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Source Image: PR205_1_15_07 of Column of Trajan

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Description

Detail of a Roman auxiliary in battle.

Monument
Column of Trajan 
Monument Type
Architecture 
Material(s)
Luna Marble (Archaeometric identification)  
Date
circa ad 113 
Keywords
BodyClothingRoman SoldierBattle  
Collections
Column of Trajan, Rome  

Location

Current Location
Rome 

Evidence for working practices

1. Toolmarks

Process
Fine shaping
Tool
Roundel
Method
Angle: Shallow (40-50°)
Force: Gentle
Description
The marks of a roundel can be seen on the hilt of the auxiliary's sword and on the object behind him.

2. Toolmarks

Process
Detailing
Tool
Flat Chisel
Method
Angle: Shallow (40-50°)
Force: Gentle
Description
The pattern of the chainmail is achieved using the corner of a flat chisel.

3. Toolmarks

Process
Smoothing
Tool
Scraper
Method
Angle: Shallow (40-50°)
Force: Gentle
Description
A scraper is used to smooth the background, while other scraper marks can be seen on the leg in the bottom left corner.

4. Toolmarks

Process
Detailing
Tool
Channelling Tool
Method
Angle: Shallow (40-50°)
Force: Gentle
Description
A channelling tool was used to give depth to the folds in the soldier's neckerchief.

5. Toolmarks

Process
Smoothing
Tool
Rasp
Description
The clothing and skin of the soldier are smoothed with the rasp.

Notes

Although this image is taken from the very top of the Column of Trajan the level of effort put into detailing is identical here to twenty spirals further down. The careful treatment of the zigzag patterning on the chainmail in particular would have been completely invisible to everyone except the carver, his peers, and his supervisor.

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