La Tène Derivative Fibulae
These bow fibulae are derived from La Tène fibulae, but post-date the La Tène era and were mostly used by Romans and Romanized Celts.
Typology: fibula, bow fibula, Celtic fibula
Typology: Bojovic I var. 3; Genceva 1; Busuladzic 1
Description: Spring with four loops and an internal chord. Wide flat ribbon-like bow with high even arch, decorated with groves or beading along its length. Narrow foot with squarish catch-plate. There is rare variation where the bow is narrower and has a near triangular cross-section.
Dates: There is still much debate on the dating of this type. They appear in the second half of the 1st century BC, circa 35 BC. Their use appears to drop off significantly by AD 10/20. However, like many fibula types they remained in use long after they ceased to be popular and are known from contexts as late as AD 110. Flourished 35 BC - AD 10/20.
Distribution: Their exact origin is unclear but was somewhere in the NE Italy - NW Balkans area. They are especially common in Herzegovina (western Bosnia). The type might originate with the Iapodes (an Illyro-Celtic peoples) and/or Taurisci (a Celtic peoples). The type site - the cemetery of Jezerine - is in NW Bosnia. However, they are found throughout the Empire.
Image: Jezerine fibula showing long rectangular bow narrowing to thin foot, and four-loop bilateral spring. 64x21mm, 7,75g. (Quadrans collection.)
Typology: Hull 9; Bojovic I var. 4 (smooth bow) + 5 (bow with lines)
Dates: There is debate over the exact dating of this type. The most common is late 1st century BC to c. AD 25. However, some sources date the start of the type to the first half of the 1st century BC.
Distribution: Throughout the European parts of the Empire. Used by pre-Roman Celts and later by the Romans, including the military.
Notes: The bow is flat and narrows from head to foot. Many examples have parallel lines, or striations, along the length of the bow. As the bow tapers these lines tend to converge. Most of these fibulae are quite small. Given their state of preservation they appear to have been made out of a high quality copper alloy.
Typology: Bojovic I var. 1
Dates: c. 50 BC - AD 20
Notes: Similar to a Nauheim fibula but with a complex flanged knob design on the bow that some have described as a bird lip. Bojovic calls it the "classic Nauheim fibula", though given the fancy design on the bow and its rarity it is more likely a related sub-type.
Straight Wire (Drahtfibeln) / Soldier 's Fibulae Group
Description: A simple form of fibula. Some can be quite large. Spring with four loops and an internal chord. Simple narrow bow, much like a piece of wire, with a long even arch. There are several sub-types which are divided based on the size and cross-section of the bow (small with round cross-section or large with rhomboid cross-section). Squarish catch-plate, often with a small knob at the upper end.
Small Round Wire Type
Typology: Böhme 14a; Hofheim IVb; Almgren 15; Genceva 4a (foot-knob) and 4b (no foot-knob)
Description: Bow is made of round cross-section wire, usually fairly thin. Fibula is average size. They are found with or without a small knob at foot.
Dates: Claudian - Neronian, c. AD 40 - 70, but remained in use till the early 2nd century (circa AD 130/140).
Distribution: Common along the Rhine and upper-mid Danubian Limes. Possibly originated on the Rhine Limes. Associated with the Roman military.
Typology: Almgren 16; Böhme 15; Bojovic XV var.1; Hofheim IVb; Van Buchem 22; Ettlinger 4; Riha 1.6; Genceva 3
Description: These fibulae are larger than the earlier simple type. They look similar though the bow is thicker, usually has a diamond/rhomboid cross-section, and is cast instead of being made from bent wire. The box is sometimes decorated with incised lines or chevrons.
Dates: The exact date range is uncertain. Though they flourished from late 1st to early 2nd century AD (c. AD 80 - 120), they remained in use possibly as late as the early 3rd century (circa AD 220).
Distribution: Common along the Rhine and upper-mid Danubian Limes. Likely originated in Germany and northern Gaul, spread up the Rhine and then down the Danube. Associated with the Roman military.
Image: This fibula has a thick bow with a diamond cross-section and incised hatching decoration. The long trapezoidal catch is typical of the thick wire fibula. (SC Collection)
with Flat Cross Section
Typology: Jobst 9c; Böhme 14b; Bojovic XV var. 3;
Description: A variation of the Thick Wire Fibula a flat, though fairly thick, ribbon-like bow. They are often made of iron.
Dates: AD 75 - 125 (or later) ??
Distribution: Middle to lower Danube.
with Diamond Bow
Typology:
Description: A variation of the Thick Wire Fibula with a thick flat bow which widens in the middle to give it an almost diamond-like form. They are often made of iron.
Dates: AD 75 - 125 (or later) ??
Distribution: Middle to lower Danube.
Image: This iron diamond bow fibula of the Thick Wire sub-type. (SC Collection)
Image: The diamond form of the bow is clear in this image of the top. (SC Collection)
La Tene Derivative with Cross on Bow
Typology: Bojovic I var. 2; Genceva 5a
Dates: Exact dating is uncertain. Bojovic only specified 1st century AD, Genceva slightly later - c. AD 80 - 120. Second half of 1st century AD is most likely.
Distribution: Origin possibly in northern Serbia. Also found in limited numbers Noricum, Pannonia and Dacia.
Notes: This type is not shown in most literature. It is derived from late La Tene types and is related to the Nauheim and the Thick Wire (drahtfibel) types. These small fibula have a wide flat bow, but with a pair of projections that from above give the bow the form of a cross.
Image: Side view of a Cross on Bow thick wire fibula.
Image: The cross form of the bow can be seen in this image of the top. (SC Collection)
Unguiform / Claw Shaped / Cup Bow Fibulae
Typology: Genceva 6
Dates: c. 50 BC - AD 50. According to other sources AD 1 - 150.
Distribution: Pontic origin
Notes: Similar looking fibulae were made in the 3rd c BC.
Kregenfibeln
Typology: Genceva 1a
Dates: c. 25 BC - AD 20
Distribution: southern Gaul, northern Italy, and Illyria.
Schusselfibel
Dates: 25 BC - AD 75, alternately 100 - 1 BC.
Distribution: Geto-Dacian origin. Found in the northern Balkans.
Notes: Translates to "Dish" fibula, though sometimes known as "Spoon" fibula.
Image: A standard Schussel fibula. The head looks like a dish or spoon. The line decoration is typical of the type. (SC Collection)
Image: This top view of the same fibula shows the interesting form of the head. (SC Collection)
Image: Three different views of a Silver Schussel fibula, with dot and line decoration. The head looks like a dish or spoon, the pin is missing. 37x15mm, 2,69g. (Quadrans collection.)
Image: A simpler version of the Schussel type. The head is smaller and more circular than the regular type above. (SC Collection)
Image: This side view of the same fibula shows the foot which is perforated in the same manner as early Norico-Pannonian types (Flugel and Double-knot). (SC Collection)
Image: A silver Schussel fibula with fine line and dot decoration. This example has slight damage in the center of the bow. (SC Collection)
References
Almgren, O. Studien über nordeuropäische Fibelformen. (Liepzig, 1923). PDF
Bohme, A. "Die Fibeln der Kastelle Saalburg und Zugmantel" in Saalburg Jahrbuch, XXIX. (1973).
Bojovic, D. Rimske Fibule Singidunuma. Muzej Grada Bograda Serija - Zbirke i Legati Katalog XII. (Beograd, 1983).
Busuladzic, A. "The Fibulae Collection from Mogorjelo" in Opusc Archaeol 32, 2008. PDF
Ettlinger, E. Die römischen Fibeln in der Schweiz. (Bern, 1973).
Genceva, E. Les Fibules Romaines de Bulgarie de la fin du 1er s. av. J.-C. à la fin du VIe s. ap. J.-C. (Veliko Trnovo, 2004). PDF
Hull, M. "The Brooches at Bagendon" in E. Clifford, Bagendon, a Belgic Oppidum (1961). pp. 167 ff.
Jobst, W. Die römischen Fibeln aus Lauriacum. (Wimmer, Linz, 1975).
Riha, E. Die römischen Fibeln aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. (1979). PDF
Ritterling, E. Das Frührömische Lager bei Hofheim im Taunus. (Wiesbaden, 1913).
Van Buchem
Home
