A roman pugio of the II type

DESCRIPTION OF THE WEAPON This weapon matches the typical roman Pugio After the restoration, measurements are: of the II type (or imperial), whose main and Total length: 335 mm2 amazing feature is surely the very rich Blade length: 223 mm decoration of the handle and of the scabbard1. Handle length: 112 mm Although we don’t know where and when it has Blade width: min. 40 – max 42 mm3 found, this specimen is however well known Tang length: 74 mm since quite a long time (several decades). It Weight: 256 grs. appears on the market probabily for the first time in the Dorotheum auction in april 28th So far, no X rays and XRF have been made. 1998, lot. #48, then in the Royal Athena Galerries’ collection in New York, in july 2010 Handle: its main feature is to be richly we see it again for sale on Ebay (ID decorated on the main face with many and very #150463701783) and lastly it is currently in a thin silver inlays4. Of such a decoration we have legal private collection in Italy, under the several other known samples, among which supervision of italian archaeological Authorities stands out the very alike amazing pugio found (legal statement: July 13th 2015, #20201). in 2019 near Haltern (Ge), currently in the It has been published, in addition to the various LWL museum (fig. 1). Both the handles are auction houses’ catalogues, on the book “Pugio absolutely alike in the general shape and in the Gladius Brevis Est” (2012), both in the book inlay silver decorations, insofar as the one from cover and at pag. 111, specimen #92. Haltern is in much better condition of However, during that period the care regard the preservation. weapon hasn’t been very fine, in fact, as soon as it came in the hands of the italian collector, it showed a general condition of deterioration and neglect, although luckily not irrecoverable. It is surely datable at the I century A.D. and probably to the middle of it (Caligula-Nero times). 1 To know more, see “Pugio Gladius Brevis est”, ed. B.A.R. International Series” for the english release and “Arbor Sapientiae” for the italian, 2012, pag. 16 onward. From the tip to the upper point of the upper pin. Except tip and the part close to the cross guard. 4 However, it should be noted that the lack of xrf does not allow confirmation of the alloy. 2 3 1 Fig. 1. A) pugio currently in the LWL museum (Haltern, Germany) B) pugio subject of this article (1/1 scale). Is possible to see how are alike each other in the general shape and in the inlays There are 5 pins, 2 on the cross guard, 1 on the On both sides has been possible to locate the – central pommel and 2 on the upper pommel, to now disappeared- presence of a double whom 3 more are added on the upper side of auricalchum strip, fully in accordance with the I the latter. All are decorated with silver inlay, in cent. A.D. fashion. Although totally lost, is the shape of very thin stripes. Is important to possible to understand it was there because of highlight that on the one in the upper side-left three points of copper oxidation (fig. 2), as well has been possible to locate traces of the red as, in another point, of the original spot, very original enamel (fig. 2). well preserved (fig.3). Copper oxidation is As usual, the secondary face, on the rear, has exactly a clue of the original presence of such a not decoration at all. 2 alloy, very widespread within pugiones of I century. . Fig. 2: Fig. 3: 1) points of a pin in which were present traces of the original enamel 2) silver inlays. 1) Spots with traces of copper oxidation; 2) Silver inlays. 3 Fig. 4: spot in which is visible the original spot of the side strips. Blade: it fully match the I cent. style, not very fully match the style of the II type, hence in D long neither wide, slightly waisted. In the upside down shape, with, as mentioned, 3 pins secondary face is still possible to see a midrib, on the upper edge (fig. 1). As far as we can see above all in the forte, which on the contrary is without X rays investigation, is possible to hardly visible on the main one, although still guess that they haven’t structural function but perceptible. just decorative. Sadly, on them we have only few traces of the three silver inlay strips. Construction technology: the construction . technology is “composite” 5, with a flat tang arriving close to the upper pommel. This one 5 See “Pugio Gladius Brevis est”, ed. B.A.R. International Series” for the english release and “Arbor Sapientiae” for the italian one, 2012, chap. V pag. 51-53; 4 CONDITION BEFORE RESTORATION The weapon was conserved in 2010, but oxidation was most severe (fig. 5A). The most previously to that he seems suffered a hard relevant damage was probably that one on the oxidation stress, which caused some damages to iron support of inlays in three points, resulting the blade and the loss of a part of the inlays of quite totally inconsistent. This caused their the conservation detachment and thus the separation of the stopped further damages, getting the oxidation ageminae from the surface of the handle (fig. quite stationary although not totally. In fact, 5B). Moreover, the latter appeared totally sealed have been discovered several spots in which by the rust and dirt in every part, without any rust was growing. Above all, after soaking the chance to check the inner (fig. 6). Only after the item into solvent in order to remove old action further on described (2nd step), that protective resins and any dirty, it came out the became possible and thus afterwards the inner detachment of about 10 rust scales, luckily come out totally without any previous cleaning almost all small (2-5 mm.), but just two bigger and/or conservative actions. There was inside (8-10 mm.). On the blade has been located a also a large amount of earthy debris. On regards rust bubble, empty inside and about 8 mm the inlays, they showed a severe grade of wide, which, as soon as opened and checked, natural oxidation, with resulting opacification didn't show in the inner any protection against of the surface, so much that they were quite corrosion. Consequently, in that point the hard distinguishable (fig. 7). handle. However, such Fig. 5: A) scalpel tip while lifting a rust scale, under which the oxidation was groving; B) fragments of ageminae, with a rust scale. 5 . Fig. 6: left side of the handle, totally sealed by the rust and dirt. Fig. 7: inlays before cleaning (indicated by white arrows). Is possible to see how much they were oxidized and opaque, so much to be almost undistinguishable. Also the three pins on the top of the pommel the silver inlay. The other five, on the main appeared very oxidized, with the total loss of face, were in better condition, above all in the the red enamel and retaining only few traces of inlays, and, as mentioned, that one in the left 6 upper side still had some traces of the original the loss of iron stuff such as to modify the red enamel. The central one still shows half of original outline and, more precisely: point 1: the stuff to support the enamel. forte, left side; point 2: weak, right side; point 3: The blade, because of the severe and tip (fig. 8). widespread rust, had three main damages with Fig. 8: damages of the blade. DESCRIPTION OF THE RESTORATION ► first step: The item was at first soaked in a solvent bath to remove all protective resins coming from the previous conservative restoration, with at the same time a slight brushing with a brush with short bristles, in order to facilitate the process and improve the result. Detached rust scales has been conserved, with a special regard to those retaining silver ageminae. 7 ► Second step: Detection of every point where ► sixth step: Reconstruction of the missing the corrosion was hidden under a surface only parts of the blade. It was used a two- apparently in good condition and sturdy, thus component filler for steel, colored while still finding some of those and above all a big one soft with tempera paints for restorations. After (already mentioned, fig. 5A) and two slightly hardned, shaped with micro cutters in silicon smaller. The big one has been opened and carbide. As soon as finished, again colored for cleaned as much as possible in the inner, but the without its total detachment. The smaller were principles, it has been decided to make the main to small and negligible so they has been face quite indistinguishable from the original definitively removed. Then, has been also surface, in order to get the sight of the item in removed all points on the two sides of the its complete original shape, but leaving the new handle where the oxidation waste was thin and reconstructed parts well evident from the rear. weak. This was very important to make a way ► Seventh step: Second coat of impregnating to check and study inside the handle, and to antirust oil, not very plentiful, just to improve clean it. All (mentioned) earthy debris inside the protection before the next step. final pattern. According philological detected were removed with small tools and micro cutters and following cleaning with solvent (alcohol and acetone) ► Third step: all biggest detached fragments has been conserved and then reposed in place, with a special care to the three retaining the inlays, carefully reposed. Glueing has made with acrylic glue for metal, in order to get a strong attachment. ► fourth step: Cleaning all the inlays to remove the dingy oxidation, afterwards have been located all points hidden by rust, mostly located near the pommels, all brought back to light. Such a investigation was extended to the pins, hoping to find some new traces of red enamel, but sadly in vain. Fig. 9: Removal of the rust and following opening of some gaps in order to check and clean the inner of the handle. Is possible to compare the situation with that in fig. 6 (before this action). ► fifth step: first coat of impregnating antirust oil, plentiful and taking care of any hidden point. 8 ► eighth step: Recostruction of the auricalchum decrease of their brigthness, caused by the strips on the sides. First has been made offsite (although moderate) opacity of the oil. some amount of strips, coloring them with ► tenth step: the whole surface has been paints for restorations "Divolo" - color "light treated with microcrystalline wax "reinassance", gold". Afterward, they were putted on the to eliminate the excessive shining and to original sites, where and if possible, taking care improve the protection against the corrosion. to not cover the ancient traces of the copper ► eleventh step: Recostruction of the red oxidation and the gaps previously opened to enamel of the pins. Made in fiber-reinforced check the inner (see second step). Glueing of plaster and smoothed, after that glazed taking the new strips were made with polymer glue care to respect as far as possible the original "Polymax", which grant the right balance color. between adherence and possible future removal ► ninth step: tirth and last coat of Finally, the restoration is fully reversible via impregnating antirust oil on the whole surface suitable solvents as acetone or similar. but the inlays, to mitigate the inevitable Fig. 10: recostruction of the strips: A) before the work; B) working in progress. 9 Fig. 11: final result of the handle after the restoration (1/1 scale views with enlargement of the central pommel in the middle). 10 BIBLIOGRAPHY AIELLO V., “le armi nel mondo tardo antico”; BONNAMOUR L., “un poignard romain trouvè dans la Saone” , Gallia 27 pag 178-185; BINAGHI R., “la metallurgia ai tempi dell’ Impero Romano”, ed. Istituto Romano di Studi Romani; BISHOP M.C., “a decorated dagger scabbard from Corbridge, Northumberland”, arma 1,20; BOUBE-PICCOT, C., »Les bronzes antiques du Maroc, 4. L’équipment militaire et l’armament » Paris Éditions; D’AMATO R. E SUMNER G.,”Arms and armour of the imperial Roman soldier. From Marius to Commodus, 112 BC; EDIT B. THOMAS, “Helme, schilde, dolche”, Akademiai Kiado, Budapest; EXNER K., “Rőmische Dolchsheiden mit Taushieren und Email-verzieerung”, Germania 24; FORBERS R. J., “ Metalllurgy in antiquity: a notebook of archaelogists and technologists”, Leiden 1950; GERHART-WITTEVEEN A. M., “Survey of sword and daggers in the Provinciaal Museum G.M. Kam, Nijmegen”, Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies; OBMANN J. (2000), "Studien zu römischen Dolchscheiden des 1Jahrhunders n. Chr."; SALIOLA M. & CASPRINI F., "Pugio Gladius Brevis est”, ed. B.A.R. 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