[David Huggins]

The contacts are believed to be as early as the Marcommanic Wars. A recent find of a Roman helm mask on Gotland would also perhaps confirm the earlier contacts back to the third century if the dating is correct. Certainly the area did not exsist in isolation from the Roman world or its heirs on the Continent.

best
Dave

[Don H.]

[Robert Rootslane]

Hi everyone

recently i read an article in Wikipedia about Avars. It also had an illustration, that according to the article is not modern, but a redrawing of a period one. (Avars, it seems were around from 6th to 9th century,)

Link to picture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Khazar_1.gif

The description reads: Warrior with captive, redrawn from a ewer of the Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós. There is no agreement as to whether he represents an Avar, a Bulgar or a Khazar warrior.

This seems to be the original picture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bulgar_warior.jpg


Anyway, the interesting thing is that the horseman on the picture seems to be wearing arm- and leg armour quite similar to the splints found in the vendel greaves.
Also the mail armour depicted theare reminds me more like something from the bayeux tapestry. Didnt know they used that long shirts with quite long sleaves so early.

Another interesting thing (atleast to me) Is that both warriors, or atleast the horseless one seems to be wearing the lower part of his long mailshirt wrapped around both of his legs. Ive seen it on some other images and never figured what to make of it. Seems rather uncomfordable though.

Quite interesting stuff, in case the large golden disc thing is authentic ofcourse.

[Chris Gilman]