engleski

Continuity of the Late La Tène warrior elite in the Early Roman Period in south-eastern Pannonia

During the Roman conquest and the ensuing stabilization in the late 1st c. BC and 1st c. AD the most prominent position in the society of the Scordisci, Taurisci and those of autochthonous Pannonian communities was held by local warrior elites. Their roots can be recognised in important social and economic transformations that occurred in the first half and the middle of the 2nd c. BC. The burials of the warrior elite of the LT D1 phase (second half of the 2nd and early 1st c. BC) are recognised by the presence of offensive and defensive weaponry, costume accessories and rich offerings consisting of ceramic and bronze vessels. Items of horse gear and spurs were also found in warrior graves, occasionally also wagon parts, which portrayed them as warrior-horsemen. The finds in the graves of prominent warriors are a proof of the connection of a social system with the circulation of goods ; in other words, the possession of prestigious goods was a fulfilment of social needs, that is, the display of one’s status and position within the community. The finds suggests the possibility of an exchange of military equipment or even a certain mobility of groups of warriors. The importance of the warrior elite is further suggested by objects sacrificed to the war gods, and this group could be represented by objects found in so-called fluvial contexts and the recently discovered Scordiscan sanctuary in Osijek. In the final conquest of the south Pannonian region during the Pannonian War (12–11 BC)and in Bato’s uprising (6–8 AD), Tiberius used the warrior elite of the Scordisci as allies. After the establishment of Roman power the burials of the warrior elite were continued regardless of the appearance of a new political-administrative government because members of the local aristocracy were entrusted with the defence of the limes. They continued to be buried, in accordance with their ancient customs, together with their personal weapons, now of Roman origin, and also continued to offer provisions to the deceased that included numerous imported goods together with certain pottery forms of local origin thus testifying to their keeping of their previously acquired status. Thus, Romanisation was implemented by the ruling social class, the warrior elite being able to preserve some of their previously attained positions and to remain in its original area.

warrior elite; Late La Tène Period; Roman conquest; southeastern Pannonia; Scordisci; warrior equipment; prestige goods

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