168). The body and his accoutrements were then cast or placed in the well along with fragments of quernstone, a lamp, various amphorae and pot shards, a âballista ballâ, animal bones, shellfish and even a wooden tent peg. Following this, the well was filled with huge quantities of stone and refuse from the fort ( ibid. : 168â70). The filling of this well in one quick phase was a deliberate act.
It is not known whether the placing of the body was a votive act to commemorate the abandonment of the fort or simply a convenient location to inter a body, almost in a way in which one would tidy up rubbish. The discovery of a complete pot with the body might perhaps indicate a provision of âgrave goodsâ for the afterlife and thus lessen the likelihood of the latter theory. It might also be taken to reveal that, if this man had died a violent death, he was probably buried by comrades rather than an enemy, who would have been more likely to loot the dagger had it been visible ( ibid. : 168, 170). What is certain is that a body would not have been deposited in a well that was still in use and so this event has been taken to date to the abandonment of Velsen I in AD 28, the date of the Frisian rebellion.
As mentioned, the body was found to have several items about his person or in a stratigraphic sequence, which would suggest former association. An iron dagger ( pugio ) that was excavated survived to a length of 23.05cm and the bone or antler grip of the knife, still retaining three rivets, was also recovered ( ibid. : 177). The sheath of this weapon was of fine craftsmanship with an iron plate decorated with silver, red, and yellow enamel and with designs of triangles, a temple, oak leaves and geometric motifs ( ibid. : 177â86). Its very presence with the body would tend to suggest that, if the man was killed before being thrown into the well, then the motif would not be robbery.
While the sheath was a fine piece of equipment, other items were altogether more utilitarian. Eight belt-plates and a buckle of a military-style belt were located and these were essential for the attachment of the sheath and the dagger. The belt-plates were of worn copper alloy, which, along with the buckle, had once been silver-plated ( ibid. : 180). The authors of the report on the burial thought that, together, these finds illustrated the fact that the soldierâs equipment was far from standardised and that the quality of the belt would, perhaps, indicate that this was the body of a low-ranking soldier ( ibid. : 187). The fact that other equipment of martial character was not present need not preclude this interpretation â it means simply that he was not in full battle apparel when deposited, the full panoply of armour and weaponry perhaps having been taken from the body (Constandse-Westermann, 1982: 139).
In terms of the manâs clothing, one hobnailed shoe was found, along with twenty-one of the studs of the other, and a bronze fibula was also located. The man had an iron ring with a glass paste setting of a male head wearing a helmet, perhaps Mars or some other deity venerated by the military (Morel and Bosman, 1989: 170).
UNKNOWN WARRIOR 4
Roman soldier from the well of the fort at Velsen, Netherlands
This man, excavated in 1977 in Well Number II at Velsen I, was around 25 years of age at his death and about 1.90m tall. His pathology may indicate a blow to the head suffered at the time of his death. He was thrown into a well in the legionary fort c. ad 28 â perhaps as a result of the Frisian rebellion â and was possibly a Roman soldier of non-Mediterranean origin. He took a dagger, scabbard, belt, shoes and ring to his âgraveâ.
THREE
Heroes of the Chronicles and Sagas: Anglo-Saxon and Viking Warriors
Their mail-shirts glinted,
hard and hand linked; the high-gloss iron
of their armour rang. So they duly arrived
in their grim war-graith and gear at the hall,
and, weary from the sea,
It is not known whether the placing of the body was a votive act to commemorate the abandonment of the fort or simply a convenient location to inter a body, almost in a way in which one would tidy up rubbish. The discovery of a complete pot with the body might perhaps indicate a provision of âgrave goodsâ for the afterlife and thus lessen the likelihood of the latter theory. It might also be taken to reveal that, if this man had died a violent death, he was probably buried by comrades rather than an enemy, who would have been more likely to loot the dagger had it been visible ( ibid. : 168, 170). What is certain is that a body would not have been deposited in a well that was still in use and so this event has been taken to date to the abandonment of Velsen I in AD 28, the date of the Frisian rebellion.
As mentioned, the body was found to have several items about his person or in a stratigraphic sequence, which would suggest former association. An iron dagger ( pugio ) that was excavated survived to a length of 23.05cm and the bone or antler grip of the knife, still retaining three rivets, was also recovered ( ibid. : 177). The sheath of this weapon was of fine craftsmanship with an iron plate decorated with silver, red, and yellow enamel and with designs of triangles, a temple, oak leaves and geometric motifs ( ibid. : 177â86). Its very presence with the body would tend to suggest that, if the man was killed before being thrown into the well, then the motif would not be robbery.
While the sheath was a fine piece of equipment, other items were altogether more utilitarian. Eight belt-plates and a buckle of a military-style belt were located and these were essential for the attachment of the sheath and the dagger. The belt-plates were of worn copper alloy, which, along with the buckle, had once been silver-plated ( ibid. : 180). The authors of the report on the burial thought that, together, these finds illustrated the fact that the soldierâs equipment was far from standardised and that the quality of the belt would, perhaps, indicate that this was the body of a low-ranking soldier ( ibid. : 187). The fact that other equipment of martial character was not present need not preclude this interpretation â it means simply that he was not in full battle apparel when deposited, the full panoply of armour and weaponry perhaps having been taken from the body (Constandse-Westermann, 1982: 139).
In terms of the manâs clothing, one hobnailed shoe was found, along with twenty-one of the studs of the other, and a bronze fibula was also located. The man had an iron ring with a glass paste setting of a male head wearing a helmet, perhaps Mars or some other deity venerated by the military (Morel and Bosman, 1989: 170).
UNKNOWN WARRIOR 4
Roman soldier from the well of the fort at Velsen, Netherlands
This man, excavated in 1977 in Well Number II at Velsen I, was around 25 years of age at his death and about 1.90m tall. His pathology may indicate a blow to the head suffered at the time of his death. He was thrown into a well in the legionary fort c. ad 28 â perhaps as a result of the Frisian rebellion â and was possibly a Roman soldier of non-Mediterranean origin. He took a dagger, scabbard, belt, shoes and ring to his âgraveâ.
THREE
Heroes of the Chronicles and Sagas: Anglo-Saxon and Viking Warriors
Their mail-shirts glinted,
hard and hand linked; the high-gloss iron
of their armour rang. So they duly arrived
in their grim war-graith and gear at the hall,
and, weary from the sea,
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