Roman Style Signalling at Segedunum

Evocatus - Victor the Veteran

As part of Segedunum's celebration of  Connecting Light Victor the Veteran demonstrated how the Roman passed messages along Hadrian's Wall - or at least that's what the publicity blurb at Segedunum stated!
The day was a little quiet, being the last weekend of the Summer Holidays, but we still had fun.
How we did it
There's a good book by David Wooliscroft (see below), which looks at signalling from an archaeologist's point of view and relates it to the remains on Hadrian's Wall.  However we needed something children could make work across the fort

The Flags are  dipped rather than raised

Using 2 sets of 3 flags, rather than the banks of 5 usually used in the reconstructions and by adapting a code Julius Arfricanus in the 3rd Century.  If all the flags are raised and the message sent by dipping a flag, it makes it easy to spot which flag is moving.

By changing the alphabet from the original Greek and dropping the 'J' and 'U' gives 24 letters.  All the receivers need to do is to count the number of time a flag dips and use the grid to note the letter.  With practice we could send a letter every few seconds.  The flags are just large enough to be obvious over 100m or so, but to be visible over longer distances, they would have to be much bigger and further apart.



Some of the 'Connecting Light' balloons were being stored in the bathhouse - that led to a couple of surreal encounters...

I am NOT a NUMBER!!!!!

I am Rufus Aelius Victor and I will have my revenge...

Enough said.....

if you're interested -
David H Wooliscroft, (2001)  Roman Military Signalling,
Adam Hart-Davis, Discovering Roman Technology

the Romans Returned...

Back at Hardwick Country Park for the now annual Romans Return event.  It being Summer, Saturday it rained, but Sunday was Glorious.  Still the rain didn't worry the Deja Crew, we were under cover.

Our activities tent, with weaving, willow work and  Life in the Roman Army.

"How did they move around with all this weight?" - quote from one new recruit.

All the things you can try on, including Roman Underpants!

a quite moment in between the raindrops on Saturday,
however Sunday we didn't even have time for a photograph!

A grand event, hopefully we'll be back again next year, see you then.

Romans Return again.....

Come and see me at Hardwick Country Park at the weekend for the annual Roman extravaganza - http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/pressrelease.aspx?pid=3811 - the Romans Return.  

The Deja Crew and Rufus Aelius Victor will be there from 11:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday - August 25th and 26th .
Along with other broups and artists, the day will include military demonstrations, falconry and some Celts.
Admission - £4 per person, £12 per family, car parking free.

Hope to see you there and the sun shines!

Slaving away...

Back to being a Rufus the Slave, my Master Gaius Bellicus is away along Hadrian's Wall at Cilurnum.  So I've been left here at Arbeia, with the moulds and a huge order to fill.  There's a bit of the flux going round so the votives of bowels are just flying out the door!

The Romans Return to Hardwick Country Park... Again!

For the Fourth Year in a row The Romans Return to Hardwick Country Park, near Sedgefield.  The weekend of the 25th and 26th of August will see The Deja Crew and others creating a Roman encampment within this beautiful landscape.   I'll post more details as they are confirmed or check with Durham County Council at
Hardwick Park Events

The Romans Return
Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 August
11am-3pm / £4 each, £12 family
Our annual event is back. Come and learn
all about life in Roman times. Visit our living
history displays, see dramatic battles and
ballista demonstrations.

6/7 August - The Romans Return to Hardwick Country Park

For the third year running The Deja Crew were invited to 'The Romans Return' Event at Hardwick Country Park, despite the torrential rain on the Saturday it was again a very popular event.

For some reason most recruits prefer the Offcier's Crest to that of the lower ranks!

The event gave me a chance to try out some of the new bits of kits I've been making -

Subarmalis or arming jacket

Wooden Practice Gladius

As far as I can tell, there is very little evidence about what Romans wore under their armour.  The word 'subarmalis' is mentioned in a few places, but none have ever been found (they are made of things that decay quickly).  There are some images on Trajan's Column and wall paintings, so my attempt is really a bit of guesswork.
There are references to recruits training with weighted wooden swords to build their strength, this one is twice the wieght of an ordinary gladius.

And finally...
                     ...Roman Underpants!

Subligaculum or 'little binding beneath!
A sort of loin cloth, there are images from Pompeii showing what Romans wore beneath their togas.

10th July - Roman Victory at the Railway

The Roman invasion of Darlington’s Head of Steam Museum was a complete success on Sunday 10th July with over 480 visitors. Roma Antiqua re-enactment group were on hand to demonstrate Roman life as well as ‘Maximus Scratchius’ from Svensons Fleas Circus, Graham the Potter and Roy the Roman. The Piercebridge divers gave an excellent lecture about the artefacts recovered from the River Tees and visitors could also read about Piercebridge Roman Fort. For the lucky few who booked early in the day, a special vintage bus took visitors to the Fort for a guided tour by Durham County Archaeologist Dr. David Mason.

or so said the offical news update (see http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Leisure/headofsteam/news/news.htm)  

Another busy day making Roman Dog-tags so we didn't lose any of our new recruits, although after trying on armour and tasting fish sauce some of them were regretting their decision to sign up for 25 years!