06-21-2011, 10:02 PM
Brian,
I find it interesting that on one hand you hold up an illustration Connolly painted thirty six years ago as some sort of proof for your assertion but are happy to discount research he has conducted since on the pilum, without apparently having read it yourself.
Does this mean that pre-1982 Connolly is gospel and post-1981 Connolly fantasy? I don't think so and I don't think you think that either.
Whatever the case, I don't think Connolly himself believes these days that these objects are connected with sword suspension and hasn't done for a long time now. If you take a look at 'The Legionary', which he published in 1988, you will see that he has depicted all sword baldrics in one piece without connectors of any sort. Also, if you look at 'Tiberius Claudius Maximus The Cavalryman', which he also published in 1988, on page 30 he illustrates one of these strap junctions (as figures 8 and 9) along with other harness fittings and refers to it as a 'harness fastener'.
Now, it is true that I do not have a copy of the dig report detailing the context in which the Hoffheim fastener was found, but I suspect that you do not either. In the absence of the dig report I feel we are on much safer ground sticking with the wealth of evidence for it being a fastener from a horse harness than on the shaky idea of it being a decoration on a sword baldric, which finds no support in the depictional evidence either.
Therefore, it seems you are on your own in arguing for these fasteners to be associated with sword baldrics. By all means, if you have archaeological proof of a fastener like this being associated with a sword, then please do cite it. Believe me, everyone else here would be very interested to see it! All of us want to learn more and expand our knowledge. However, opinion on its own is no longer enough to justify an identification.
Incidentally, we are due to be up in Corbridge in late August. If you were passing that way it might be nice to see you and perhaps share a drink in the evening.
Crispvs
I find it interesting that on one hand you hold up an illustration Connolly painted thirty six years ago as some sort of proof for your assertion but are happy to discount research he has conducted since on the pilum, without apparently having read it yourself.
Does this mean that pre-1982 Connolly is gospel and post-1981 Connolly fantasy? I don't think so and I don't think you think that either.
Whatever the case, I don't think Connolly himself believes these days that these objects are connected with sword suspension and hasn't done for a long time now. If you take a look at 'The Legionary', which he published in 1988, you will see that he has depicted all sword baldrics in one piece without connectors of any sort. Also, if you look at 'Tiberius Claudius Maximus The Cavalryman', which he also published in 1988, on page 30 he illustrates one of these strap junctions (as figures 8 and 9) along with other harness fittings and refers to it as a 'harness fastener'.
Now, it is true that I do not have a copy of the dig report detailing the context in which the Hoffheim fastener was found, but I suspect that you do not either. In the absence of the dig report I feel we are on much safer ground sticking with the wealth of evidence for it being a fastener from a horse harness than on the shaky idea of it being a decoration on a sword baldric, which finds no support in the depictional evidence either.
Therefore, it seems you are on your own in arguing for these fasteners to be associated with sword baldrics. By all means, if you have archaeological proof of a fastener like this being associated with a sword, then please do cite it. Believe me, everyone else here would be very interested to see it! All of us want to learn more and expand our knowledge. However, opinion on its own is no longer enough to justify an identification.
Incidentally, we are due to be up in Corbridge in late August. If you were passing that way it might be nice to see you and perhaps share a drink in the evening.
Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers. :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
