Loricae

[Matthew Amt]

I'm pre-ordering that book this week, but I got the one from Bishop, "Roman Military Equipment" and it states that the Segmentata was first introduced in 47AD or at the earliest that's what we know to be the earliest.

Hmm, I hope you misread something. Because the earliest known finds of lorica segmentata fittings date to about 9 BC. There is also a breastplate and numerous fittings from Kalkriese, 9 AD. Even the Corbridge style was in use before the invasion of Britain in 43 AD. And Bishop is "Da Man" on lorica segmentata, so that should be correct in his own book!

When I think about it more, these units were often away for a year or more at a time, and the spread of new equipment would have been impossible.

Were they? The impression I got is that most campaigns lasted a few weeks or months. A few sieges may have gone on longer, but those aren't the rule.

Vale,

Matthew