Merovingian harness mount: shell

This is a classic 3rd-century harness mount shape, and one of the most frequently reused, in the 4th and 5th centuries, as a belt mount.

It is found everywhere, in various sizes, in France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain…

 

These mounts are usually fixed with rivets, but this model is made to be sewn on (easier to fix than rivets, lighter, and it avoids metal parts rubbing directly against the horse’s skin).

But these pieces can of course be made with rivets.

 

Known examples of these pieces:

1: Ahorn, Schillingstadt (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 80)2: Aix-en-Provence, La Seds (13) (pers. comm. O. Thuaudet, Aix-en-Provence Archaeological Service)3: Albalate de Zorita [Guadalajara] (ES) (Aurrecoechea Fernández 1996a, no. 119)4: Albalate de las Nogeras [Cuenca] (ES), cemetery, unstratified (Aurrecoechea Fernández 1996a, no. 110)5-7: Alise-Sainte-Reine, Alésia (21); Musée Alésia, inv. 517; Musée Municipal, inv. II 89 and II 90 (3 examples)8-14: Aquileia [UD] (IT); Aquileia, Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Gschwind 1998, Abb.3, no. 1-7) (7 examples)15: Assay, La Croix de Bois (37) (Cordier, Boucher 2006, p.82, fig.11, no. 10)16-17: Augst (CH) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 53) (2 examples)18-39: Autun (71), Musée Rolin, old collections (Labaune 2000, p. 134, no. 38) (22 examples)40-47: Avenches, Aventicum (CH) (Voirol 2000, no. 145-153) (8 examples)48-52: Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, Carnuntum (AT) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 68) (5 examples)53: Bad Lostorf, Gross Chastel (CH) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 52)54: Bayard-sur-Marne, Châtelet de Gourzon (52) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 10)55: Bellach, Franziskanerhof (CH) (Schatzmann 2010, p.147 fig. 5, no. 9)56: Bergisch Gladbach (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 74)57: Berlin, Kaulsdorf (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 70)58: Biesheim, Oedenburg (68), civilian settlement, Biesheim Musée Gallo-Romain, inv.1991.1.52659-61: Binningen, Kuhkeller (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 42) (3 examples)62: Blandain [Hainaut] (BE), bronzesmith’s workshop: unfinished example (Dufrasnes 2007, Fig.1, no. 1)63-72: Bliesbruck (57), Building 5, complete harness, 250/275 (Petit 2010, fig.11) (10 examples)73-77: Bliesbruck (57), plot 1 of the eastern quarter (Wilmouth 2014, 450-451) (5 examples)78: Bruch [Kr. Berkastel-Wittlich] (DE) (Trierer Zeitschrift 75/76, 2012/13, 333, Abb. Abb. 29, e)79: Bruckneudorf (AT) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 69)80-84: Bubendorf (CH) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 54) (5 examples)85: Burghöfe [Mertingen] (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 60)86-88: Cabriana [Burgos] (ES), late cemetery (Aurrecoechea Fernández 1996a, no. 115-117) (3 examples)89-188: Celles-lez-Waremme, Saivres grave (BE), over 100 examples (De Loë 1903) (100 examples)189-190: Chalon-sur-Saône*, museum (71) (Boucher 1983, 141, no. 135-136; Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 83) (2 examples)191: Cham-Hagendorn [Zug] (CH) (Deschler-Erb 2014, Abb. 325, B74)192-194: Claviers, Les Avins (BE) (Vanden Berghe 1996, 74; 76, fig. 9, no. 4, 6; 77, fig. 10, no. 5) (3 examples)195: Colchester [Essex] (GB) (Crummy 1992, 191, fig. 5.58, no. 1697; Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 3)196: Combas, Les Gravenasses (30) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 26)197: Combas, les Gravenasses (30), grave 1 (Parodi, Raynaud, Roger 1987, fig. 21 no. 7)198: Coriscada, Vale do Mouro (PT) (Raut 2011, no. 37)199-201: Corseul (22) (Le Cloirec 2001, fig. 21, no. 135, 137, 138) (3 examples)202-203: Dambach [Ldkr. Ansbach] (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 58) (2 examples)204: Dietikon (CH) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 56)205: Dover [Kent] (GB) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 4)206: Dúbravka (SK) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 81)207-210: Eining [Ldkr. Kelheim] (DE) (Gschwind 1998, no. 18-21) (4 examples)211-215: Elsdorf, Hambach (DE), ens. 133 (Gaitzsch 2012, 162) (5 examples)216: Empel, De Werf (NL), sanctuary (Nicolay 2007)217: Entrains-sur-Nohain (58) (Devauges 1988, 181, no. 261; Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 18)218: Spain* (ES), unprovenanced (Aurrecoechea Fernández 1996a, no. 118)219: Estremera [Madrid] (ES) (Aurrecoechea Fernández 1996a, no. 111)220: Famars (59) (Clotuche 2015, p. 258, fig. 9)221: Forua [Viscaya] (ES), cave, 4th-5th c. (Aurrecoechea Fernández 1996a, no. 113)222: Froitzheim (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 37)223: Fuentespreadas (ES), grave 1 (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 2)224-225: Gaukönigshofen [Ldkr. Würzburg] (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 78) (2 examples)226: Genainville, Les Vaux de la Celle (95) (Mitard 1993, 373-375, no. 68; Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 13)227: Gundremmingen, Bürgle (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 59)228: Halloy (62) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 30)229: Hambuch, Burgberg (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 44)230: Herleen (NL) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 34)231: Hetzerath [Kr. Bernkastel-Wittlich] (DE) (Trierer Zeitschrift 75/76, 2012/13, 342, Abb. Abb. 38, 2)232-237: Hontheim, Entersburg [Kr. Bernkastel-Wittlich] (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 41) (6 examples)238: Hrušica (SI) (Ciglenečki 2015, p. 393, fig. 3 no. 10)239: Hérault* (34), Hérault valley (Feugère 2002c, no. 218)240: Konz (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 9)241: Krefeld-Gellep (DE), Grab 2909 (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 38)242: Kruishoutem (BE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 5)243: Lansargues, La Laure (34), surface find, h. 21mm (pers. comm. Cl. Raynaud)244-251: Lauriacum (AT) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 66) (8 examples)252: Le Langon, Les Ouches (85), survey by G. Gendron, dim. 40 x 44mm (Cat. Nantes 1980, no. 99)253: Le Mas-d’Agenais (47), survey 1981; Aiguillon archaeological store (CG47 website)254-255: Le Vieil-Evreux (27) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 12; Fauduet 1992, no. 761-762) (2 examples)256: Lent (NL) (Nicolay 2007)257: Liberchies (BE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 31)258-266: Long-Pont (BE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 32) (9 examples)267: Lürken, Alten Burg (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 36)268: Mailly-le-Camp (10) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 16)269: Mainz (DE), manuscript inventory of the Röm.-Germ. Zentralmuseum, inv. 4983 (information from E. Rabeisen)270: Marktsteft, Michelfeld (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 77)271-274: Mayen, Katzenberg (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 45) (4 examples)275-276: Meaux (77) (Cat. Meaux 1984, pl. IX, no. 542-543; Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 15) (2 examples)277: Mercey-le-Grand, La Cassière (25) (Mosca 2003, p.35)278-282: Meyzieu, La Dent (69) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 21) (5 examples)283: Montagnac*, Maison du Patrimoine (34), inv.284: Montagnac*, Maison du Patrimoine (34), inv.285: Mâlain, La Boussière (21) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 51)286: Mâlain, La Boussière (21), L. 28mm (Roussel 1988, p.94, pl.29, no. 252)287: Mötsch (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 8)288: München, Denning (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 64)289: Nauen (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 71)290: Neef, Petersberg (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 40)291: Neuerburger Kopf (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 39)292: Neupotz [Rh.-Pfalz] (DE) (Künzl 1993, IV, pl. 545, G25; Gschwind 1998, Abb.6, no. 5)293-296: Niederbieber (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 46) (4 examples)297-299: Nuits-Saint-Georges, Les Bolards (21) (Sautot 1977, pl.XXIX, no. 9-11) (3 examples)300: Nébian, Pichaurès (34) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 25; Feugère 2002c, no. 109)301: Obermendig, Im Winkel (DE) (Wenzel, Zerl 2014, abb. 3 no. 7)302-304: Ocaña [Toledo] (ES) (Aurrecoechea 1994, 169, fig. 5; 175, no. 77-78) (3 examples)305-312: Ochsenfurt, Hopferstadt (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 79) (8 examples)313: Ophemert (NL) (Nicolay 2007)314: Opijnen (NL) (Nicolay 2007)315: Osselle, Pont de Reculot (25), L. 26mm (Mosca 2006, p.41)316: Osselle, Pont de Reculot Ouest (25) (Mosca 2006, p.49)317: Parcey (39), surface find (Barbet, Joan, Ancel 2014, 157, no. 23)318-319: Paris*, Musée Carnavalet (75) (Bonnet, Forni, Velay 1989, no. 343-344; Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 14) (2 examples)320-321: Pedrosa de la Vega, La Olmeda [Palencia] (ES) (Aurrecoechea Fernández 1996a, no. 108-109) (2 examples)322-325: Poivres (10) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 17) (4 examples)326: Pommeroeul, canal (BE), h. 30mm (Dufrasnes 2008, 14, fig.15)327: Port-sur-Saône, Le Magny (70) (Faure-Brac 2002, fig. 468 no. 27)328-330: Pîtres (27), burial 250, 4th c., belt reusing several types of harness mounts (Mare, Adrian, Pilon 2014, p. 119, fig. 10, no. 259-10, 259-12, 259-15) (3 examples)331: Regensburg (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 62)332-335: Revelles, Le Trélet (80), spoil; St.257; St. 275; St. 683 (Lemaire 2004, fig.22, no. 1067, 253, 273, 704) (4 examples)336: Rezé (44), well, excavations by Y. Loukianoff, 1973-1975; dim. 47 x 50mm (Cat. Nantes 1980, no. 98)337: Rheindorf (DE), Grab 25 (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 73)338: Rheinzabern (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 49)339: Rilly-sur-Vienne, La Chapelle (37) (Cordier, Boucher 2006, p.82, fig.11, no. 9)340: Rodelle, Les Clapiès (12) (Gruat, Vidal 1995, no. 221)341: Saint-Affrique, Rocher de Caylus (12) (Balsan 1962, 130-131, no. 8; Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 23)342: Sainte-Anastasie, Gr. de l’Hirondelle de Firolles (30) (Cah. Hist. Arch. 1, II, p.94, pl.II, no. 1)343: Santes, Ferme Burette (59) (Revillion 1988, fig.11, no. 3)344: Serre-les-Sapins (25) (Joan 2003, 418, fig. 497)345: Serre-les-Sapins (25) (Joan 2003, p. 418, fig. 497)346: Silchester [Hants.] (GB) (Boon 1969, 43, fig. 5, no. 20)347: Soest, Ardey (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 72)348: Stein-am-Rhein, Tasgaetium (CH) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 57)349: Tavaux, Les Charmes d’Amont (39), well of cemetery I (Barbet, Joan, Ancel 2014, fig. 29)350-351: Tavaux, Les Sarrazins (39), surface find (Barbet, Joan, Ancel 2014, 157, no. 24 and 25) (2 examples)352: Thalmassing (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 63) (4 examples)353: Thonon-les-Bains (74), Musée du Chablais, inv. 2006.0.1700 (Beaujouan, Berman 2015, 87)354: Titelberg (LU) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 6)355: Tossenberg (LU) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 7)356-360: Trier*, Rheinisches Landesmuseum (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 82) (5 examples)361: Tüddern (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 35)362: Unterpfleichfeld, Burggrumbach (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 75)363-364: Vienne (38), in the museum (Boucher 1971, no. 871-872; Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 24) (2 examples)365-374: Vireux-Molhain (08) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 27) (10 examples)375: Virunum (AT) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 67)376: Vodelée (BE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 28)377-378: Volubilis (MA); Rabat, Archaeological Museum (Boube-Piccot 1980, pl. 55 no. 230-231; Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 1) (2 examples)379: Wancennes (BE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 29)380: Wehl (NL) (Nicolay 2007)381-382: Westheim (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, 76) (2 examples)383: Wittnauer Horn (CH) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 55)384: Wörth-am-Rhein (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 48)385-387: Xanten (DE) (Lenz 2006, pl. 83, no. 857-859) (3 examples)388-391: Zell, Alteburg [Hunsrück] (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Abb.4, no. 1-4) (4 examples)392: Zugmantel (DE) (Gschwind 1998, Liste 2, no. 47)