Participation of representatives of the Przeworsk and Wielbark cultures in the Marcomannic Wars: an examination of historical and archaeological evidence

The article discusses the issue of the participation of representatives of the Przeworsk and Wielbark cultures in the course of the Marcomannic wars. This issue is reflected in both historical (written) and archaeological, i.e. material, sources. A simultaneous analysis of both these categories of sources leads to the conclusion that the Vandals/Viktovali can be identified with representatives of the Przeworsk culture, and the enigmatic-sounding „superiores barbarii” with tribes from the area of the Wielbark culture. This is further evidenced by the artefacts acquired from the Romans, with which the above-mentioned returned to their homeland, i.e. to areas north of the Sudeten Carpathian range. This can be seen almost exclusively in the Przeworsk territory, where a fairly abundant occurrence of Roman swords and chainmail is recorded. The complete absence of these objects in the area of the Wielbark culture can be explained by the specificity of the funerary rites of this culture, which forbid the giving of militaria, or iron objects in general, to the grave. To some extent, this lack is compensated for by the relatively abundant presence in the Wielbark area of bevelled bronze cauldrons brought from the Roman border regions, although I think only some of these may have come from looting.