Roman helmets from a mid-Imperial settlement context in Poitiers / Lemonum (dép. Vienne / F)

Abstract

Probably during the 260ies or by the early 270ies at the latest (t. p. q.  257/258) buildings with workshops and shops along an at least 200 m long stretch of the town’s main, north-south running street near the Forum of Poitiers / Lemonum were destroyed by fire. The causes of the catastrophe remain hitherto unknown (accident, civil arson or destruction in war?). At the end of the 3rd century the wall of the Late Roman castrum was erected above the ruins, which have not been cleared away. To the houses destroyed by the fire also belonged the representative building no. 6, which perhaps served as the meeting-place (schola) of an association of craftsmen. In three shops on the street annexed to the house a smithy with bone-working and a shop selling pottery and glass were being run among others during the final phase of use. From the smithy and two backrooms belonging to the shops, beside horse-trappings and various civilian tools produced here, come several military finds, including parts of weapons and three helmet bowls. A precise analysis of the iron bowls indicates that they belonged to mid-Imperial gladiatorial  helmets, whose shape suggests a use by secutores. Several details set the helmets apart from some early Imperial examples and justify classifying them as an individual »type Poitiers«. The condition of the helmets allows one to assume that they were already regarded to be old metal for recycling. Among the other military finds, some of which are typologically old objects, one finds indications for a continuous process of working and reworking. For these, too, one can imagine a use by gladiators or, at least, by guards or stewards 14 Zusammenfassung / Abstract / Résumé around them. In addition, one might suggest an alternative use by local police units or even civilians. The presence of militias or regular soldiers cannot, of course, by completely ruled out, but this must not be automatically postulated on the basis of the present objects.