Bear skull in Roman military context

[Marcus Mummius]

Salvete,

Recently I learned about the find of a bearskull in the well of a Roman auxiliary fort.

Are there any precedents of bearskulls in a Roman military context?

Thanks in advance,
Valete,
Jef

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

To find bear teeth in a roman context comes to my memory. Problem is i don't remember where... But i think in Spain.

[Tarbicus]

Are there any precedents of bearskulls in a Roman military context?

Yeah - The skins they hung off their helmets? :wink:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Beat me to it :lol:

[Marcus Mummius]

Are there any precedents of bearskulls in a Roman military context?

Yeah - The skins they hung off their helmets? :wink:

The skull in question does not show any cutmarks. I'd think that if the skull belonged to a bear that had been flayed, there should be traces on the bone, no? Or can a skull be removed without cutting into the bone? Does anyone know that?

I remember a site where skulls were apperently used for target practice. But I can't remember what animal they were.

I wonder, did they eat bears?

Vale,

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

The skull is easy to "peel", because there aren't a great amount of muscle, and in some places the skin are directly over the bone.

The skull you quote is a bull's head used in Vindolanda.

I don't know if romans eat bears frequently, but i have read it's a tasty meat.

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

Eat more bears!

[Primvs Pavlvs]

The skull is easy to "peel", because there aren't a great amount of muscle, and in some places the skin are directly over the bone.

The skull you quote is a bull's head used in Vindolanda.

I don't know if romans eat bears frequently, but i have read it's a tasty meat.

Jef,

A person that is used to skinning animals can easily remove the skin without cutting the bone if they are careful.


Skinning an animals head can be difficult if the animal has been dead for a few hours. The more recent the kill the easier it is to skin.

Bear meat in my opinion is the tastiest meat of any wild animal I have ever eaten. Its very greasy because of all of the fat bears store. If you prepare it well it makes better BBQ than any pork.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Wow, I had alway heard it was really gamey and greasy.....but have never tried it....hmmmmmmmmm now I am hungery :roll:

[Caballo]

A bear skull was found this year in a Roman context in London http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=19897

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Dancing bears a new invention then?

[maarten]

Jef,

Was the bear-skull you are referring the skull found found in Velsen, Holland?. see dissertation by Arjan Bosman, now professor in Gent or Antwerp.

The skull that has been used for shooting at was a horse-skull and came from a fort in England sa far as I remember

Greetings

Maarten

[Marcus Mummius]

Jef,

Was the bear-skull you are referring the skull found found in Velsen, Holland?. see dissertation by Arjan Bosman, now professor in Gent or Antwerp.

The skull that has been used for shooting at was a horse-skull and came from a fort in England sa far as I remember

Greetings

Maarten

Thanks everyone for you very valuable input, I really appreciate it.

@Maarten: No it's yet another bear skull. It hasn't been published yet. I'll let you know when things are a bit more official.
Do I understand correctly that you say that the bearskull from Velsen originated from England? How did they find this out? Diet reconstruction based on the analysis of the bone? Can you give me the title of Mr. Bosman's publication?
In what context was the Velsen bearskull found?

Kind regards,
Jef

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Nope Jef, he is saying the skull they used for tatget practice was from a fort in England.

[Marcus Mummius]

Nope Jef, he is saying the skull they used for tatget practice was from a fort in England.

Aha, yes, now I see. So not a bull skull.

Vale,