05-03-2014, 10:40 PM
If only we had similar battlefield archaeology/analysis from the ancient world....alas. 
ad:
Dan, forgive me, but the structural flexibility in mail would lead me to believe that bones would be dreadfully exposed to blunt force trauma. I'm not saying that I don't believe you, as I have no direct experience at all with any experimental archaeology, but do you really believe your colleagues are using full force with one another?
However, logically speaking, I've always thought that the subarmalis, unless deemed absolutely necessary in order to ensure survival, would be very unpopular with combatants in the Mediterranean during the campaigning season. I mean, can you imagine having two layers of textile, one of which possibly padded, underneath your armor as you fight underneath the Mediterranean sun? If it was unnecessary, as you're saying, I wouldn't be surprised if it was rarely used by your average trooper.
ad: Dan, forgive me, but the structural flexibility in mail would lead me to believe that bones would be dreadfully exposed to blunt force trauma. I'm not saying that I don't believe you, as I have no direct experience at all with any experimental archaeology, but do you really believe your colleagues are using full force with one another?
However, logically speaking, I've always thought that the subarmalis, unless deemed absolutely necessary in order to ensure survival, would be very unpopular with combatants in the Mediterranean during the campaigning season. I mean, can you imagine having two layers of textile, one of which possibly padded, underneath your armor as you fight underneath the Mediterranean sun? If it was unnecessary, as you're saying, I wouldn't be surprised if it was rarely used by your average trooper.
Alexander
