino 2,5 km od Navpor ta najdenrimski me v nonici. Na sprednji strani nonice je mreastokov, ki je na rimskih meih izredno redek, na hrbtni stranipa sta tenek pravokoten okov in vanj vsajena masivna zanka zdvema luknjama. Dolina, oblika in izrazito podolgovata konicamea nakazujejo, da je nastal v poznorepublikanskem asu. Potipolokih kriterijih se zdi predhodnik mea s talenske gore,ki je njegova najbolja analogija in je bil najden v zgodnjeav-gustejski plasti.

Iz analiz kovin izhaja, da so vsi okovi na nonici narejeniiz medenine. Poglobljen pregled literature o zaetkih njeneuporabe v Italiji je pokazal, da Avgustove denarne reformel. 23 pr. n. . ne smemo enaiti z zaetkom ire uporabe

medenine v Italiji in da medeninasti okovi na nonici mea,izdelani verjetno na zaetku druge polovice 1. st. pr. n. .,niso presenetljivi.

Asrac

A Roman sword in its scabbard was found in the riverLjubljanica about 2.5 km down-stream fromNauportus. On thefront of the scabbard is a net-like fitment for which just a fewanalogies exist. Two extremely unusual fitments are apparenton the back of the scabbard: a thin flat rectangular fitmentsurmounted, in the middle, by a substantial protruding fitmentwith two holes. The length and proportions of the scabbard aswell as its elongated point are indicative of a late-republicandate. It may be seen as the typological predecessor of its closestparallel, that is, the sword in a scabbard from Magdalensberg,which was found in a layer dated to c. 30-20 B.C. The swordand scabbard from the Ljubljanica can be dated to about thebeginning of the second decade of the first century B.C.

The PIXE analyses showed that all the fitments on the scab-bard were made of brass. A study of the beginnings of the useof brass has shown that Augustus monetary reform of 23 B.C.was not synchronous with the introduction of brass technol-ogy to Roman Italy, and that occurance of brass fitments on ascabbard dated to the beginning of the second half of the firstcentury B.C. is not unexpected.

CIRCumStAnCeS of the fIndAnd ItS fInd-Spot

The National Museum of Slovenia (NMS) pur-

chased a sword in its scabbard (Inv. no. V 1366)in 1993. It came to the museum in three pieces:the upper part, the lower part including the tip,and a fragment of guttering (cf. Perovek, Mili2000, Figs. 1; 2). There was a thick and very hardlayer of riverine deposits on the scabbard, whichwas skilfully removed during conservation (cf. thereport on the conservation and restoration in thisvolume = Perovek, Mili 2000).

The sword in its scabbard was found by a non-archaeologist, in the river-bed, about 50 metres

down-stream from where the Hoevarica sewerjoins the Ljubljanica (Fig. 1), and about 2.5 kmfrom Dolge njive at Vrhnika/Nauportus (Fig. 2). Itwas attached to a big stone near the bank of the

river. When found, the sword was in two pieceswhich were still joined together by the spine ofthe net-like fitment.1

deSCRIptIon of the SwoRdAnd ItS SCAbbARd

The entire length of the sword seems to havesurvived. In fact, the broken edges of the upperand lower part of the sword fit together very well

1

The author would like to the thank the finder for this information.


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172 Janka ISTENI

(Figs. 3; 4). The scabbard, thus appears to be 65cm long and 5.5 cm wide (including the guttering)at its widest point near the mouth. It is relativelylong, with a long tapering point. The probable re-mains of the handle have corroded into amorphouspieces held together by river sediments. An X-rayphotograph (cf. Perovek, Mili 2000, Fig. 3: a)

showed no trace of any tang.The scabbard was of maple (Acer sp.) or nut

wood (Juglans sp.).2 At the upper edge of theback, there are probable traces of leather (Fig.12; Pe-rovek, Mili 2000, Fig. 7).

The scabbard seems to have been made of twowooden halves, the front and the back. They were

fixed together with a U-shaped guttering, whichstarts at 4mm below the upper end of the scabbardand continues without interruption, ending in asub-circular knob. The analyses of the surface ofthe metal by the PIXE method at five points on

the guttering and at three points on the tip showedthat it was made of brass (copper and c. 14.9-20.4%of zinc; cf. mit, Pelicon 2000, 184, Table 1 andFig. 1: points 4, 9, 13, 20-24).

It seems most likely that the guttering was madeby hammering out five or seven pieces of brass andthen soldering them at four or six points. Three ofthese junctions survive: at the two points wherethe lower transverse mount was rivetted to oppos-ing sides of the guttering (Figs. 5; 6), and on theloose fragment of guttering (Fig. 7); the last must

2 Analysis by M. Culiberg, ZRC SAZU, Ljubljana. It was impossible to provide an exact identification of wood, because the

sample was taken after the conservation, during which the wood had been impregnated with sugar.

Fig. 1: General topographical map 5 (sector of Vrhnika sheet28) showing the find-spot of the sword.Sl. 1: Temeljni topografski nart 5 (izsek iz Vrhnika list 28) z

vrisanim obmojem najdia.

Fig. 2: Map of the environs of the find-spot of the sword.Sl. 2: Lega najdia mea v iri okolici.

Fig. 3: The sword in its scabbard: a) front, b) back.Sl. 3: Me v nonici: a) sprednja stran, b) zadnja stran.


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173A Roman late-republican gladius from the River Ljubljanica (Slovenia)

have been so positioned that its soldering pointlay about 10 cm below the upper soldering pointand slightly above the middle of the scabbard. Forthis fragment and for the upper right soldering-point, the metal analyses provided the followingresults: the brass guttering was soldered with analloy basically of tin (c. 69 and 75%) and lead(c. 21 and 12%; cf. mit, Pelicon 2000, Table 1and Fig. 1: points 1, 12) to a 3 cm long, U-shapedlining of bronze containing 5-6% tin (cf. mit,

Pelicon 2000, 184, Table 1 and Fig. 1: point 17).The lower half of the guttering, including theknob at the tip, seems to have been made in onepiece or alternatively there might perhaps havebeen two other points of soldering at the tip, c.11 cm above the knob, where the guttering doesnot survive (cf. Fig. 10).

On the front of the scabbard is a net-like fit-ment comprising a rod-like spine with transversecross-bars (Figs. 3: a; 4). The intersections of thespine with the cross-bars were decorated with fourpairs of grooves. The upper intersection, where thespine bifurcates into two cross-bars, has especiallyskilful decoration. The spine is not uniform in

Fig. 5: The upper right solder-point of the guttering.

Sl. 5: Spajkanje robnega okova na desni strani.

Fig. 6: The upper left solder-point of the guttering.

Sl. 6: Spajkanje robnega okova na levi strani.

Fig. 7: The loose fragment a) front, b) back) showing how thebrass guttering was soldered to a U-shaped lining of bronze,c. 3 cm long.Sl. 7: Odlomek robnega okova: a) spredaj, b) zadaj. Dobro je

vidno, da je medeninast okov prispajkan na pribl. 3 cm dolgo,U-oblikovano podlogo iz brona.


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section. At approximately mid-way between eachintersection it is f lattened on both sides, and twopairs of transverse grooves separate this zone fromthe longitudinal raised rib of the spine. On the up-per side, this rib can also be seen at the cross-barjunctions. The net-like f itment was not rivetted tothe scabbard but each cross-bar was bent aroundthe guttering and pressed back against the reverse

side of the scabbard (Figs. 3: b; 4). It seems thatthe spine of this fitment and four of the cross-bars were made in one piece, but the second andfourth cross-bars (Figs. 8; 9) were made separately,and were positioned under the spine, and rivettedand soldered to it with an alloy basically of tin(c. 55%), lead (c. 26%) and copper (c. 13%? butprobably contaminated because of the brass inthe vicinity; cf. mit, Pelicon 2000, Table 1 andFig. 1: point 8). At the seventh intersection (Fig.10), the chape fitment was joined to the spinein the same way. Metal analyses on the surfacehave shown that both the net-like fitment andthe chape mount were made of brass (the zinc

Janka ISTENI

Fig. 8: The second cross-bar of the net-like fitment, the terminals

of the transverse fitments and the animal-head terminals.Sl. 8: Drugo kriie na mreastem okovu nonice, zakljukiprenih okovov in zakljuka v obliki ivalskih glavic.

Fig. 9: The fifth cross-bar of the net-like fitment.

Sl. 9: Peto kriie na mreastem okovu nonice.

content at the measured points was c. 15-18%; cf.mit, Pelicon, 2000, Table 1 and Fig. 1: points7, 10, 16, 19).

On the back of the scabbard there are twotransverse fitments, each about 7 cm wide and9.8 cm apart (Fig. 12). These were bent back overthe guttering to the front of the scabbard (Fig. 11)to form loops for suspension rings on both sides,and were rivetted to the guttering. According tothe analyses, they were made of brass containing

c. 17-19% zinc (cf. mit, Pelicon 2000, Table 1and Fig. 1: points 6, 15).On the back of the sheath below the upper

transverse fitment, is a most unusual mount (Fig.12). It is rectangular, and its four corners terminatein transverse bands, which were bent back over theguttering, and which have animal-head terminalson the front of the sheath (Fig. 11). Only the leftones survive. At the mid-point of this fitment wasa large hole, 6.5 mm in diameter (Fig . 13). Atthis point, a substantial rectangle with two holesprotruded transversely from the fitment. On theX-ray photograph of the longitudinal section (Pe-rovek, Mili 2000, Fig. 5: a), it is clear that it did


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not penetrate very deep into the wood beneath,as might be expected, but protrudes only about2-3 mm below the thin mount with the hole andwidens(!) slightly. An additional X-ray photographwas made to gain an impression of the cross section(Perovek, Mili 2000, Fig. 5: b; 6). Remarkablyit showed that the substantial rectangle was nowider than the hole into which it was slotted, soit remains unclear how it was fixed to the sheath.

PIXE analyses of the rectangular mount and theprotruding rectangle showed that they were bothmade of brass with a zinc content on the surfaceofc. 15.5 to 18.6 % (cf. mit, Pelicon 2000, Table

1 and Fig. 1: points 5, 14, 18).In its present condition, it is impossible to remove

the sword from its scabbard. The iron sword-bladeis visible on the right edge, just below the uppertransverse mount (Figs. 3: a; 4). At this point, itsestimated width is 4.5 cm at most. A similar orslightly smaller dimension can be deduced fromthe distance between the rivets on the transversefitments (4.8 and 4.7 mm). The blade cannot beseen on the X-ray photographs (cf. Perovek, Mili2000, Figs. 3: a,b). However, on the back of thetip, where the scabbard is damaged, the blade is

visible (Figs. 3: b; 4). It fits the shape of the scab-bard very well and forms a narrow point.

dISCuSSIon

The length of the scabbard from Ljubljanica, itsproportions and its elongated point are indicativeof a late-republican date (cf. Feugre 1993, 140). Itscharacteristic net-like fitment f inds its closest paral-lel in a sword with a scabbard from Magdalensberg(Carinthia, Austria), which was found in a burnt layerdated by associated finds (including early sigillata)

to the period c. 30-20 B.C. This badly preservediron sword, with a fragmentary tang, measures65,2 cm in its scabbard (the length of the blade is53.5 cm, its max. width 5.0 cm, and its width inthe middle is 4.2 cm). The scabbard was formedof two wooden halves covered with leather. It hadcopper alloy mounts as follows: a fitment 1.1 cmhigh at its mouth, two ribbed transverse fitmentswith loops for rings, a guttering terminating in apelta-shaped knob, and a cage-like fitment at the tip(Dolenz 1998, 49-53, Fig. 19; Pl. 1: M1). The lengthof the cage-like fitment shown on the reconstruction

in Dolenz 1998, Fig. 19 is speculative, due to thepoor state of preservation of the scabbard, and itmight have been shorter. A fragment of the upperpart of a similar cage-like mount, 6.2 cm wide, isknown from Sisak/Siscia in Croatia (Hoff iller 1912,120, Fig. 51; Koevi 1995, 18, Pl. 32: 299).3 Thatit had probably been attached near the tip of thesword-scabbard, is indicated by the character of thesecond cross-bar, which is distinctly narrower than

A Roman late-republican gladius from the River Ljubljanica (Slovenia)

Fig. 10: The seventh cross-bar of the net-like fitment and thepoint of the scabbard.Sl. 10: Sedmo kriie na mreastem okovu nonice in konicanonice.

3 Hoffiller (loc. cit.) and Remza Koevi (loc. cit.) describe it (erroneusly in my opinion) as a fitment from a dagger-sheath.There it no evidence for the dating of this fitment, other than typology (cf. Franzius 1999, who erroneusly writes of this fitment

wird einem Dolch aus dem 1. Jahrhundert zugeordnet).


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the upper one. The tip of the sword4?-scabbard fromthe Roman ship found at Comacchio (Invernizzi1990, 100, 101 - Fig. 4, 260, 261, Pl. 68: 229),

dated to soon after 12 B.C. (Berti 1990, 72-75),was also decorated with a similar f itment. Recentlya sword-scabbard with unusual silver fitments has

been published from Kalkriese (Franzius 1999). Ithas a cage-like fittment on its tip (Frazius 1999,578-581, 594-597, Figs. 11; 16) which closely resem-

bles that on the Sisak example (see above). On thelatter, the openwork decoration has a circle in thesame position as the prestigious Kalkriese example

Janka ISTENI

Fig. 12: The back of the upper half of the sword in its scab-bard.Sl. 12: Zgornji dela mea, zadaj.

4 According to the original publication of the material from the Comacchio ship (Berti et al. 1990), the finds included a shortsword and a dagger (Invernizzi 1990, 101). The decorated wrist-guard (Invernizzi 1990, 101, 258, Pl. 68: 227) and two suspensionrings (Diam. 2.4 and 2.7 cm) belong to the badly preserved sword. The second weapon (now lost) was not found at the samelocation as the sword, and was identified as a dagger from its length. According to the report (Invernizzi 1990, 101), it had awooden scabbard and two copper-alloy transverse fitments with loops and rings for suspension (Diam. 1.5 cm), as well as a net-like mount and knob. On the photograph of this find in situ (o.c., p. 100, Fig. 4; no scale), the lower part (?) of a scabbard with atransverse fitment with a loop on each side can be seen, but no indications of the net-like fitment can be recognised. However, itwould be unusual to find such transverse mounts on a Roman dagger (cf. Bishop, Coulston 1993,74-79; F e u g r e 1993, 163-166).

Any understanding of the complexities is made even more diff icult by the use of different scales, none of which is given by theauthor (Invernizzi 1990, Pl. 68). F e u g r e (1993, 265) published the fragments of the sword and the dagger as the remains of a

single sword.

Fig. 11: The front of the upper half of the sword in its scab-bard.Sl. 11: Zgornji del mea, spredaj.


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has a precious gem. This sword-scabbard belongscronologically with the rest of the finds from Ka-lkriese, which are dated to A.D. 9, the year of theVarran disaster (Franzius 1999, 598-599, 607).All these cages were probably positioned on thetips of the scabbards and were not riveted to thembut attached by folding the ends of the transverserods around the edges and pressing them againstthe back of the scabbard.5

The method of sword suspension which uti-lizes rings attached to loops on two transversefitments is typical ofgladii of Mainz (and laterPompeian) type. However, it also characterises

the much earlier Celto-Iberian daggers/shortswords, which probably influenced the form ofthe gladius hispaniensis (Quesada Sanz 1997,Fig. 156: 1; Stary 1994, 134, Pls. 7: 3e; 12: 2aetc.), and the few Roman late-republican swordsknown (eg. Delos - see below; M o u r i s, dated toc. 100 B.C.6; Ornavasso, S. Bernardo, Grave 31,dated to the period between 90/80 and 40 B.C.by Martin-Kilcher 1998, 243). Though the ringsdo not survive on the Ljubljanica scabbard, it maybe assumed that they once existed. Nevertheless,these fitments clearly differ from the classical

ones, as well as from those on the scabbard fromMagdalensberg, and on that from Berry-BouyFontillet. The last comes from a grave dated toc. 20 B.C. (F e r d i r e, Villard 1993, 135, Fig. 2-45;F e u g r e 1994, Fig. 10: 2), though it may havebeen an heirloom in its context (F e u g r e 1994,11). The transverse fitments from the Ljubljanicaare narrower, not ribbed, positioned on the back

of the scabbard, and are not wrapped around it,but terminate on the front and are riveted to theguttering (Figs. 11; 12).

Non-classical transverse fitments, which are not

wrapped around their scabbard but terminate onthe back, occur on a sword from Giubiasco, Grave119, which has a wooden scabbard with copper-alloyguttering and fitments (Primas 1992, 475-476, Fig. 4:1); the umbo and the belt-ring (Primas 1992, Figs. 3;4: 2) from this grave suggest a date in the f irst halfof the first century B.C. (D. Boi, pers. comm.).Unfortunately it is not a very reliable grave-groupas it comes from old excavations (Primas 1992,473-475). Another similar sword from Ornavasso,Persona, Grave 97 (Graue 1974, 262, Pl. 73: 8),dated to between 40 and 20/15 B.C. (Martin-Kilcher

1998, 205, 243), casts doubt on the early dating ofthe sword from Giubiasco.No analogies can be found for the rectangular

fitment with the two holes, which protruded fromthe back of the scabbard (Fig. 13). In spite of themuch later date of Pompeian-type swords, theyshould be mentioned here. Two of the scabbardsof this type (fromPompeiiand Poetovio) still havetheir fitments surviving between the transversemounts with loops for rings (Ulbert 1969,117-118,Pl. 18:1b,28b). Ulbert (1969) described them aswide bands of bronze, bent to form a sling, withthe ends pushed under the guttering and rivetted

to it. He assumed that these swords were attachedto the cingulum (belt) with this additional fit-ment at the back of the scabbard, but the ringsthrough the loops of the transversal mounts wouldhave been attached to the balteus. On the otherhand, a slide on the back of the scabbard, albeitlongitudinal, is a characteristic feature of La T n esword sheaths.

The animal-head terminals (preserved only onone side of the mount at the front of the Ljubljanicascabbard) are similar to the handle-ends of Pescate-type ladles, probably produced in Italy. These

are characteristic of graves dating from the endof the second to the middle of the first centuryB.C., though some examples have been found inlater contexts (cf. Castoldi 1991, 65-67, Figs. 3-9;Petrovszky 1993, 27-28).

The length of the Ljubljanica scabbard (65 cm)is similar to that of the Delos scabbard, which wasfound in a layer dated to 69 B.C. Calculating from

A Roman late-republican gladius from the River Ljubljanica (Slovenia)

Fig. 13: The unusual fitments on the back of the scabbard.Sl. 13: Nenavadni okovi na hrbtni strani nonice.

5 Franzius (1999, 596) assumed that the transverse cross-bars of the Kalkriese scabbard had probably been rivetted to theguttering at the back of the scabbard, but this seems improbable, in view of the analogous examples from Siscia, Magdalensberg,Comacchio and Ljubljanica.

6 F e u g r e (1993, 99) mentions the possibility of a fastening mechanism with transverse fittings with loops, as four rings were

found near the sword; he has suggested (pers. comm.) that further research into the context is needed.


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the published drawings, it measures 62 cm and thesword with the handle measures 76 cm in length(Siebert 1987, 637, Figs. 17-19). The scabbard andthe blade (6.0 and 5,3 cm at the mouth) appear

relatively wide in comparison with the examplefrom Ljubljanica (5.5 cm at the mouth of the scab-bard; the blade is estimated at 4.5 cm between thetransverse mounts). From this, it is evident that thetaper of the scabbard from Delos is more markedthan that of the Ljubljanica sheath. Accordingto the description and the schematic drawing ofthe Delos sword made before its restoration, thescabbard was of leather, and held together withiron guttering (not depicted) and with iron bandsaround it. Two narrow transverse iron fitments,each with a suspension ring survived, but it is not

clear how they were fixed to the sheath.

t s rass (aurichalcum) r s scaar r Llaica

Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, occurs veryfrequently on decorative metalwork used by themilitary (Craddock, Lambert 1985, 164), so in thiscontext, the results of the analyses of the fitmentsof the Ljubljanica scabbard are not surprising. Butthe period to which this scabbard should be dated,i.e. to about the beginning of the second half of

the first century B.C., initially seemed to be ratherearly for the use of brass, as the first extensive useof this metal in Italy and the west, has generallybeen associated with the coinage reform of Augus-tus in 23 B.C. (cf. Giumlia-Mair 1996, 52). Theargument is of major importance for the datingof the sword and scabbard under discussion, soit will be described in some detail.

The deliberate manufacture of brass by the ce-mentation process7 began in the first decades ofthe first century B.C. in Asia Minor. The earliestknown brass coins were made for Mithradates VI

and are dated to c. 75-65 BC. In the provinces ofAsia, Bithinia-and-Pontus and Cilicia, brass beganto be used frequently for coins by about 50 B.C. Atthe mint of Rome, bronze coins were made fromtheir introduction in the third century B.C. untilabout 80 B.C. Thereafter, with one or two possibleexceptions, the Rome mint produced no bronzecoins (only silver ones) until the reign of Augus-tus. In about 23 B.C., Augustus instigated coinagereform; he produced a new base metal coinage,

and introduced the new metals, brass/aurichalcum(forsesterti iand dupondii) and copper (for asses).Even so, brass had already been used earlier fora fairly small issue made by Caesars praefectus

Clovius in 46-45 B.C, probably in Cisalpine Gaul(Burnett, Craddock, Preston 1982, 263-268). Sothe inception of the Augustan monetary reformshould not be equated with the beginning of theuse of brass in Roman Italy. This being so, theoccurance of brass fitments on a scabbard datedto about the beginning of the second half of thefirst century B.C. should occasion no surprise.

For the analyses of metallurgy the PIXE methodwas chosen because most of the fitments are verythin and do not provide enough material for othertypes of analysis such as ICP (inductively coupled

plasma spectrometry), which would probablyprovide more accurate results (cf. mit, Pelicon2000). With this method the surface of the objectis analysed. An additional reason for choosing anon-destructive analytical technique was the uniquenature of the object.

These analyses showed that all the fitments onthe scabbard were made of brass with a zinc contentofc. 15-20%. The differences in the percentage ofzinc were recorded at different points of the samefitment (cf. mit, Pelicon 2000, Fig. 1: 1, 18 and 9,21, 22), which seem to reflect the variability of thesurface. The percentage of lead could be estimated

at less than 1%. The estimate of the tin content(0.5-2%) is less accurate (for details cf. mit, Pelicon2000). The majority of Roman fresh cementationbrasses, unadulterated with scrap bronze, seem tocontain about 20% of zinc, little lead and smallamount of tin (cf. Jackson, Craddock 1995, 93;Craddock, Lambert 1985, 164). Given the methodused for the metal analyses of the fitments underdiscussion, it is difficult to draw firm conclusionsabout the purity of the brass used, but it seemsthat even if the fitments were not all made of freshcementation brass, only small amounts of scrap

bronze had been added.

ConCLuSIonS

When set alongside its closest parallel, that isthe sword in its scabbard from Magdalensberg, theLjubljanica scabbard seems to be earlier becauseof its general shape (it is longer and narrower,and the point is more pronounced), and the form

Janka ISTENI

7 In this process finely divided copper is heated in the presence of the zinc ore, i.e. zinc oxide or carbonate, and charcoal in

a closed crucible (Craddock1995, 296; Bayley 1990, 9-11).


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and positioning of its transverse fitments, with theloops and animal-head decoration. The examplefrom Ljubljanica may be seen as the typologicalpredecessor of the early-Augustan scabbard from

Magdalensberg.The fitments from Kalkriese however, show us

that net-like decoration only on the tips of scab-bards was still in use in the late Augustan period.It may be tentatively suggested that the use of acage-like fitment on the tip of a scabbard, such asis known from Sisak, Comacchio, Kalkriese andprobably also from Magdalensberg, developed ty-pologically from the use of a cage-like fitment onthe whole front of the scabbard, as is exemplifiedby the Ljubljanica scabbard. It seems that cage-like scabbard decoration was merely a side-shoot

of their general development, as it does not seemto have influenced the classical Mainz-typegladii.But the technique of suspension, and the generalshape of these swords and scabbards evidentlyevolved in the same general direction.

In particular, the sword and scabbard from De-los provide only a general parallel for the shape;though the scabbards are of approximately the samelength, the one from Delos seems wider.

There are other pre-Augustan Roman finds fromthe Ljubljanica, for example,simpulum with a ver-

tical handle with a wolf-head terminal (Svoljaket al. 1994-1995, 260-261, Pl. 17: 2; Boi 1999,199) and a helmet of Etrusco-Italic type (Logar,Svoljak 1988, 1-2; Gutin 1990, 132, Fig. 4: 7;

Gutin 1991, 53, Fig. 28: 7).

Aclgs

This study was made as part of the researchproject The Ljubljanica, which is financed bySlovenian Ministry of Research and the Councilof Ljubljana, and led by Dr. Timotej Knific. Iwould like to thank Dr. Knific for entrusting mewith the publication of the Roman finds fromthe Lju-bljanica.

Dr. Dragan Boi was a great help and supportwith advice. He also read the manuscript and madevaluable suggestions. Michele F e u g r e helped mewith the discussion and with information on theliterature. I would like to thank Vivien Swan forher exhaustive and dedicated proof-reading of theEnglish text.

The drawing onFig. 4 is made by Ida Murgelj andDragica Knific Lunder; I would like to thank the latterespecially for her unstinting work. All the photographsare the dedicated work of Toma Lauko.

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CRADDOCK, P. T. 1995, Early Metal Mining and Production.- Edinburgh.

CRADDOCK, P. and J. LAMBERT 1985, The Composi tion ofthe Trappings. - In: Jenkins I., A Group of Silvered-BronzeHorse-Trappings from Xanten (Castra Vetera), Britannia16, 1985, 141-164.

DOLENZ, H. 1998, Eisenfunde aus der Stadt auf dem Magda-lensberg. - Krnt. Musschr. 75.

F E R D I R E, A. and A. VILLARD 1993,La tombe augustenned e F l r - l a R i v i r e ( I n dr e ) e t l e s s p u l t u re s a r i s t o c ra t i q u e s d e

l a c i t d e s B i t u r i g e s . - M m o i r e 2 d u M u s e d A r g e n t o m a g u s ,S a i n t - M a r c e l .

F E U G R E , M . 1 9 9 3 , Les a rme s des Roma i ns . - P a r is .F E U G R E , M . 1 9 9 4 , Lqipement militaire dpoque rpubli-

caine en Gaule. - In: C. van Driel-Murray (ed.), Mili taryEquipment in Context , Journal of Roman Military EquipmentStudies 5, 3-23.

FRANZIUS, G. 1999, Beschlge einer Gladiusscheide und Teileeines Cingulum aus Kalkriese, Lkr. Osnabrck. - Germania77, 567-608.

GIUMLIA-MAIR, A. 1996, Roman Copper-based Finds froma Slovenian Settlement. - Bullet in of the Metals Museum 25,1996, 48-63.

GRAUE, J. 1974,Die Grberfelder von Ornavasso . - HamburgerBeitrge zur Archologie, Beiheft 1.

GUTIN, M. 1990, Poznolatenska elezna elada iz Ljubljanice.- Arh. vest. 41, 121-134.

GUTIN, M. 1991, Posoje. Posoje in der jngeren Eisenzeit. -Kat. in monogr. 27.

HOFFILER, V. 1912, Oprema rimskog vojnika u prvo dobacarstva. - Vjes. Hrv. arh. dr. 12, 16-123.

INVERNIZZI, R. 1990, Oggetti e vasellame in bronzo. - In:Berti et al. 1990, 97-104, 258-261.

JACKSON, R. P. J and P. T. CRADDOCK 1995, The RibchesterHoard: A Descriptive and Technical Study. - In: B. Raftery(ed.), Sites and Sights of the Iron Age, 75-102, Oxford.

KOEVI, R. 1995, Metal finds and metal production. - In:R. Koevi and R. Makjani, Siscia, Pannonia Superior:Finds and Metalwork Production. Terra Sigil lata, BAR Int.Ser. 621.

LOGAR, N. and D. SVOLJAK 1988, Arheoloki odde-lek. - In: Pridobljeni spomin. Akces ijska, konservatorska in


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public ist ina dejavnost Narodnega muzeja v let ih 1983 do

1988, Ljubljana.MARTIN-KILCHER, S. 1998, Grber der spten Republik und

der frhen Kaiserzeit am Lago Maggiore: Tradition undRomanisierung. - In: Bestattungssit te und kulturel le Iden-

titt. Grabanlagen und Grabbeigaben der frhen rmischenKaiserzeit in Italien und den Nordwest-Provinzen. XantenerBerichte 7, 191-252.

PEROVEK, S. and Z. MILI, 2000, Konserviranje in resta-vriranje rimskega mea z leseno nonico iz reke Ljubljanice.- Arh. vest. 51, 189-193.

PETROVSZKY, R. 1993, Studien zu rmischen Bronzegefenmit Meisterstempeln. - Klner Studien zur Archologie derRmischen Provinzen 1.

PRIMAS, M. 1992, Grab 119 von Giubiasco und die Romani-sierung der Poebene. - In: A. Lippert, K. Spindler (eds.),Festschr ift zum 50jhrigen Bestehen des Institutes fr Ur- und

Frhgeschichte der Leopold-Franzens -Univers itt Innsbruck ,

Univfor. z. prhist. Arch. 8, 473-483.QUESADA SANZ, F. 1997, El armamento ib rico. Estudio

tipolgico, geogrfico, funcional, social y simblico de las

armas en la Cultura ibrica (siglos VI-I a.C.). - Monographiesinstrumentum 3.

SIEBERT, G. 1987, Quartier de Skardhana. - Bulletin de Cor-respondance Hellnique 111, 629-642.

STARY, P. F. 1994,Zur e isenzeitlichen Bawaffnung und Kampf-weise auf der Iberischen Halbinsel. - Madrider Forschungen18, Berlin, New York.

SVOLJAK et al. 1994-1995, Novo gradivo v Arheolokemoddelku Narodnega muzeja v Ljubljani (pridobljeno v letihod 1987 do 1993). - Var. spom. 36, 224-294.

MIT, ., P. PELICON 2000, Analyses of copper-alloy fittingson the Roman gladius from River Ljubljanica . - Arh. vest.51, 183-187.

ULBERT, G. 1969, Gladii aus Pompeji. - Germania 47, 1969,97-128.

Risi zrliasi glai iz Llaic

Prevod

ohranjena: simetrino na obeh straneh, kjer je pritrjen spodnjipreni okov (sl. 5; 6), in na odlomku robnega okova (sl. 7), ki

je najverjetneje leal tako, da je mesto spoja lealo priblino 10cm pod zgornjim mestom spajkanja, malo nad sredino nonice.Za ta odlomek in za zgornje desno mesto spoja so analize kovindale naslednje rezultate: medeninast robni okov je bil z zlitinokositra (priblino 69 oz. 75 %) in svinca (priblino 21 oz. 12 %;cf. mit, Pelicon 2000, t ab. 1 in sl. 1: toki 1, 12) prispajkan naokoli 3 cm dolgo, enako kot robni okov uvito podlogo iz brona

(priblino 92 % bakra in 6 % kositra; cf. mit, Pelicon 2000,tab. 1 in sl. 1: toka 17). Robni okov spodnje polovice noniceje bil narejen v enem kosu skupaj z gumbom na koncu noniceali pa je bil morda e enkrat spajkan na konici priblino 11 cmnad njenim zakljukom, kjer ni ohranjen (cf. sl. 10).

Na sprednjem delu nonice je mreas t okov, sestavl jeniz navpine paliaste osi in vodoravnih prek (sl. 3: a; 4).

Na krii ih navpine osi s prekami je bil okov okraen s potirimi pari lebiev. Posebej umetelno je okraeno zgornjekriie, v katerem se navpina os razdeli v dve preki. Osni bila enotno profilirana. Priblino v sredini med kriii jebila zgoraj in spodaj sploena in s po dvema paroma prenihlebiev loena od nadaljevanja osi, ki ima na zgornji stranipodolno reberce. Presek z rebercem v bliini krii kaejotudi preke.

Mreasti okov na nonico ni bil prikovan, temve so bile

preke zapognjene ez robni okov in stisnjene ob nonico (sl.3: b; 4). Navpina os in tiri preke so bile narejene v enemkosu, druga in etrta preka (sl. 8; 9) pa sta bili izdelani posebejin leita pod osjo, na katero sta prikovani ter prispajkani zzlitino kositra (okoli 55 %), svinca (priblino 26 %) in bakra(priblino 13 %? - verjetno iz medenine v okolici; cf. mit,Pelicon, tab. 1 in sl. 1: toka 8). Pod sedmim kriiem (sl.10) je bil na enak nain pritrjen na navpino os deltoidenokov na konici. Analiza povrine mreastega in deltoidnegaokova na treh tokah je pokazala na medenino s priblino15-18 % cinka (cf. mit, Pelicon 2000, tab. 1 in sl. 1: toke7, 10, 16, 19).

1 Podatke je posredoval najditelj.2

Ostanke lesa je analizirala dr. Metka Culiberg, Bioloki intitut Jovana Hadija, ZRC SAZU, Ljubljana.3 tiri meritve so pokazale razmeroma enotno vsebnost cinka 18,2-20 %, v eni toki pa le 14,9 % cinka.

okoLIIne nAjdbe

Narodni muzej Slovenije je 1993 pridobil tri dele mea vnonici (inv. t. V 1366): zgornji del, spodnji del in odlomekrobnega okova (cf. Perovek, Mili 2000, sl. 1; 2). Pokrit je bilz debelo in trdo plastjo renih sedimetov, ki so bili strokovnoodstranjeni (cf. Perovek, Mili 2000).

Mea ni nael arheolog. Leal je na renem dnu, okoli 50 mnizvodno od izliva kanala Hoevarica (sl. 1) in priblino 2,5

km od Dolgih njiv na Vrhniki (Nauportus; sl. 2). Me je lealob velikem kamnu blizu renega brega. Ob odkritju je bil eprelomljen, zgornji in spodnji del pa je e povezovala podol-govata os mreastega okova.1

opIS meA In nonICe

Zdi se, da je ohranjena celotna dolina mea brez roaja.Zgornji in spodnji del mea se namre na odlomljenem mestudobro prilegata (sl. 3; 4). Nonica je 65 cm dolga in 5,5 cmiroka (merjeno med robnima okovoma na najirem delu, tj.ustju). Je razmeroma dolga, z dolgo konico. Morebitni ostankiroaja so korodirali v brezoblino gmoto, prepojeno z renimisedimenti. Na rentgenski fotografiji (cf. Perovek, Mili 2000,sl. 3: a) sledovi trna roaja niso vidni.

Nonica je bila narejena iz dveh lesenih oplat, sprednje inzadnje, iz orehovega ali morda javorjevega lesa.2 Speti sta biliz robnim okovom U-preseka, ki se prine 4 mm pod ustjemnonice in se nepretrgano nadaljuje do konice. Ta se zakljuiz ovalnim gumbom. Analize kovin na povrini s PIXE metodona osmih mestih so pokazale, da je ta okov skupaj s koniconarejen iz medenine (baker in 15-20 % cinka;3 cf. mit, Pelicon2000, 184, tab. 1 in sl. 1: toke 4, 13, 20-24). Na hrbtni stranizgornjega dela nonice so zgoraj vidni morebitni ostanki usnja(sl. 12; Perovek, Mili 2000, sl. 7).

Robni okov je bil izdelan iz petih ali sedmih kovanih delov,ki so bili spajkani na tirih ali morda estih mestih. Tri so


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Na hrbtni strani leita , okol i 9,8 cm narazen, dva priblino7 cm dolga prena okova (sl. 12). Zapognjena sta ez robniokov na sprednjo stran nonice (sl. 11), tako da na obeh stra-neh tvorita zanke, v katere je bilo mogoe vdeti obroke zaobeanje nonice. Prikovana sta na robni okov. Analiza kovine

na povrini je pokazala na medenino s 17-19 % cinka (cf. mit,Pelicon 2000, tab. 1 in sl. 1: toki 6, 15).Pod zgornjim prenim okovom je na hrbtni strani nonice

nenavaden okov (sl. 12). Je pravokotne oblike in se v vogalih zoiv trakove. Ti so zapognjeni ez robni okov in so se zakljui- lina sprednji strani v obliki ivalskih glavic, ki so ohranjene lena levi strani (sl. 11). V sredini tega okova je priblino 6,5 mmiroka okrogla luknja, iz katere moli masivna zanka z dve-maluknjama (sl. 13). Na rentgenski fotografiji, ki kae vzdolniprofil mea v tem delu (Perovek, Mili 2000, sl. 5: a), se jasno

vidi, da ni bila umeena globoko v leseni del nonice, kot smopriakovali, pa pa sega 2-3 mm pod tanek okov, v katerega je

vdeta skozi luknjo, in se rahlo razir i. Iz dodatne rentgenskefotografije (Perovek, Mili 2000, sl. 5: b; 6) je razvidno, dazanka tudi v preni (vodoravni) smeri ni bistveno ira odluknje na tankem okovu, zato ni razumljivo, kako je bila ta

zanka pritrjena na nonico. Analize kovin na povrini okova inzanke so pokazale, da sta narejena iz medenine (dele cinka napovrini znaa 15,5 do 18,6 %; cf. mit, Pelicon 2000, tab. 1 insl. 1: toke 5, 14, 18).

V obstojeem stanju mea ni mogoe potegniti iz nonice.elezno rezilo mea je vidno na desnem robu pod zgornjimprenim okovom in e nekoliko nie (sl. 3: a; 4). Tu lahkoocenimo njegovo irino na najve 4,5 cm. Na enako ali rahlooje rezilo mea kae razdalja med zakovicami, s katerimi staprena okova pritrjena na robni okov (4,8 in 4,7 cm). Rezilo

je deloma vidno tudi na konici , k jer je nonica na hrbtni stra-ni pokodovana (sl. 3: b; 4). Tu se rezilo dobro prilega oblikinonice in tvori ozko konico. Na rentgenski fotografiji rezila nimogoe videti (cf. Perovek, Mili 2000, sl. 3: a,b).

dISkuSIjA

Dolina in oblika nonice iz Ljubljanice ter njena izrazitakonica kaejo na njen nastanek v predavgustejskem asu (cf.F e u g r e 1993, 140). Znailen mreast okov ima najboljoanalogijo v meu z nonico s talenske gore. Ta je bil najden

v ganinski plasti, ki je po drobnih najdbah (predvsem zgodnj isigilati) datirana v obdobje med priblino 30 in 20 pr. n. . Jeslabo ohranjen. Z delom roajnega trna in nonico meri 65,2cm (dolina rezila 53,5 cm, najveja irina 5,0 cm, irina vsredini 4,2 cm). Nonica je bila sestavljena iz dveh lesenihstranic, ki sta bili prekriti z usnjem, in je imela naslednje okoveiz neopredeljene bakrove zlitine : 1,1 cm visok okov na ustju, dvanarebrena prena okova z zankami za obroke, robni okov, ki

se na konici zakljui s pahljaastim gumbom, in mreast okovna konici (Dolenz 1998, 49-53, t. 1: M1). Viina mreastegaokova, kot je prikazana na sl. 19 citiranega dela, je hipotetina.Del podobnega, 6,2 cm irokega mreastega okova, je bil najden

v Sisku (Hoffi ller 1912, 120, sl. 51; Koevi 1995, 18, t. 32:

299).4

Verjetno je bil pritrjen na konico nonice, saj je spodnjapreka zaznavno oja od zgornje. Nonica bodala ali mea 5 izrimske ladje, potopljene kmalu po letu 12 pr. n. . pri Comac-chiu (Invernizzi 1990, 100, 101 - sl. 4, 260, 261, t. 68: 229), jebila prav tako okraena s podobnim mreastim okovom. Predkratkim so bili objavljeni srebrni okovi nonice iz Kalkrieseja(Franzius 1999). Na konici te nonice je bil mreast okov(Franzius 1999, 578-581, 594-597, sl. 11; 16), ki zelo dobroustreza primerku iz Siska: okrogel okrasek na zgornji prekiokova iz Siska na prestinem primerku iz Kalkrieseja nadomeadragocena gema. asovno se ta nonica vklaplja v ostale najdbes tega najdia, ki so datirane v leto 9 n. ., t. j. leto Varovegaporaza (Franzius 1999, 598-599, 607). Mreasti okovi iz Siska,Kalkrieseja, Comacchia in verjetno tudi s talenske gore so bilina konicah nonic in niso bili prikovani na nonico, temvepritrjeni tako, da so bile preke okova zapognjene preko robnega

okova in pritisnjene ob hrbtno stran nonice. 6Pritrjevanje nonice na pas s pomojo obrokov, vdetih v

zanke na dveh prenih okovih, je znailno za gladije tipa Mainz(in kasneje tipa Pompeji), pa tudi za dosti stareje keltsko-iberske kratke mee oz. bodala, ki so verjetno vplivali na oblikozgodnjega rimskega mea, tj.gladius hispaniensis (Quesada Sanz1997, sl. 156: 1; Stary 1994, 134, t. 7: 3e; 12: 2a itd.), in zaredke znane poznorepublikanske mee (npr. Delos - glej dalje,M o u r i s, datiran okoli l. 100 pr. n. .,7 in Ornavasso, S. Bernardo,grob 31, ki ga Martin-Kilcher 1998, 243 datira v obdobje med90/80 in 40 pr. n. .). Obroki na nonici iz Ljubljanice nisoohranjeni. Prena okova na tej nonici se mono razlikujeta odklasinih, pa tudi od okovov na meih s talenske gore in izgroba Berry-Bouy - Fontillet. Ta je sicer datiran okoli 20 pr.n. . (F e rd i re , V i ll a r d 1 99 3 , 13 5 , s l . 2 - 4 ; F e ug r e 1 99 4, s l .

1 : 2 ) , ve n da r je m e m o rd a pr e i te k (F eu g re 1994, 11). Okovana nonici iz Ljubljanice sta oja, nista narebrena, leita nahrbtni strani nonice in se zakljuita na sprednji strani ter staprikovana na robni okov (sl. 11; 12).

Neklasine prene okove, ki ne objemajo cele nonice,poznamo tudi z mea z leseno nonico in z bronastimrobnim in drugimi okovi iz groba 119 iz Giubiasca (Primas1992, 475-476, sl. 4: 1). itna grba in pasna spona iz tegagroba (Primas 1992, sl. 3: 2; 4: 2) kaeta na njegovo datacijo

v prvo polovico 1. st. pr. n. . (za opredeli tev se zahvaljujemDraganu Boiu). al grobna celota ni povsem zanesljiva, sajizvira iz starih izkopavanj (Primas 1992, 473-475). Podobenme iz groba 97 v Ornavassu, Persona (Graue 1974, 262, t. 73:8), ki ga je Stefanie Martin-Kilcher (1998, 205, 243) datirala

v obdobje med 40 in 20/15 pr. n. ., kae na nezanesl jivostdatacije mea iz Giubiasca.

4 Po Hoffillerju in Koevievi je ta okov pripadal nonici bodala. asovno ga lahko opredelimo le po tipolokih kriterijih(cf. Franzius 1999, ki napano navaja za ta okov wird einem Dolch aus dem 1. Jahhundert zugeordnet.)

5 V originalni objavi najdb z ladje, potopljene pri Comacchiu (Berti et al. 1990), je zapisano, da sta bila tam najdena bodaloin me (Invernizzi 1990, 101). Ornamentiran okrogli branik (Invernizzi 1990, 101, 258, t. 68: 227) in obroka za obeanje (premer2,4 in 2,7 cm) pripadajo slabo ohranjenemu meu. Drugo oroje (sedaj izgubljeno) je bilo najdeno na drugem mestu kot me in soga zaradi doline opredelili kot bodalo. Iz poroila (Invernizzi 1990, 101) izhaja, da je imelo leseno nonico in dva prena okovaz zankami in obroki za obeanje (premer 1,5 cm), mreast okov in gumb iz bakrove zlitine. Na fotografiji te najdbe in situ (o. c.,100, sl. 4; brez merila) je viden spodnji del (?) nonice s prenim okovom in zanko na obeh straneh (ne pa ostanki mreastegaokova). Tak preni okov je za rimsko bodalo nenavaden (cf. Bishop, Coulston 1993,74-79; F e u g r e 1993, 163-166). Razumevanjekomplicirane situacije je v objavi e dodatno oteeno z uporabo razlinih merih (ki pa niso navedena) na t. 68 v Invernizzi 1990.F e u g r e (1993, 265) je ostanke bodala in mea objavil kot ostanke enega samega mea.

6 Domneva Georgie Franzius (1999, 596), da so bile preke mreastega okova pri nonici iz Kalkrieseja prikovane na hrbtnostran nonice, je po primerjavi z nonicami iz Siska, s talenske gore, iz Comacchia in iz Ljubljanice malo verjetna.

7

F e u g r e (1993, 99) omenja monost pritrjevanja s prenimi okovi z zankami za obroke, ker so bili zraven mea najdenitirje obroki, ustno pa me je opozoril, da bo treba zadevo e natanno preuiti.


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182 Janka ISTENI

Za nenavadno masivno zanko z dvema luknjama, ki moli izhrbtne strani nonice (sl. 13), nismo nali ustreznih primerjav.Zanke na hrbtni strani nonice, med prenima okovoma za obea-nje, so ohranjene tudi na dveh nonicah tipa Pompeji, in sicerz eponimnega najdi a in iz Petovione (Ulbert 1969,117-118, t.

18:1b, 28b). Ulbert jih je opisal kot iroka bronasta trakova,zvita tako, da oblikujeta zanko, njuni konci pa so potisnjeni podrobni okov in nanj prikovani. Domneval je, da so mee tega tipana cingulum pritrjevali s takim okovom na hrbtu nonice, nabalteus pa z obroki, ki so bili vdeti v zanke na prenih okovih.

Velja pa tudi omeniti , da je navpina(!) zanka na hrbtni strani,namenjena obeanju nonice, znailnost latenskih meev.

Zakljuki okova v obliki ivalskih glavic (ohranjeni le nalevi strani; sl. 11) so podobni zakljukom roaja zajemalk tipaPescate. Znailne so za grobove od konca 2. st. do sredine 1.st. pr. n. ., posamezni primerki pa so znani tudi iz mlajihgrobov. Izdelovali so jih v Italiji (cf. Castoldi 1991, 65-67, sl.3-9; Petrovszky 1993, 27-28).

Dolina nonice iz Ljubljanice (65 cm) je podobna meu znonico z Delosa, ki je bil najden v ganinski plasti, datirani

v 69 pr. n. . (Sieber t 1986, 637, sl.17-19). Nonica in rezilo

tega mea ( 6,0 in 5,3 cm na ustju, preraunano po risbi) stav primerjavi s primerkom iz Ljubljan ice (irina nonice 5,5cm na ustju, irina rezila med prenimi okovi okoli 4,5 cm)razmeroma iroka, zato ni presenetljivo, da je konica nonice zDelosa manj koniasta od tiste iz Ljubljanice. Glede na opis inrisbo mea z Delosa pred restavracijo je bila nonica narejenaiz usnja, ki je bilo speto z eleznim robnim okovom (na risbini viden) in eleznimi trakovi, ovitimi okrog nje. Ohranjena statudi dva ozka elezna okova z obroki za obeanje, vendar ni

jasno, kako sta bila pritr jena na nonico.

uraa i (aurichalcum) za izlav vv aici

Medenino, zlitino bakra in cinka, so pogosto uporabljali narimskih vojakih predmetih (Craddock, Lamber t 1985, 164), zatouporaba medenine za okove na nonici iz Ljubljanice sama posebi ni presenetljiva. Pa pa se je zdel zaetek druge polovice1. st. pr. n. ., tj. as, v katerem glede na navedene primerjavedomnevamo nastanek obravnavanega predmeta, po povrnempregledu literature prezgoden za uporabo te kovine. Avgustovodenarno reformo iz leta 23 pr. n. . namre pogosto navajajo kotprietek iroke uporabe medenine v Italiji (npr. Giumlia-Mair1996, 52). Ker je ta za datacijo mea z nonico iz Ljubljaniceizrednega pomena, ga bom ire obravnavala.

Medenino so zaeli izdelovati namenoma, s cementacijo,8v pr vih deset letjih 1. st . pr. n. . v Mali Aziji. Najstarej i znanimedeninasti novci so bili kovani za Mitridata VI. in so datirani

v priblino 75 do 65 pr. n. . Uporaba medenine za izdelavonovcev je postala pogosta v provincah Asia , Bithynia et Pontus

in Cilicia okoli 50 pr. n. .. V kovnici v Rimu so od zaetka,t. j. tretjega st. pr. n. ., do okoli 80 pr. n. . kovali bronastenovce, po tem pa ta kovnica do Avgustove reforme ni izdelovalabronastih, ampak srebrne novce (razen redkih izjem). Leta23 pr. n. . je Avgust izvedel denarno reformo: uvedel je noviosnovni kovini, medenino (aurichalcum) za sesterce in baker

za ase. Vendar pa so medenino e pred tem uporabili za zelomajhno emisijo, ki jo je l. 46-45 pr. n. ., verjetno v CisalpinskiGaliji, izdal Cezarjev prefekt Clovius (Burnett, Craddock, Preston1982, 263-268). Avgustove denarne reforme torej nikakor nesmemo enaiti z zaetki uporabe medenine v Italiji. Uporaba

medenine za okove na nonici iz (domnevno) zaetka drugepolovice 1. st. pr. n. . potemtakem ni presenetljiva.

Za analizo kovin smo izbrali metodo PIXE, pri kateri jeanalizirana le povrina predmeta, ker je veina okovov tankain iz njih ne bi bilo mogoe dobiti dovolj snovi za druge ana-lize (npr. ICP), ki bi gotovo dale natanne rezultate (cf. mit,Pelicon 2000). Pomemben razlog za izbiro te metode je bilatudi njena nedestruktivnost.

Iz analiz izhaja, da so bili vsi okovi in zanka narejeni izmedenine s priblino 15-20 % cinka. Nihanje med navedenimiodstotki je bilo ugotovljeno tudi v okviru istega okova (prim.sl. 1: 5, 18 in 9, 21, 22), kar kae na stopnjo nehomogenostipovrine. Ocenjen dele svinca je manji od 1 %. Manj natanno

je ocenjen dele kositra , ki znaa 0,5-2 % (podrobno cf. mit ,Pelicon 2000). Veina sveih rimskih medenin, ki so na-stales cementacijo in jim niso dodali brona, je vsebovala 20 %

cinka ter malo svinca in kositra (cf. Jackson, Craddock 1995,93; Craddock, Lambert 1985, 164). Ker smo analizirali lepovrino okovov in zaradi omejene natannosti metode, kismo jo uporabili za doloitev zlitin, je teko sklepati na istostuporabljene medenine. Zdi se, da so bili okovi izdelani iziste medenine, ali pa so ji morda dodali le majhno koliinobrona.

SkLep

Me v nonici iz Ljubljanice se zdi stareji od njegovenajbolje analogije, t. j. mea v nonici s talenske gore. Ktemu nas navajajo njegova splona oblika (je dalji in oji,konica pa bolj izrazita kot pri meu s talenske gore), oblika

in lega prenih okovov z zankami za obeanje ter tudi ivalskeglavice. Primerek iz Ljubljanice je tipoloko gledano predhodnikzgodnje-avgustejskega mea z nonico s talenske gore.

Okovi nonice mea iz Kalkrieseja kaejo, da so bili mreastiokovi na konicah nonic rimskih meev v rabi e v poznoav-gustejski dobi. Morda se je mreast okras na konici nonice,znan tudi iz Siska, Comacchia in verjetno s talenske gore,razvil iz nonic z mreastim okovom na celi sprednji straninonice, kakrna je poznana iz Ljubljanice. Zdi se, da je bilmreast okras le stranska veja v razvoju okrasa nonic gladi-

jev, saj ni vplival na nonice meev t ipa Mainz. Vendar sta senain pritrjevanja nonice na pas ter splona oblika teh nonicrazvijala v isti smeri.

Me z nonico z Delosa se od primerka iz Ljubljanice takorazlikuje, da lahko primerjamo le njuno obliko. eprav stanonici podobne doline, je tista z Delosa ira.

Poleg obravnavanega mea poznamo e druge predavgustejskerimske najdbe iz Ljubljanice, npr. zajemalko z navpinim roajem,ki se zakljuuje z voljo glavico (Svoljak et al. 1994-1995,260-261, t. 17: 2; Boi 2000, 199), in elado etruansko-italskega tipa (Logar, Svoljak 1988, 1-2; Gutin 1990, 132, sl.4: 7; Gutin 1991, 53, sl. 28: 7).

8

Pri cementaciji so drobne delce bakra segrevali v prisotnosti cinkove rude (tj. cinkovega oksida ali karbonata) in oglja vzaprtem kalupu (Craddock1995, 296; Bayley 1990, 9-11).

Dr. Janka IsteniNarodni muzej Sloven ijePreernova 20SI-1000 Ljubljanae-mail: [email protected]

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