ISTANBUL (IHA) : In a remarkable feat of preservation, the only known example of a “Lorica Squamata” model Roman legionary armor, dating back 1,500 years, has been successfully restored in Türkiye. This unique artifact was unearthed at the ancient site of Satala in Gümüşhane during the 2020 excavation season. The restoration project was spearheaded by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Initially discovered and removed from the site with the support of the Ankara Regional Laboratory, the armor was later transported to the Erzurum Restoration and Conservation Regional Laboratory in 2021. Detailed analysis, including X-ray and tomography, was conducted at Erzurum Atatürk University to document the armor in its soil-encrusted state. According to the ministry’s statement, the armor dates back to the Late Roman Period.
It is a significant example of the Lorica Squamata type, noted for being the first known to the world. X-ray examinations revealed that the armor was nearly intact. The meticulous restoration involved micro-CT imaging of three edge plates to determine their precise measurements and metallurgical properties.
“Such armor rarely survives to the present day,” the statement highlighted. “The detailed X-ray results indicated that the armor was almost entirely intact. Through rigorous efforts over three years at the Erzurum Restoration and Conservation Laboratory, each plate of the armor was carefully cataloged, conserved and restored to it.
