09-30-2011, 12:31 PM
" If they were attached to the belt by a vertical thong around the belt itself, it could be a suspension device ? With the the open seam being used to release the suspended item( say a fire steel) by rotating the cylinder so that the thong would be released?"
I think I gave an over- complicated hypothesis here!
Last year, there was an as yet unpublished find at Dyke Hills near Dorchester-on-Thames of a late Roman buckle , belt end plate, and small francisca. It's presently on display at the Ashmolean and when I go there next, I will take a photo.
The pictures I have seen show a similar cylinder with an open edge. But inserted into the open edge is a chip carved belt plates with rivet holes for belt attachments. My revised hypothesis is that on the belt above there was originally a plate inserted that has decayed- perhaps of bone?
What is also clear is that Dyke Hills near Dorchester is a major Late Roman grave site , and that there are numerous reports from antiquarian accounts of graves ( W. Morrison , BAR report). Unfortunately, the present owners of the land do not like archaeologists.....one day, hopefully, a proper dig will be allowed.
I think I gave an over- complicated hypothesis here!
Last year, there was an as yet unpublished find at Dyke Hills near Dorchester-on-Thames of a late Roman buckle , belt end plate, and small francisca. It's presently on display at the Ashmolean and when I go there next, I will take a photo.
The pictures I have seen show a similar cylinder with an open edge. But inserted into the open edge is a chip carved belt plates with rivet holes for belt attachments. My revised hypothesis is that on the belt above there was originally a plate inserted that has decayed- perhaps of bone?
What is also clear is that Dyke Hills near Dorchester is a major Late Roman grave site , and that there are numerous reports from antiquarian accounts of graves ( W. Morrison , BAR report). Unfortunately, the present owners of the land do not like archaeologists.....one day, hopefully, a proper dig will be allowed.