[Regia-NA] Mail?

[nathan]

We do have a major problem in that mail is almost impossible to date out of
context.  Very few pieces of mail have been exposed to metalurgical testing
(that would prove the origin).

Brand is bang on the mark, round section links with a lapped section with
round/square rivets (not wedges) with a domed head are the ideal for our
period (secure contexts).  This seems to follow the general pattern of Roman
mail construction, but mail from our period is generally percieved to be
'chunkier' (larger id and wire guage).

Wedge rivets in 'sub-rectangular' (squished bits of wire to you and me)
links are mostly associated with the production coming out of germany in the
C12/13th+.

I echo brands warning "Please be aware though there are precious few finds
for mail for anyone to  make a definite." i have spoken to a number of
people who want to make sweeping statements about mail styles, I am yet to
be swayed by the evidence presented.  Often i have seen a bit of a self
fulfilling prophecy it must be xxx because it has xxx characteristics,
however the characteristics of xxx are often based on a woefully small
subset of  mail often from insecure contexts (or out of context).

Hugz
N.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: list-regia-na-admin@lig.net [mailto:list-regia-na-admin@lig.net]On
> Behalf Of Brand N Flossi
> Sent: 26 June 2003 23:43
> To: list-regia-na@lig.net
> Subject: Re: [Regia-NA] Mail?
>
>
> There are as far as I know no Sq. section Mail found for this period.
>
> There are some Sub-rectangular rings.... But I've never been able to speak
> to some one who describes something as sub rectangular to get an idea of
> what they are talking about.
>
> Rings in this period seem to be with round / oval flat with some
> sub-rectangular thrown in.
>
> Please be aware though there are precious few finds for mail for anyone to
> make a definite.
>
> Later rings are flat/round with quite a few half round and half
> flat. (2 in
> the Wallace collection). One in Outreamer was made up of slit
> rings (kind of
> a smaller version of the 2 lapped keyrings....)
>
> Hope that Helps
>
> Brand
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Carolyn Priest-Dorman" <capriest@cs.vassar.edu>
> To: <list-regia-na@lig.net>
> Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 8:22 PM
> Subject: RE: [Regia-NA] Mail?
>
>
> > Halvgrimr wrote:
> >
> > >I know that in the article Rus Scott wrote about mail he believed that
> > >"There are no square sectioned links, at best there is the
> possibility of
> > >some flat rectangular sectioned links."
> > >
> > >I am not sure how he came to that conclusion but I am sure he has done
> > >more research on the subject than I have.
> >
> > If this is the same Russell Scott who wrote "Female Viking Dress," don't
> > count on it.
> >
> >
> > Carolyn Priest-Dorman              Þóra Sharptooth
> >   http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/thora.html
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
>
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