Roman Knife Handles in the North Western Provinces

本项目提出了一个研究罗马折叠刀柄（Klappmessergriffe）作为文化意义的对象。大多数是铜合金，但在骨头、象牙和鹿角中也发现了一些有趣的例子（McSloy，2006，6）。尽管可能是功能性物品，但手柄通常雕刻或铸造复杂的比喻设计，可以是挖掘的星星发现（Ridegway et al封面）;它们是便携式艺术品（描绘动物，神和色情场景）以及功能性工具。最后一个合成由Eugen von Mercklin（1940）发表，但这既难以获得，也非常过时。有一个巨大的新的语料库，从挖掘和金属检测（227铜合金罗马刀柄目前正在等待验证的便携式文物计划），但大多数出版物集中在单一的例子讨论与模糊的参考他人。人们对它们的分布（空间上和时间上）、类型和图像的多样性及其与身份表达的关系的理解有限。它们也很容易被误解，除非刀片或折叠机制已被保存在手柄中，一个新的参考工作将是有用的专业考古学家。这个项目的主要目的是产生一个重要的，但以前被忽视的人工制品类别的详细语料库。收集这些信息后，将探讨它们的社会、文化和象征意义。主要研究问题是：折叠刀柄的分布情况如何，它们是在什么类型的遗址上发现的？在有好的上下文信息的地方，它将探索这对社会和文化背景的启示。图像学的本质和意义是什么？该项目将探讨如何折叠刀柄与其他形式的具象艺术，以及可以识别哪些模型。折叠刀柄是如何表达个人或文化身份的，特别是在它们被作为坟墓物品存放的地方？它还将质疑这些图案的潜在仪式和象征性质。该项目的第一项任务将是准确记录在英国、比利时高卢和德国各省从出版物、博物馆收藏、便携式文物计划和artefacts.mom. fr中发现的例子。这些信息将被汇编成一个数据库，并用于确定这些物品在时间和空间上的分布。它还将分析发现刀柄的地点的性质，研究特定的背景和关联，以建立折叠刀被使用的社会背景。通过一些区域案例研究，可以在各省和社区之间进行比较，项目的第二部分将是分析图像。猎犬和野兔的主题是众所周知的，但还有许多其他的设计，包括马，神，角斗士和豹子，值得更多的调查。将创建一个类型学，并探讨设计的分布和图像。然后，该项目将探索翻译成刀柄的图像的潜在来源，以及它们如何适应新媒体。该项目还将探索这些设计的象征意义，特别是在仪式背景和葬礼中发现的例子（例如里奇韦等人，2013）。其结果将是一个洞察到使用的图像在各省，并在折叠刀柄适合在罗马艺术和社会。（1940），'Romische Klappmessergriffe' in Serta Hofilleriana，Viestnik Hrvatskoga arheoloskoga drustva NS 18-21，339-52Ridgeway，V，Leary，K，Sudds，B（2013），Roman Burials in Southwark，Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited monopoly 17

This project proposes a study of Roman folding knife handles (Klappmessergriffe) as culturally significant objects. The majority are copper alloy, but some interesting examples are found in bone, ivory and antler (McSloy, 2006, 6). Despite being presumably functional objects, the handles are often intricately carved or cast with complex figurative designs and can be the star find of an excavation (Ridegway et al front cover); they are portable art objects (depicting animals, gods, and erotic scenes) as much as functional tools. The last synthesis was published by Eugen von Mercklin (1940) but this is both difficult to access and very out-dated. There is a huge new corpus from both excavation and metal detecting (227 copper alloy Roman knife handles currently awaiting validation from the Portable Antiquities Scheme) but most publications focus on single examples discussed with vague references to others. There is a limited understanding of their distribution (spatially and over time), the variety of types and iconography, and their relationship to expressions of identity. They are also easy to misinterpret unless the blade or folding mechanism has been preserved in the handle, and a new reference work will be useful to professional archaeologists.The main aim of this project is to produce a detailed corpus of an important but previously neglected artefact category. Having gathered this information, it will then explore their social, cultural and symbolic significance.The main research questions will be: what is the distribution of folding knife handles and what type of sites is are they found on? Where there is good contextual information for the find it will then explore what this suggests about the social and cultural context for use. What is the nature and significance of the iconography? The project will explore how folding knife handles relate to other forms of figurative art and what models can be identified. How did folding knife handles express personal or cultural identity, especially where they have been deposited as grave goods? It will also question the potentially ritual and symbolic nature of the motifs. The first task of the project will be to accurately record examples found in the provinces of Britain, Belgic Gaul, and the Germanies from publications, museum collections, the Portable Antiquities Scheme, and artefacts.mom.fr. This information will be compiled into a database and used to establish the distribution of these objects across time and space. It will also analyse the nature of the sites where knife handles are found, examining the specific context and associations to establish the social context in which folding knives were being used. Some regional case studies will allow comparison between provinces and communities.The second strand of the project will be to analyse the iconography. The motif of the hound and hare is well known, but there are many other designs including horses, gods, gladiators, and leopards, which warrant more investigation. A typology will be created, and the distribution and iconography of designs explored. The project will then explore the potential sources of the images translated into knife handles and how they have been adapted to fit the new media. The project will also explore the symbolic significance of the designs, particularly for examples found in ritual contexts and burials (e.g. Ridgeway et al, 2013). The result will be an insight into the use of imagery in the provinces, and where folding knife handles fit in Roman art and society.ReferencesMcSloy, E (2003), 'A zoomorphic clasp knife handle from Gloucester', Lucerna 26, 6-7Von Mercklin E. (1940), 'Romische Klappmessergriffe' in Serta Hofilleriana, Viestnik Hrvatskoga arheoloskoga drustva NS 18-21, 339-52Ridgeway, V, Leary, K, Sudds, B (2013), Roman Burials in Southwark, Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited monograph 17