My name is Kristian Minck, living in Aarhus, Denmark, and a student of Roman (provincial) Archaeology.
I am writing my MA-thesis on ancient roman wagons and wagontechnology, and to present my ideas and work-in-progress I have made this blog.
Beside this blog I am hoping to get my webpage ( www.transportarchaeology.dk) going anytime soon, but this page will concentrate more on transportation and archaeology in general.
Contact e-mail: kristian(at)transportarchaeology.dk
March 5, 2007 at 17:40
Greetings from the modern Roman province of Nova Brittania (New England)in America,
First, let me say thank you for creating this website and providing your research to others. I am a member of the fastest growing Roman reenactment/reconstruction group in the Northeastern United States. Since we now have enough members to form a decent shield wall, I am free to explore other areas of Roman military life. One of those areas most overlooked is transportation. It has been said that warriors study fighting, soldiers study logistics. My latest project is an attempt at recreating a two-wheeled “carrus” for use at our living history demonstrations. My websearch for information and images led me to your site. Basing my design on what little informantion is available I have settled on the following dimensions. Wheel Diameter - 117cm, Bed length - 180cm, Bed width - 120cm, Track width - 140cm. These measurements result in a cart which appears reasonably proportioned, based upon the width of the wheel ruts which you have described. My current design most closely resembles the carts seen in the “props” section of the website for the HBO series “ROME”. I know I am probably commiting a number of historical sins by using this as a source, but the “crossed X” motif used on the side railings did appear often in railings and bridges. It offers strength with less mass and avoids the massive boxy look of later period construction. The design of the body is still not set in stone, but I have begun construction of the wheels. I am certainly not a wainwright (wagon maker) but progress is reassuring. I am hoping that the finished cart will be strong enough for us to use around our campsite to haul wood, water, baggage, and dead gladiators from the arena. We do not have access to any mules so we will have to use slaves or soldiers for propulsion. My most ambitious plan for this cart is to mount one of our reconstructed ballistas in it and employ it behind our line of battle as described by Vegetius. If you are interested I can send photos of the work in progress and drawings of the design. I look forward to any advice or suggestions you may have on this project. Good luck with your thesis.
Regards,
Randi Richert “Publius Clodius Secundus”
Tesserarius de Miles et Auxilia
Legio III Cyrenaica “Caesars Conquerors”