Zoomorphic decorations from osseous materials from Naissus (Niš)

Abstract

In one of the luxurious city buildings, presumably used as palatium for high officials, a large quantity of small decorative objects made from red deer antlers was discovered. The find includes zoomorphic and geometrical shapes, decorated by incising and carving. This find represents remains of some sort of panel decoration, probably on (wooden) furniture, that was inlaid into the wood in a similar manner as mosaic tiles were arranged to form a composition (in opus sectile technique). his is a unique find in the central Balkan area and other stylistic traits may be dated into the period from the mid- or second half of the 4th to the 6th century AD. Technological aspects, possible reconstruction and the place of this find within the wider context of Late Roman cratsmanship will be discussed.