How the Roman Soldiers Arranged Their Weapons Away

What would you do if, serving on the northern border of the Roman Empire, you suddenly realized that your chain needed to be repaired? An international team of scientists now thinks the military may be turning to local artisans for help.

Czech and German researchers have said that a pile of Roman chains found in Germany was used to repair some military clothing. If it is true, what they have found, it was reported in December 10 learning published in the magazine The pastit showed us how the Roman soldiers repaired and renovated things in the northern borders of the empire, and relied on the skilled people of the area.

“As the Roman Empire expanded into new territories, often far from the areas where weapons were originally produced, the Roman army faced a greater need for self-reliance,” the researchers wrote in the study. “This need was especially important on the borders of Germany” where it was “necessary for the armed forces to participate in the production of their own weapons. Then, the increasing power of the Roman army in the production of weapons was closely related to the provision of materials for production and recycling.”

The limited archaeological evidence of recycling practices provides little insight into how the military might have worked with nearby communities in this context, researchers say. But in 2012, archaeologists found a 14-kilogram chain link in an ancient site outside Bonn, Germany.

The thousands of rings connected in chainmail made the garment difficult to dissolve, so it was also used for repair, similar to patches of cloth. In fact, the results of the latest research show that the 2012 painting – a permanent pile of two clothes with complete chains and parts of two others – was a pile of leftovers.

“This is the first evidence that letter weapons were being prepared outside the Roman army,” said Martijn A. Wijnhoven of the Institute of Archeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who participated in the study. The past word was sent to Gizmodo.

The team, including researchers from the LVR-Amt für Bodendenkmalpflege im Rheinland and the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn-examined all the visible drawings using the most advanced computed tomography (CT) (x-ray imaging method).

The researchers wrote: “It seems that the letters were to be used to repair and patch some clothes of the Roman soldiers. They added that, due to the unique design of the chainmail, “it is clear that the Bonn hoard represents a pile of letters prepared for other mail clothes and craftsmen” in the area.

This evidence shows that when the Roman army was away from the battlefield, they relied on local workers to take care of their weapons.

The researchers wrote: “This article shows some very important aspects of the economy of the Roman army, especially in terms of renovation and renewal.” Also, it provides a clear picture of the relationship between the Roman army and the local people living on the border.

Moral of the story? Do as the Romans do, even if you live far from Rome.