02-13-2014, 07:38 AM
Groller’s publication (Der Römische Limes in Österreich II) used to be online on googlebooks/archive.org. I cannot find it now but this may a copyright issue and users from the US may be able to access it. However, here is Groller’s drawing of the find I was referring to (ignore the drawing bottom right, it is from a different helmet):
[attachment=8991]Helmet.jpg[/attachment]
He found one roughly hemispherical half calotte and another two calottes in 16 fragments which had apparently been tucked into each other as well as 28 larger and may smaller fragments. The material had a thickness of 2-3 mm and all fragments showed the characteristic rows of punctures every 3cm. The form, punctures and the rather thick material all accord well with Intercisa helmets. Interestingly the largest fragment is only a half calotte, so accords well with a helmet bowl built of two halves joined by a ridge. Finally, the number of fragments reminds of other "hoard" finds of Intercisa helmets (Intercisa, Koblenz etc.).
Without further review of the (lost) originals, the case remains to be proven but I can hardly imagine what else these fragments may be.
On the dating of the “Waffenmagazin” there appear to be two schools of thought: one considering it as armamentaria built into the defensive wall and the other considering it as a later stand alone building erected when the wall in this area had fallen apart. However, as the southwest corner of the building is built OVER the wall, it is difficult to imagine how the wall could still have been functional when at least the last phase of the building was erected (Gugl, Carnuntum und sein Legionslager in Spätantike und Frühmittelalter. Von Der Carnuntensis Scutaria zur Frühmittelalterlichen Siedlung des 9./10. Jahrhunderts, available on academia.edu). Again, final clarity would require a new dig according to modern standards which will never happen. However, even if we can date the building, this does not necessarily mean that these helmets and the other finds (all of which appear to be 2nd century) actually belonged to the same stratum.
[attachment=8991]Helmet.jpg[/attachment]
He found one roughly hemispherical half calotte and another two calottes in 16 fragments which had apparently been tucked into each other as well as 28 larger and may smaller fragments. The material had a thickness of 2-3 mm and all fragments showed the characteristic rows of punctures every 3cm. The form, punctures and the rather thick material all accord well with Intercisa helmets. Interestingly the largest fragment is only a half calotte, so accords well with a helmet bowl built of two halves joined by a ridge. Finally, the number of fragments reminds of other "hoard" finds of Intercisa helmets (Intercisa, Koblenz etc.).
Without further review of the (lost) originals, the case remains to be proven but I can hardly imagine what else these fragments may be.
On the dating of the “Waffenmagazin” there appear to be two schools of thought: one considering it as armamentaria built into the defensive wall and the other considering it as a later stand alone building erected when the wall in this area had fallen apart. However, as the southwest corner of the building is built OVER the wall, it is difficult to imagine how the wall could still have been functional when at least the last phase of the building was erected (Gugl, Carnuntum und sein Legionslager in Spätantike und Frühmittelalter. Von Der Carnuntensis Scutaria zur Frühmittelalterlichen Siedlung des 9./10. Jahrhunderts, available on academia.edu). Again, final clarity would require a new dig according to modern standards which will never happen. However, even if we can date the building, this does not necessarily mean that these helmets and the other finds (all of which appear to be 2nd century) actually belonged to the same stratum.
Regards,
Jens Horstkotte
Munich, Germany
Jens Horstkotte
Munich, Germany
