Project title: Reconstruction of and experiments with Early Iron Age saddlery

Researcher: Tola Gram Petersen, Ganløse, Denmark

Year 2005

Abstract:

Our knowledge of how wars and battles were fought in the Iron Age is largely thanks to the great war booty sacrifices where a whole army’s equipment was thrown into a bog. New investigations of harnesses and saddlery from these bog sites show that the saddles for the mounted warriors were perhaps constructed in a particular way. A saddle affects the way a person rides and fights. Work has been going on over several years to reconstruct a saddle of Iron Age type. This year it will be completed and tried out, including in battle. The battle trials will be carried out in collaboration with Prinsens Hverving, Lejre Experimental Centre’s Iron Age army.

Reference number: HAF 12/05

Project title: Suggestions for the reconstruction and testing of an equine saddle from the Roman Iron Age (0-300 A.D.)

Year: 2002

Abstract:

The large Scandinavian war booty finds contain many different fittings which are interpreted as parts of harness for horses. This experiment involves the reconstruction of a complete set of equine equipment as it could have appeared in the Roman Iron Age with a woven saddle cloth, as well as a saddle and harness with a wooden construction, leather parts and fittings. Subsequently, the saddle will be tested in order to show its suitability for battle with spear and lance. The period when the saddle was used coincides with demonstrated changes in the military organisation in Europe.

Reference number: HAF 10/02

Year: 2001

Abstract:

There are two types of saddle from the Roman Iron Age – a proper pad saddle and a saddle which includes a possible bar construction. The first part of the experiment was based on the well-preserved Scythian padded saddles from around 400 BC. This type of saddle is now in the process of being equipped with the types of fitting known from the large war booty finds from bogs. As an important part of the reconstruction, textiles have also been produced in the form of felt. The production of felt itself is a very little known area within Scandinavian prehistory, but felt is a very obvious material to be associated with the use of saddles due to its properties. An over- and an under-felt have been produced for the saddle using material which is as original as possible in order to examine how it behaves during use. The experiments will continue in 2002.

Reference number: HAF 08/01