Military equipment from a fire-deposit at Arbeia Roman fort, Tyne and Wear

The 1997 excavations at Arbeia[2] concentrated on a barrack block in the south-east corner of the fort that had been destroyed by fire in the late third or early fourth century (Building II). This work involved the removal of a thick fire-deposit, consisting primarily of burnt daub, with a thinner, black layer below. Within the layer of daub was found a complete iron ring-mail suit (Fig.1) and a fragment of decorated copper alloy plate. As far as we know, this is the only full suit recovered from a Roman context in Britain.

The ring-mail was found within a passage-way in a room at the end of the barrack block away from the centurion's house, which has been suggested as perhaps being a junior officer's quarters. It was in an untidy heap of irregular ridges and folds, and from the size of it, must almost certainly constitute a complete suit. The replica suits of ring-mail that belong to the re-enactment group cohors V Gallorum, are made of 10 and 12mm diameter links, are mid-thigh in length and have short sleeves, and make very similar sized heaps when dropped. There was daub underneath the ring-mail as well as above it, so the excavators suggest that the suit had been hanging up and only fell to the floor as the building burnt. The fired daub sealed the suit and protected it from the heavy corrosion that attacks most of the ironwork from the site (Fig.2). The links, although fused together, are grey in colour, and each individual link is visible. The links are 7mm in diameter made of c.lmm wire, but details of the form of the link closure are not yet clear.

The copper alloy fragment was found in the front room of the adjoining contubernium. It may possibly come from a greave, having a straight edge and a circular attachment loop. There is an embossed figure of Victory, with a stylized triangular leaf below and a hollow raised edge. The drawing (Fig.3) is only a pre-conservation sketch, and is missing details that are visible on X-ray, such as the details of her wing, an incised palm-branch in her left hand and rows of dots outlining various features such as the 'leaf'. Both pieces are currently undergoing conservation, and a more complete report will be forthcoming in due course.

Notes

1. 'A fragment of ring-mail from Chesters' by A.T. Croom and W.B. Griffiths, Arma 8, nos 1-2. With thanks to W. Griffiths.
2. Excavations are carried out by Tyne and Wear Museums, with sponsorship and volunteers from Earthwatch.

Figure 1: The mail in situ.

Fig.2: The mail after excavation.

Figure 3: The copper alloy fragment.