06-22-2009, 07:00 PM
...this raises a few questios as far as I'm concerned.
1. Did they have a sort of weapons-embargo then ? And was the limes as it was then more or less a means to control this, -- or simpler spoken: was one of the tasks of the Obergermanisch-Rätische Limes to control the flow of weapons to the outside of the imperium ?
(The property of germanic veterans that served with the romans and returned to their homesteads after retirement nonwithstanding)
2. Did the germanic tribes need the "classical repertoire" of (then) modern warfare ( spatha, shields with iron bosses, chainmail or similar,javelins, lances) or could they "make do" with something simpler like wooden clubs with/without iron/steel spikes.
In the latter case I think it would be hard to prove that they used them for their "low-profile" in the use of iron/steel.
Maybe the widespread use of such "non-ferous" or "minimal-ferous" devices would explain the low number of finds that can be clearly adressed as "germanic weapons" ?
Greez
Simplex
1. Did they have a sort of weapons-embargo then ? And was the limes as it was then more or less a means to control this, -- or simpler spoken: was one of the tasks of the Obergermanisch-Rätische Limes to control the flow of weapons to the outside of the imperium ?
(The property of germanic veterans that served with the romans and returned to their homesteads after retirement nonwithstanding)
2. Did the germanic tribes need the "classical repertoire" of (then) modern warfare ( spatha, shields with iron bosses, chainmail or similar,javelins, lances) or could they "make do" with something simpler like wooden clubs with/without iron/steel spikes.
In the latter case I think it would be hard to prove that they used them for their "low-profile" in the use of iron/steel.
Maybe the widespread use of such "non-ferous" or "minimal-ferous" devices would explain the low number of finds that can be clearly adressed as "germanic weapons" ?
Greez
Simplex
Siggi K.
