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T.N. Smekalova (Simferopol), D.A. Kostromichev (Sevastopol) – Roman Civil and Military Fibulae from Chersonesus: X-Ray Fluorescence Data

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Abstract

Results of the XRF-study of Roman fibulae from Chersonesus Taurica are discussed. These items were imported for the city. Some of them can be associated with the staff of Roman garrison. Others could have belonged to wide circles of the civilian population, closely connected by economic and political contacts with the Roman Empire. The conducted analyses of various groups of fibulae demonstrated the almost obligatory presence of zinc in the alloy of items that can be associated with the Roman military costume. Fibulae for civilian persons are made of multicomponent brass. A chronological trend of a gradual increase in the role of multicomponent alloys is traced. While in the 1st century BC – 1st century AD almost all Roman fibulae are made of two-component brass, then in the 2nd and 3rd centuries the quality of the metal decreases due to the abundant use of lead. However, military fibulae of the late 2nd – 4th centuries still in most cases contain a high proportion of zinc. This is due to the gold-like color and shine of brass. The latest Roman military fibulae of the second half of the 4th – first half of the 5th centuries almost completely lose zinc in their composition. As a replacement for the decorative properties of brass, these fibulae are tinned and gilded on the surface.

Keywords

Fibulae, Chersonesus, X-Ray fluorescence analysis, brass, bronze, Roman army, military costume.

Tatiana N. Smekalova, V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Russia; National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, Russia, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Daniil A. Kostromichev, State Museum-Reserve “Tauric Chersonesos”, Sevastopol, Russia, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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