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BAR S2136
Ancient and Modern Bone Artefacts from America to Russia: Cultural, technological and functional
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Bone-Working in Roman Dacia
Lrnt VASS
Babe-Bolyai University, Romania
Abstract
Roman bone objects are usually considered the results of a standardized, industrialized production. There is hardly
any Roman carving that does not have a precise analogy from other province. Are there any special features of this
mass, any kind of tradition, any particular features of the bone industry of one province? The aim of this article is to
identify these special features and to determine the main economic aspects of bone working of Dacia, a much neglected
area of the Romanian research. The province of Dacia is considered one of the most militarized and Romanized
provinces due to massive military concentration and colonization. Soldiers and colonists coming from the different
provinces of the Roman Empire brought with them their tradition and special demands that affected the bone industry
in this province. The bone arrowheads, nocks, and bow stiffeners from the military fort of Porolissum, Micia, and
Tibiscum are connected to the eastern archery units stationed here. The largest concentrations of bone artifacts are
usually observed in urban settlements, probably owing to a well defined permanent clientele. The products are more
diverse than the bone objects from the military forts from Dacia, which are designed to satisfy the internal demands of
the troops. In the last part of the study, I try to identify different workshops on the basis of the working debris and
unfinished objects.
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LRNT VASS
provinces, having just one urban settlement, Romula. The the demand by a permanent clientele that maintains the
level of Romanisation in this region is low, probably line of production (Figure 6). The profile of production
because of the small population. The varying levels of can be also influenced by existing tradition, or by
research may also explain this disproportionate evidence different fashion trends. The quantity and the price of the
for Roman culture and lifestyle in different geographical products are strongly influenced by the technology used
areas. Romanian Roman archaeology has (mechanized or manual).
overemphasized the investigation of the limes area and
military construction, especially in the region of Dacia
Porolisssensis and Dacia Apulensis.
Bone tool production is determined by the acquisition of Figure 3: The distribution of bone products in Roman
and type of raw material used in manufacturing and by settlements in Dacia.
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BONE-WORKING IN ROMAN DACIA
57
LRNT VASS
Tradition, fashion fighting or for hunting? The low weight and the broad
head (in the case of leaf-shaped items) may argue for
Identifying tradition in manufacturing or in distribution their use as hunting weapons. However, these artifacts
of certain mass-produced artifacts is very difficult. There were recovered among other metal weapons from the
is no evidence of bone working in the province before the weapon-deposit near the praetentura of the big auxiliary
Roman period. The indigenous Dacian population did not camp from Porolissum (Gudea et al. 1988, 149). This and
use bone as raw material, so the possibility of an inherited the fact that bone objects related to arrows could be found
cultural tradition is excluded. What kind of cultural in Tibiscum and Micia where the other archery units were
tradition can we then observe? The only plausible stationed could not be coincidental. In all three camps a
tradition would have come from outside, brought in by considerable number of finished and unfinished bow
colonists or soldiers, as we believe, from east. This is true stiffeners were found6 among these objects. Without
of the many bone arrowheads (Figure 8) found in the access to all the objects discussed above, it was
large auxiliary camp from Porolissum (Gudea 2006, fig. impossible to observe any kind of similarities in the
10) and the arrow nocks from Tibiscum ( Benea 2003, fig. technical process or to identify the existence of a
VII/1,12; Petculescu 2002, fig. 5-66, 5-67, 5-68) and common know-how. These objects reflect rather a special
Micia (Petculescu 2002, fig. 5-64, 5-65). The kind of fighting strategy that the units brought with them.
unpublished bone arrowheads as well as the bone nocks This seems to be plausible since these units were
from Porolissum are unique pieces in the Roman Empire. stationed on the western limes, a defensive line facing the
They were found in military forts where three similar land inhabited by the dreaded Sarmatian population
irregular units had been stationed, the numerus famous for their archery skills. The role of the eastern
Palmyrenorum Porolissensis (Porolissum), the numerus irregular archery units was probably to keep this
Palmyrenorum Tibiscensium (Tibiscum), and the cohors barbarian population away from the Roman borders.
II Flavia Commagenorum equitata sagittariorum (Micia).
The arrowheads and nocks could have been part of the
weaponry of these eastern archery units. The bone
arrowheads are precise imitations of iron and bronze
ones; we can find among them leaf-shaped arrowheads
just like arrowheads of triangular cross-section. The
manufacturing of one of these little items takes more time
and energy than making one of metal, but they are
considerably lighter. Pauli Jensen analyzed the Roman
arrowheads in Denmark and concluded that light
arrowheads can reach a higher speed, and living tissue is
less resistant to penetration at high speed (Pauli Jensen
2005, 544). Were these arrowheads were used for Figure 8: Bone arrowheads from the auxiliary fort from
Porolissum (photo by the author).
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BONE-WORKING IN ROMAN DACIA
The hardest part of worked-bone research is the location A workshop (Figure 10) was identified in the barrack nr 5
and definition of workshops. In comparison to other in the auxiliary fort from Bucium (Gudea et al. 1992, 86-
handicrafts, bone working does not need a special tool kit 89). As in Tibiscum, this workshop was supplying the
or special room for the equipment. Unfortunately, the army. On the basis of the unfinished and finished bone
Roman written sources do not even mention this items, we can show that this workshop specialized in
handicraft; the only written evidence for it refers to the producing handles and counters (Gudea et al. 1992, 86-
ivory sculptors (eborarii) who were working in the same 87, nr.1-37, fig. CXX-CXXII, CXV/1-4). Antler is the
building and collegium with the carpenters (citrarii) most popular raw material in this case, too.
(Deschler-Erb 1998, 93). Usually the most reliable clue to Unfortunately, in the absence of archaeozoological
the existence of bone workshops is the waste material and analysis of the animal bones coming from this site, we
unfinished pieces. Taking into consideration this cannot determine whether the preference for antler for
mobility of bone workshops, we believe that almost manufacturing artifacts was related to the hunting of
every settlement had at least one workshop producing cervids in the region. The handles are made of antler tines
bone artifacts, even if the publications and research do by sawing and by maintaining the lightly curved natural
not reflect this. I will present the main workshops form of the raw material. Barrack nr 5, where the
identified so far, focusing first of all on the waste workshop was identified, contained waste material of
material. bronze working as well, indicating that the bone
workshop used the same building as other handicrafts and
probably the same tool kit.
Tibiscum
Porolissum
59
LRNT VASS
amphitheatre or whether the debris reached here as waste governors palace had its own workshop. Another
material from the nearby workshop in the fort. workshop was located in the northern part of the colony.
In a large building (Figure 12-B) B. Cserni found 316
bone artifacts, including 216 hairpins and needles (Figure
Micia 13) (Cserni 1912, 280-282, fig. 23-2)8. The bone working
debris and the large numbers of hairpins and needles
In the military fort of Micia, in a store dated to 106-107 reveal a specialized bone workshop or store, whose main
AD, bow stiffeners, arrow nocks and antler waste product was hairpins. The bone artifacts were
material were unearthed (Petculescu 2002, 765, fig. 3-32, concentrated in rooms A, B and I, so we can conclude
3-39, fig. 4-40, 4-52). The waste and unfinished material that the bone working took place in these rooms. In this
consisted of antler plaque cutoffs related to the building a large quantity of ceramic and glass-working
production of bow stiffeners as seen at the forts of waste material was identified as well. This underlines
Porolissum and Tibiscum. The plaques bear the traces of again that bone-working was a complementary
rasping and cutting with a saw. The workshop can be handicraft, and it functioned in the same workshop as
related probably to the eastern archery unit, cohors II other handicrafts.
Flavia Commagenorum.
The third workshop was located in the territory of the
cannabae, in Moilor Street and Gemina Street (Figure
12-C). Various antler tine, goat horn core, and long bone
cutoffs were recovered from dwellings and pits dated to
the time of Trajan and Hadrian (Ciugudean 2001, 62).
The fourth workshop comes from the cannabae as well.
In the backyard of Horia, Cloca i Crian High school
(Figures 12-D and 14) a large trash pit with bone-working
debris was recovered. The debris included ephiphysis
cutoffs thrown away after the preparation of raw material
and various parts of diaphysis probably deposited for
future processing (Ciugudean 2001, 63, fig.7).
Apulum
60
BONE-WORKING IN ROMAN DACIA
Lrnt Vass
Str. Koglniceanu nr. 1, Cluj-Napoca
Babe-Bolyai University
Romania
v_lorant@yahoo.com
61
LRNT VASS
Note 4: Except for a statue of Hercules from Apulum and Benea, D. 2003. Istoria aezrilor de tip vici militares din
another of Eros riding a dolphin (both still unpublished) Dacia roman. Timioara.
from Porolissum we do not possess any unique pieces.
Br, M. 1994. The bone objects of the Roman Collection.
Note 5: Hopefully the lack of ivory pieces can be Catalogi Musei Nationalis Hungarici II, Budapest.
explained by the improper analysis of raw material or by
the unpublished artifacts that are lying in the cupboards Ciugudean, D. 1997. Obiectele din os, corn i filde de la
of different researchers. Apulum. Alba Iulia.
Note 6: The bow stiffeners from Porolissum are still Ciugudean, D. 2001. Workshops and manufacturing
unpublished (see Figure 7); Tibiscum: Benea 2003, Taf. techniques at Apulum (Ad 2nd-3rd Century), in A.
VII/3-6, 8-11; Benea-Petru 1994, fig. 22; Micia: Choyke and L. Bartosiewicz (eds.), Crafting Bone:
Petculescu 2002, fig. 1-4; 5-53. Skeletal Technologies through time and Space. Oxford,
BAR International Series 937, 61-72.
Note 7: According to N. Gudea, the Roman archery units
concentrated in Porolissum were not necessarily Ciugudean, D. 2002. Noi artefacte din os de la Apulum.
equipped according to the weaponry of the enemy. Apulum XXXIX, 289-300.
Rather, they were used to prevent the raids by the
barbarian population outside the province (Gudea 2006, Coci, S. and Alicu, D. 1993. Obiecte de os din Dacia
399). Apulensis i Dacia Porolissensis. Acta Musei
Porolissensis XVII, 114-149.
Note 8: Cserni, on the basis of the many hairpins and
needles, confirms that the owners of the building were Cserni, B. 1912. Jelents a Colonia Apulensis terletn
women for a long period. vgzett satsokrl. Muzeumi s Knyvtri rtest 6,
257-28.
Note 9: Antler tines, probably unfinished objects, without
illustration (Matei-Bajusz 1997, 129). Deschler-Erb, S. 1998. Rmische Beinartefakte aus
Augusta Raurica. Augst.
Note 10: Antler tine cutoffs, a plaque showing traces of
testing decorating tools (compass). Unfortunately, the Gzdac, C. 2002. Circulaia monetar n Dacia i
authors do not provide any kind of information about provinciile nvecinate de la Traian la Constantin I, vol. I,
their place of discovery inside the camp or any Cluj-Napoca.
description of them (Protase et al. 1997, pl. LXXIV/3-5,
LXXXIII/2-9). Gudea, N. 2006. Sagittarii Porolissenses i armele lor. I.
(Sagittarii Porolissenses and their weapons), in C. Gaiu
Note 11: Unfortunately, the quality of the photos is very and C. Gzdac (eds.) Fontes Historiae. Studia In
poor, so we can barely see any kind of manufacturing Honorem Demetrii Protase. Bistrita-Cluj-Napoca, 395-
traces on the illustrated antler cutoffs (Gudea-Pop 1971, 415.
Taf. LVIII/5-10).
Gudea, A. 2007. Contribuii la istoria economic a
Note 12: In the settlement of Cristeti four objects may be Daciei romane. Studiu arheozoologic. Cluj-Napoca.
considered as unfinished or waste material. Considering
that the four objects were made of three different types of Gudea, N. and Bajusz, I. 1991. Ace de pr din os de la
raw material (goat horn, antler and bird-bone) these Porolissum. Cteva observaii n legtur cu ace din os
pieces represent a rather ad-hoc style of manufacturing pentru prins prul din Dacia Roman, in Acta Musei
(Petic-Zrinyi 2000, 124, nr.12, 13; 125, nr. 16, 17, pl. Porolissensis XIV-XV, 81-126.
II/4, 5, 8, 9).
Gudea, N., Chiril, E, Luccel, V., Pop, C. 1992. Das
Rmerlager von Buciumi. Cluj-Napoca.
References cited
Gudea, N., Chiril, E, Matei, A. V., Bajusz, I., Tamba, D.
Alicu-Neme, E. 1982. Obiecte de os descoperite la Ulpia 1988. Raport preliminar n legtur cu spturile
Traiana Sarmizegetusa. Acta Musei Napocensis XIX, 345- arheologice i lucrrile de conservare i restaurare
366. executate n complexul daco-roman Porolissum n anii
1986-1987, in Acta Musei Porolissensis XII, 147-189.
Ardevan, R. 1998. Viaa municipal n Dacia Roman.
Timioara. Gudea, N. and Pop, I. I. 1971. Das Rmerlager von
Rnov (Rosenau) CVMIDAVA. Beitrge zu den
Benea, D. and Petru, P. 1994. Tibiscum. Timioara. Limesuntersuchungen im Sdosten des rmischen Dazien.
Braov.
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BONE-WORKING IN ROMAN DACIA
63
Functional categories Artifacts belonging to Reference
functional categories
Ornaments and objects related to hairpins Alicu-Neme 1982, p. 352-353; Gudea-Bajusz
hair-styles 1991; Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl I-IX; Gudea et alii
1992, Pl C; Protase et alii 1997, Pl LXXXII/1-
10, 13-19; Isac 1999, Taf VII/44-47; VIII, IX/56-
58, X/65-67; Ciugudean 1997, Pl IV-IX; Petic-
Zrinyi 2000, Pl IV, V/3-6; Ciugudean 2002, Pl
II/1-5, III/1-4, IV/4;
bracelets Unpublished (from Apulum)
Pendants, amulets Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XVI/3; Ciugudean 1997, Pl
XIII/1-5 XIV/1-3; Matei-Bajusz 1997, Pl
LXXXII/5; Petic-Zrinyi 2000, Pl V/2
Comb Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl.X/1.
Objects of everyday use needles Alicu-Neme 1982, PL II-III, Coci-Alicu 1993,
Pl. XIV; Gudea et alii 1992, Pl CI; Protase et alii
1997, Pl LXXXII/11, 12, 20; Ciugudean 1997, Pl
XV-XVIII; Petic-Zrinyi 2000, Pl I; Ciugudean
2002, Pl II/6-7; Vass 2006, Fig. 4-5.
Gaming pieces counters Alicu-Neme 1982, Pl. IV/10-13; V; Gudea et
alii 1992, Pl CXXII, CXXV/14; Coci-Alicu 1993,
Pl XXI/4-6; XXII-XXIII; Protase et alii 1997, Pl
LXXXIII/3-6; Ciugudean 1997, Pl XXXI-XXXII;
Petic-Zrinyi 2000, Pl VI/3-5; Ciugudean 2002,
Pl V/3-6; Vass 2006, Fig.7/40-43.
dice Alicu-Neme 1982, PL VI/1-4; Coci-Alicu
1993, Pl. XXI/1-3; Ciugudean 1997, Pl
XXXIII/1-6; Petic-Zrinyi 2000, Pl VI/1; Vass
2006, Fig. 7/44.
Medical instruments spoons Alicu-Neme 1982, Pl IX/2; Gudea et alii 1992,
Pl. CXXVI/3; Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl. XII-XIII;
Ciugudean 1997, Pl. XXVI-XXVII/1-4;
Ciugudean 2002, Pl V/1-2, Vass 2006, Fig.
3/11.
palettes Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XX/3-4; Ciugudean 1997,
Pl XXXVI/11
Tools Knife handles Gudea et alii 1992, Pl CXX/4-6, CXXVI/5;
Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XVIII/3, XIX/1; Protase et
alii 1997, Pl LXXXIII/2, LXXXIV/2; Petic-Zrinyi
2000, Pl III/8; Ciugudean 2002, Pl III/5, Vass
2006, Fig. 12/12.
Knot loosener Alicu-Neme 1982, Pl.VIII/2, Protase et alii
1997, Pl LXXXIV/1
Tools used for decorating Coci-Alicu 1993, PL XI/2-3; Ciugudean 1997,
pottery Pl V/2
Flutes Ciugudean 1997, Pl XXXIV/1.
Objects related to cosmetics Handles Alicu-Neme 1982, Pl IV/1-7; Coci-Alicu 1993,
Pl XI/4, 6; Pl XVI/1-5., Ciugudean 1997, Pl
XXVII/8,9; Pl XXVIII/1,2,5,6.
Unguentum jars (pyxis) Alicu-Neme 1982, Pl IX/2; Ciugudean 1997, Pl
XIII/6; Petic-Zrinyi 2000, VI/2; Vass 2006, Fig.
3/8.
spatulas Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XI/1
Objects related to weaving and Distaffs, spindles Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XV/1-2; Ciugudean 1997,
spinning Pl XXVII/6-7; Gudea 2008, Pl LXXI/9
Spindle whorls Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl. XV/3-5
Loom fittings Alicu-Neme 1982, Pl VI/5, VII/1,6, 7, 8; VIII/1;
Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XXIV; Ciugudean 1997, Pl
XII/1-4; Petic-Zrinyi 2000, Pl II/1-3
Objects decorating weapons, Scabbard chapes Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XVII/2, Vass 2006, Fig.
weapons fittings and military 6/34
equipment Scabbard slides Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XX/1
Gard de sabie Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XX/2
Bow stiffeners Ciugudean 1997, Pl XXX/2-4; Matei-Bajusz
1997, Pl LXXXII/1-2; Petic-Zrinyi 2000, Pl V/7;
Benea 2003, Taf VII/9-11., Vass 2006,
Fig.6/30-33.
Arrow heads, nocks Gudea et alii 1992, Pl C/3; Benea 2003, Taf.
VII/1,2, 12, Petculescu 2002, Fig. 5/64-68.
Objects of wear rings Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl. XV/3; Ciugudean 1997, Pl
XII/5-6, Vass 2006, Fig. 3/10
Needles with three holes Ciugudean 1997, Pl XVII/7,8, XXV/1-2; Matei-
Bajusz 1997, Pl CI/2,3.
Furniture fittings, appliqus, Decorative appliqus Coci-Alicu 1993, Pl XVII/3.; Petic-Zrinyi 2000,
decorations Pl V/1, VI/6, Vass 2006, Fig.3/5-7
64