Harness Fittings from the 7Th–8Th Centuries Discovered in Transylvania
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HARNESS FITTINGS FROM THE 7TH–8TH CENTURIES DISCOVERED IN TRANSYLVANIA. STIRRUPS AND HORSE BITS Călin Cosma1 Abstract: On the territory of Transylvania I have recorded 15settlements where stirrups have been discovered (Tab. 1–2). I have recorded 13 settlements where bits were discovered. In four of them the bits were found in Gepidic-Avar cemeteries (Tab. 3–4). A series of items used for the distribution of harness straps and buckles for the harness leathers were discovered in horse graves or in graves with horses from 7th–8th century Transylvania that belonged to the Avars. Fragments of iron sets and plates of various sizesfrom the metal structure of horse saddles had been deposited in the grave from Unirea 2/Veresmort and in the graves with horses from Șpălnaca. Horse saddles certainly existed in many more inhumation graves from Transylvania but have not been preserved. It should be noted that both stirrups and bits were found in most graves that contained different types of weapons or other military equipment accessories. Keywords: Transylvania, Avars, Stirrups, Horse bits Early Midle age. Introductory clarifications The harness items dated in the th7 –8th centuries discovered in Transylvania, have not benefited so far from a repertoire and an exhaustive analysis of them in the specialized literature of Transylvania. Such research, which I developed during this scientific endeavor, is absolutely necessary in the historiography of Transylvania, which studies the early Middle Ages. The harness parts that will be analyzed are represented by: Stirrups, Bits, Harness strap distributors and buckles and Horse saddle. We took into account only those itms that were dis‑ covered in sites and archaeological complexes in Transylvania attributed to the Avar and Slavic tribes.From the Gepido‑Avar cemeteries, we cataloged only the Avar graves or the horse tombs with archaeological material specific to the Avar ethnic group. 1. Stirrups The number and type of archaeological sites were stirrups have been discovered in Transylvania On the territory of Transylvania I have recorded 15settlements where stirrups have been discovered (Tab. 1–2). In four of them, the stirrups were found in Gepidic‑Avar cemeteries, in the graves of horses that belonged to Avars (Bratei 3 and Noșlac), but also in graves where horses were also deposited besides the human body (Unirea 2/Veresmort and Șpălnaca, Tab. 1). In the other 11settlements, the stirrups were discovered in Avar cemeteries and graves from Transylvania (Tab. 2). The stirrups feature in human graves without horses or with just 1 Institutul de Arheologie și Istoria Artei Cluj‑Napoca, Str. M. Kogălnceanu 12‑14; Email: cosma2165@yahoo. com Ephemeris Napocensis, XXX, 2020, p. 181–216, https://doi.org/10.33993/ephnap.2020.30.181 182 Călin Cosma horse bones. This phenomenon must be regarded as a reflection of the current stage of research. Many graves were destroyed, so that some might have contained at least bones from the skel‑ etons of horses if not entire such skeletons (Tab. 2). Stirrups were also discovered inhuman graves with horses or horse bones (Tab. 2). A total of 47 stirrups were found in total in both types of cemeteries. Avar graves of horses and with horses from Gepidic-Avar cemeteries Localități Graves Horse grave Human grave with horse Number of stirrups Grave no. Grave no. Bratei 3 27 1 66 2 78 1 274 2 278 2 Unirea 2 1 2 Noșlac 12 2 Șpălnaca 19 2 37 2 Total 4 6 16 Tab. 1. List of Gepidic‑Avar cemeteries with Avar graves in which stirrups were discovered; catalogue of discoveries – 1. Municipalities Avar cemeteries and graves Human grave with horse Human grave Destroyed grave Number of Grave no. Grave no. stirrups Aiud 1 1 3 2 2 Aiudul de Sus 1 1 1 Bratei 2 No. ? 2 2 Câmpia Turzii 1 2 4 No. ? 2 Cicău 3 2 2 Gâmbaș 1 2 4 10 2 Geoagiu de Sus No. ? 2 2 Heria No. ? 2 2 Lopadea Nouă No. ? 2 2 Măgina 1 2 2 Stremț No. ? 2 2 Târnăveni No. ? 2 2 Teiuș 3 1 3 53 2 13 4 6 7 31 31 Tab. 2. List of Avar cemeteries with graves that contained stirrups: catalogue of discoveries – 1. Harness fittings from the 7th–8th centuries discovered in Transylvania. Stirrups and horse bits 183 Typology The typology of 7th–8th‑century stirrups from Transylvania that I have performed takes into consideration two main elements. It envisages the shape of the stirrups in relation to the manner in which the loop for the saddle leathers were made. According to these elementsone can distinguish three main groups that I have labeled A, B, and C. Based on other details such as the arching of the body or the manner in which the tread was made, one notes several body shape variants among the three main groups. Group A Type A.1a Iron stirrup, globular in shape Made of a single iron bar. The eye for the saddle leathers was modeled through bending the bar in the upper part of the bow. The lower part and the tread are widened and display a relief membrane. The tread is arched. Such stirrups were discovered in Aiud, Bratei 3, Gâmbaş, Stremț, Târnăveni, Teiuş, Unirea 2/Veresmort (Map 1, catalogue of discoveries: 1.A.1a. 1–7,Pl. 1–2/1–6). 1 - Aiud 2 - Bratei 3 3 - Gâmbaş 4 - Stremț 5 - Târnăveni 6 - Teiuş 7 - Unirea 2/Veresmort 1,3-4, 6-7 5 3 0 100 200 km Map 1 – The geographic distribution of type A.1a stirrups dated to the 7th and 8th centuries on the territory of Transylvania Type A.1b Iron stirrup with bell-shaped body and the arms arched in the upper part The body and the eye were made of the same metal bar. The tread was straight. The items were found in Gâmbaş (Map 2, catalogue of discoveries: 1.A,1b, Pl. 2/7–8). The size of the pieces that form group A of iron stirrups from Transylvania is between 11 and 15 cm high and 10 and 14 cm width. Group B Type B.1 Iron stirrup, globular in shape. 184 Călin Cosma 1 - Gâmbaș 1 1 0 100 200 km Map 2 – The geographic distribution of type A.1b stirrups dated to the 7th and 8th centuries on the territory of Transylvania The eye of the stirrup is made of a separate metal bar than the bow. It is rectangular in shape. The tread is arched. The stirrup was found in Bratei 3. It has the following dimensions: (Map 3, catalogue of discoveries: 1.B.1, Pl. 3/1,). 1 - Bratei 3 1 1 0 100 200 km Map 3 – The geographic distribution of type B.1 stirrups dated to the 7th and 8th centuries on the territory of Transylvania Harness fittings from the 7th–8th centuries discovered in Transylvania. Stirrups and horse bits 185 Type B.2 Iron stirrup, rectangular in shape, with rounded corners. The leathers eye is separated from the stirrup bow. The eye is in the shape of a horizontal rectangle. The tread is wide and straight, displaying a membrane in relief on the outside. The stirrup was found in Aiud (Map 4, catalogue of discoveries: 1.B.2, Pl. 3/2). 1- Aiud 1 1 0 100 200 km Map 4 – The geographic distribution of type B.2 stirrups dated to the 7th and 8th centuries on the territory of Transylvania Type 1.B.3 Bell-shaped iron stirrup. The quadrilateral eye is made of a separate piece of metal than the bow. The tread is almost straight. The item was discovered in Bratei 3 (Map 5, catalogue of discoveries: 1.B.3, Pl. 3/3). 1- Bratei 3 1 1 0 100 200 km Map 5 – The geographic distribution of type B.3 stirrups dated to the 7th and 8th centuries on the territory of Transylvania 186 Călin Cosma Type 1.B.4 Iron stirrup with arched arms. The tread is in‑turned, pulled upwards, and arched. On the outside it displays a ridge. The eye was made of a separate piece of metal than the bow. Such items were found in Cicău and Geoagiu de Sus (Map 6, catalogue of discoveries: 1.B. 4.1–2, Pl. 3/4–7). 1 - Cicău 2 - Geoagiu de Sus 1-2 0 100 200 km Map 6 – The geographic distribution of type B.4 stirrups dated to the 7th and 8th centuries on the territory of Transylvania Type B.5 Rectangular iron stirrup with rounded upper corners. The eye is quadrilateral and separated from the bow. The tread is bent inwards and up‑ pulled. On the lower part it displays a medial ridge. Such stirrups were discovered in Aiudul de Sus, CâmpiaTurzii, Bratei 2, Heria, Lopadea Nouă, Măgina, Noșlac, Şpălnaca,Teiuş (Map 7, catalogue of discoveries: 1. B. 5. 1–9, Pl. 4–5/1–8). The size of the pieces that form group B of iron stirrups from Transylvania is between 15 and 20 cm high and 10,5 and 12,5 cm width. 1 - Aiudul de Sus, 2 - Câmpia Turzii, 3- Bratei 2, 4 - Heria, 5 - Lopadea Nouă, 6 - Măgina, 7 - Noșlac, 8 - Șpălnaca, 9 - Teiuș 1-2, 4-9 3 0 100 200 km Map 7 – The geographic distribution of type B.5 stirrups dated to the 7th and 8th centuries on the territory of Transylvania Harness fittings from the 7th–8th centuries discovered in Transylvania. Stirrups and horse bits 187 Type C Type C.1 Bell‑shaped iron stirrup, with a rounded upper part. The eye is quadrilateral and made of a separate iron bar than the bow.