Ditching Masks in Ditches: The Roman Face Masks and Helmets Found in Wet Depositions in Germania Inferior and its Surroundings

The large amount of Roman face masks and helmets that were found in wet contexts in the Roman province of Germania Inferior suggests intentional deposition. Though accidental loss during a fight or crossing of a river could occur, intentional deposition with ritual purposes seems more likely. This is attested by a peak in votive offerings in rural settlements in the 1st century AD across the Lower Rhine that coincides with a peak of Roman military headgear in wet contexts in the same area. The custom of depositing metalwork as gifts to deities seems to have started in the Bronze Age and was carried over to the Iron Age. The native peoples that lived in Germania Inferior during the final century of this period provided the Roman army with soldiers. It is thought that these auxiliary soldiers practiced the custom of using Roman face masks and helmets as votive offerings, which was then possibly adopted by non-native soldiers of the Roman army. This thesis analyzes these pieces of...Show moreThe large amount of Roman face masks and helmets that were found in wet contexts in the Roman province of Germania Inferior suggests intentional deposition. Though accidental loss during a fight or crossing of a river could occur, intentional deposition with ritual purposes seems more likely. This is attested by a peak in votive offerings in rural settlements in the 1st century AD across the Lower Rhine that coincides with a peak of Roman military headgear in wet contexts in the same area. The custom of depositing metalwork as gifts to deities seems to have started in the Bronze Age and was carried over to the Iron Age. The native peoples that lived in Germania Inferior during the final century of this period provided the Roman army with soldiers. It is thought that these auxiliary soldiers practiced the custom of using Roman face masks and helmets as votive offerings, which was then possibly adopted by non-native soldiers of the Roman army. This thesis analyzes these pieces of Roman headgear and their contexts to see if a correlation can be observed between them. Information about 82 face masks and helmets was collected in a database. The items were then described, and possible reasons for their deposition were examined. This showed that almost all of the headgear was deposited near Roman forts, camps, or settlements. This would confirm theories about Roman soldiers votively depositing their equipment at the end of their career, perhaps to thank the gods for their protection, or as a symbolic transition from their life as a soldier to a life as a civilian.Show less

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Ditching Masks in Ditches: The Roman Face Masks and Helmets Found in Wet Depositions in Germania Inferior and its Surroundings