06-25-2004, 01:14 AM
Hobnailed shoes are indicative of people working usually outdoors on unpaved or gravel floors. Even the streets of most cities (But don't think that every Roman street of every Roman city boasted streets paved with stone slabs!) were tricky for hobnailed shoes' wearers.<br>
The streets of most Roman forts I've seen were just paved with earth or gravel/rubble, which made soldiers feel 'at home' witht heir hobnailed shoes, calligae or later models.<br>
On the other hand, you'd be surprised of the scarcity of concrete floors (let alone mosaic or marble ones!) in the North-Western Provinces. I feel (but it's only educated guess) that many 'earthen' floors inside houses and buildings were really wooden floors in Roman times and the planks have simply rotten away (leaving no traces, tree-nailed construction?) or have ended feeding squatters' or neighbours' fires.<br>
About Roman brick pavements, most of them were made of tiny rectangular (set on their narrow sides, forming a herringbone pattern) or romboidal bricks. It is usual to find them in kitchens and some baths' rooms.<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>
The streets of most Roman forts I've seen were just paved with earth or gravel/rubble, which made soldiers feel 'at home' witht heir hobnailed shoes, calligae or later models.<br>
On the other hand, you'd be surprised of the scarcity of concrete floors (let alone mosaic or marble ones!) in the North-Western Provinces. I feel (but it's only educated guess) that many 'earthen' floors inside houses and buildings were really wooden floors in Roman times and the planks have simply rotten away (leaving no traces, tree-nailed construction?) or have ended feeding squatters' or neighbours' fires.<br>
About Roman brick pavements, most of them were made of tiny rectangular (set on their narrow sides, forming a herringbone pattern) or romboidal bricks. It is usual to find them in kitchens and some baths' rooms.<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.
Rolf Steiner
Rolf Steiner
