Developments in Harnessing and Draught in the Roman World

Bibliographic Data

ID11447103
AuthorsGail Brownrigg (Myrtle Cottage Okewoodhill Surrey RH5 5PT UK, corresponding author), J H Crouwel (Archeologisch Diensten Centrum (Netherlands), corresponding author), Joost Crouwel (c/o Amsterdams Archeologisch Centrum Turfdraagsterpad 9‐BG 1 1012 XT Amsterdam NETHERLANDS)
Year2017
Volume36
Issue2
Pages197-220
Publication date2017-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOxford Journal of Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0262-5253 • E-ISSN: 1468-0092
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/ojoa.12112
OpenAlexW2609291033
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited7

Material remains of harness elements from different parts of the Roman Empire have contributed to a new interpretation of the harness depicted on funerary reliefs of the second‐third centuries AD from north‐western Europe and on other figured documents, such as Trajan's Column in Rome (dedicated in 113 AD). As recent experimental reconstruction has shown, the curved wooden plaques, held firmly in place by a metal bow, may have formed a precedent for the collar and hames developed during the Middle Ages into the form still in use today. The most important innovation was the introduction – no later than the second century AD – of single draught between shafts, replacing traditional paired draught with pole and yoke. There is even some evidence that other elements of modern harness, such as traces and the whippletree, hitherto considered to be medieval inventions, were also known during the period of the Roman Empire

Aesthetics · Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Empire · Interpretation (philosophy · Middle Ages · Ottoman empire · Period (music · Political science · Roman Empire · Yoke (aeronautics · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Engineering · Historical and Archaeological Studies · History · Law · Philosophy

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