New discovery: loricas segmentatas Leon, Spain

[Robert Vermaat]

Hi Matt,

Just food for thought, but it would also seem likely that Rome's re-issuing of "older pattern" materials to the auxillia would explain a lot. Many colonial powers did that with their weapons and gear during the 19th and early 20th century, so it would seem quite possible that the ever efficient Romans would, too.

That's a modern concept. 'Older' vs. 'newer' patterns did not exist in Ancient times as they do today. We have so far not seen any evidence of this, nor of large-scale 'refitting' of troops with 'new' gear. If it worked it was used, if it was damaged it was repaired, if beyond repair it was replaced. It was not even the state that supplied all material during the Principate, soldiers apparently could and did buy their own gear, supplied by local metalsmiths.

Likewise, Auxillia in the 3rd or 4th centuries might have actually been issued 100 year old Lorica while the newer "Roman" legions were using the newer helnmets, mail etc.
Again, just a thought.

During the 4th c., the 'auxilia' does not exist anymore. The name goes to a few elite regiments, while the well-known differentiation in the army is changed to 'the army' (divided in comitatenses (mobile field army) and limitanei (border troops). Non-citizen troops are usually foederati, part-time hired barbarians.