Fortifications What tools do you/ should you have?

[jkaler48]

I think the first tool that was widely available was one of the Dolabra types made by Deepeeka.
Therefore it might be overrepresented in reenacting.
I think that the following tools would often be carried within a Century but not all tools by each individual and some might be in the baggage train.

Pick type Dolabra
Wide blade type Dolabra [Photo below)
Turf cutter
Shovel (Way underrepresented in reenacting I suspect)
Basket
Chain
Rope (Probably each Roman had some and each reenactor should carry some)
The Hook (Mentioned in sources and perhaps similar to a modern brush axe)
Axe


Some of these tools are common Fort or battlefield finds but others are hard to find photos or mention of. Some like Baskets rope or wood only shovels wouldn't have survived well and some may have not been recognized as being a item of military use like chain or the "Hook".

Opportunities to and the time to actually use entrenching tools are hard to come by in reenacting which can make obtaining tools a lower priority than upgrading gear that one uses every event. What tools should reenactors have within the group to make an accurate representation of what may have been the Century's basic tool load?



[attachment=4272]hede6.JPG[/attachment]

[jvrjenivs]

My set of tools as per originals from the Kops Plateau, Nijmegen. (early first century)

[M. Demetrius]

I'd love to see a closeup of that square shovel's other side. I have had trouble with the place where the socket joins the blade (from a single piece of folded metal). It tends to break at that juncture.

How thick is the metal?

And your tools look great. I'm planning to make a mattock like one of the two you show here. Much better at digging than a dolabra, but it won't chop wood very well. Heh. :roll:

Presently, I have a digging bar, and two very inefficient flat wooden shovels.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I like the squared mattock on the top right jurjen, I've nbeen looking for one for some time!
Who made it?

I agree, the dolabra I think was good for cutting through roots and branches and for prying these things out. But the other tools are better for digging and shifting dirt.

I have 2 dolabra(yes, really overrepresented)
A turf cutter
A small and sicle for foraging the loacls crops...

[jkaler48]

Sample 3 tool item load out for 8

1. Pick Type Dolabra Turf Cutter Rope
2. Pick Type Dolabra Turf Cutter Rope
3. Pick Type Dolabra Shovel Rope
4. Pick Type Dolabra Shovel Rope
5. Mattock Type Dolabra Axe Rope
6. Mattock Type Dolabra 4 Baskets Rope
7. Mattock Type Dolabra Chain Rope
8. Mattock Type Dolabra Hook (Brush)Rope

Sample 4 tool item load out for 8

1. Pick Type Dolabra Turf Cutter Shovel Rope
2. Pick Type Dolabra Turf Cutter Shovel Rope
3. Pick Type Dolabra Turf Cutter Shovel Rope
4. Pick Type Dolabra Turf Cutter Shovel Rope
5. Mattock Type Dolabra Axe Chain Rope
6. Mattock Type Dolabra Axe Chain Rope
7. Mattock Type Dolabra Hook (Brush Chain Rope
8. Mattock Type Dolabra Hook (Brush) 4 Baskets Rope


I would certainly like to hear others load out suggestions. Also above load outs didn't mention 2 sudes each.

[jvrjenivs]

I like the squared mattock on the top right jurjen, I've nbeen looking for one for some time!
Who made it?

These were made by Geoffrey Pieters (Eceniron). I also have 2 dalabra from Cezary (Cacaius) which I also highly recommend. I'm sure Cezary can also supply different tools to your specs.

[Paul Elliott]

• Pick type Dolabra
  
• Wide blade type Dolabra
  
• Turf cutter
  
• Shovel
  
• Basket
  
• Chain
  
• Rope
  
• The Hook
  
• Axe
  

Got the lot! (Except for the chain and wide blade dolabra). I also have a ligo or entrenching tool for ditch digging, a copy I had made of one found at Heddernheim I think. Oh, and a shovel with an iron edge to it, and a handsaw and a sickle, and two hammers...

[agrimensor]

Other tools would be a groma, decempeda, markerpole's and all the gear needed to set out the camp or fort.(This speaking as the agrimensor) Who would not get his hands dirty :roll: But, is there so much difference between military and civilian tools??
For fortifications some carpenter tools would come in handy. As would a big sledgehammer.

[jkaler48]

I think the specialist surveying tools would be found in the first Cohort while
General carpenter tools quarry tools and sledges might be carried in each Centuries baggage cart.

[DECIMvS MERCATIvS VARIANvS]

Any chance of you guys posting more photos of the tools you're talking about?

[agrimensor]

In the file is an article by me about roman surveying tools (in Dutch) but with pictures.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Thanks Jurjen, my first dolabra came from Cezary! A very accurate tool!

I think I will await my other projects from him before ordering more though! ;-)

[agrimensor]

[attachment]artikel instrumenten 2010.pdf[/attachment]
here is the article, could not load it.

[M. Demetrius]

So you built your groma from wood? I'm toying with the idea of making some of those tools myself, but hope to make the groma from steel, so it won't be affected adversely by weather (drying and swelling) as it does eventually rain here.

Are there any dimensions or working drawings available anywhere?

[M. Demetrius]

Polybius mentions marker flags in Rise of the Roman Republic book VI. Any idea what these might have looked like?