Bridle Bit / Snaffle / Harness

Object/Artifact

-

Trimontium Museum

©National Museums Scotland

©National Museums Scotland

Name/Title

Bridle Bit / Snaffle / Harness

Entry/Object ID

X.FRA 496.1

Description

Roman snaffle bit of iron, one of two, from the Roman site at Newstead (Trimontium), 80 - 100 AD

Use

This was used to help steer the horse with the help of the harness. "The bridle bit is unusually well preserved. It is a type known as a snaffle bit. It fitted in a horse's mouth and reins were attached to the rings. The Romans used several types of horse bits. Some were used for riding, some for pulling carts and wagons, while some others could serve both purposes." - From NMS Scran

Context

Found in pit XXII during the excavation of James Curle.

Collection

National Museums Scotland

Category

Horse Equipment, Cavalry Equipment

Acquisition

Accession

X.FRA 496.1

Source (if not Accessioned)

National Museums Scotland

Made/Created

Date made

80 - 100

Time Period

Late 1st century

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Europe

Culture/Tribe

Romano British, Roman

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Bit, Bridle

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Tack, Animal

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Land Transportation Accessories

Nomenclature Class

Land Transportation T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 07: Distribution & Transportation Objects

Getty AAT

Concept

bits (animal work equipment), bridles (animal work equiment)

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

Previous Accession Number

Other Number

I.15.419

Material

Iron

Color

Black, Brown

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

James Curle

Notes

Excavator

Related Publications

Publication

A Roman Frontier Post and Its People

Web Links and URLs

National Museums Scotland weblink to object, Canmore weblink to Newstead, James Curle's publication, bridle bit page 121

Provenance

Provenance Detail

1905 - 1911 Excavations

Acquisition Method

Found

Research Notes

Research Type

Reference

Notes

"A Roman Frontier Post and Its People", J. Curle, p. 296 "...The bar, which is 4 5⁄8 inches in length between the cheeks, is ridged by twisting. Joined to it at either end is a rigid curb bent almost to a semi-circle, and also twisted. Immediately beyond the points at which the curb is attached are two rectangular loops, each 1½ inches long, by which the bit must have been fastened to the head-stall. Beyond these, on either side, are rectangular plates, the corners of which have been hammered out, and the edges serrated, the whole somewhat in the shape of a St. Andrew's cross. Fastened to each end of the bar are the rings for attaching it to the reins. These bits probably date from the end of the first century. A Gallo-Roman specimen, somewhat similar in construction, showing a rigid curb and the same square loops for attachment to the head-stall, was found at Alesia."