Archaeologist: We have evidence of the presence of Roman legionaries in Poland

Roman soldiers were present in the area of Kujawy 2 thousand years ago. This is evidenced by discovered fragments of equestrian gear and legionnaire outfits. Many of them were discovered for the first time outside the borders of the Roman Empire, says Dr. Bartosz Kontny.

Archaeologists found traces of Roman presence in Kujawy to treasure hunters, who donated some of their findings. The majority of discovered artefacts comes from the area between the villages of Gąski and Wierzbiczany (Kuyavian-Pomeranian province).

"Among the many donated metal objects there were also numerous fittings made of copper alloy, which turned out to be decorations for equestrian gear and Roman legionaries` clothing, many of them unique in this part of Europe" - says Dr. Bartosz Kontny from the Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, who identified the objects.

Archaeologists alerted by the treasure hunters` finds ventured into the area themselves and carried out excavations and surface surveys. In recent months, the team led by Marcin Rudnicki from the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw discovered further objects of similar nature.

"This is the first strong evidence of the actual presence of Roman soldiers in the territory of today`s Poland" - Kontny believes.

Among the unique monuments are metal pendants that decorated the straps of the Roman horse gear. They were in the shape of phalluses or vulvas (female womb). "These amulets were believed to ensure happiness and protect against evil forces, they had apotropaic meaning" - said Dr. Kontny.

As a truly unique object among the analysed artefacts, the archaeologist mentions a gold-plated copper application for a hip belt. It depicts a spear of a beneficiarius, a high-ranking officer of the Roman army. "It was an attribute of his power" - says the archaeologist.

Such a large accumulation of similar Roman objects in other places in the barbarian Europe - for example in central Germany (where, for example, the local population was recruited to the legions) is clearly associated with physical Roman presence.

"However, there are only a few such places on the map of Europe" - notes the archaeologist. In his opinion, such a large accumulation of objects related to the Roman presence in Kujawy shows that this area had to be a regional cultural and social centre. "This could also be connected with the amber road - the Romans valued this material" - he adds.

Fragments of Roman fittings. Photo by M. Rudnicki

According to the archaeologist, the Romans could be present in the area of today`s Kujawy for several reasons depending on the period, because the objects attesting to their presence are from 2 to 1.6 thousand years old.

At the end of the antiquity, the Romans could venture into Kujawy to recruit soldiers from among the Germans - during this period, barbarians, people from outside the Roman Empire, also served in the legions. At the end of the first century AD, the Romans could come to this area at the request of the Lugii (Vandals), who were fighting the Suebi. Archaeologists believe that the Lugii were among the representatives of Przeworsk culture (living also in the area of Kujawy in the first centuries of our era).

"According to the records of the Roman historian Cassius Dion, the Emperor Domitian sent a hundred riders to help them. It is possible that some of the objects we discovered were parts of equipment of one of those riders" - says the archaeologist.

Excavation in the area of Gąski and Wierzbiczany. Photo by M. Rudnicki

Research in the area of Gąski and Wierzbiczany was carried out as part of the National Science Centre Maestro project "Migration period in the Odra and Vistula basin" led by Prof. Aleksander Bursche from the Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw.

PAP - Science in Poland, Szymon Zdziebłowski

szz/ ekr/ kap/

tr. RL