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**richsc** · 09-30-2002, 02:31 AM

This mention was made over in the 'never ending tunic' thread, and I was wondering of what new photographic method this refers, and if so, are there any write ups on it? 
 
"Thus for newer research: In Augsburg several Tombstones have been photographed with a new method, showing the colours originally attached to the stone, and there are some stones where the colour is still on.." Richard Campbell, Legio XX.
http://www.geocities.com/richsc53/studies/

mcbishop · 09-30-2002, 04:39 PM

I doubt anybody has *invented* a new method of photography just to photograph the paint on tombstones - presumably it refers (as in so many things) to the application of an existing technique from another discipline (usually medicine) for an archaeological purpose (a good recent example was the application of spinning lasers to wax tablets to read the indentations in the wood). In fact most 'advances' in archaeology are made by wise collaboration with other disciplines - remember what happened when an armourer got his hands on the Corbridge Hoard armour! 
 
Mike Bishop

caiusbeerquitius · 09-30-2002, 11:51 PM

I will try to make contact to the couple using the technique. maybe they can enilghten us. As soon as I have sthg I will lyk. 
Best, Caius.

10-01-2002, 10:53 AM

Mike wrote: "presumably it refers (as in so many things) to the application of an existing technique from another discipline" 
How true. It took some time for researchers to figure out that the best way to reconstruct a roman saddle was simply to give the remnants of the leathers to a saddlemaker. I think Peter Connolly came up with the idea. Of course the saddlemaker looked at the stiches and found the answer rather quickly.. 
In Alexandria, some frescoes of the great cemetery were rediscovered through illumination with ultra-violet light. 
Basically, archaeology makes use of every scientific development available and useful, from satellite imagery to electron microscope. The only limits to more discoveries, alas, are financial... 
And political. 
Like for instance could those people in the Middle East stop it for say, just ten years so archaeologists can DIG QUIETLY?!

10-15-2002, 02:13 AM

Mike, what DID happen when an armourer got his hands on the Corbridge Hoard armour? Inquiring minds wanna know!! 
 
Eric

mcbishop · 10-15-2002, 09:06 AM

The armourer was of course Henry Russell Robinson, who worked at the Tower of London Armouries at the time. He was a specialist in not only western medieval and early modern armour (which has a tradition of iron plates articulated on leather straps) but also oriental armour. Until then, archaeologists and historians were hopelessly misled by Trajan's Column (and other monuments) in their attempts to reconstruct lorica seg precisely because they lacked the practical knowledge of an armourer (and produced nonsenses like von Groller's plates riveted to a jacket). He was also able to build a replica (something archaeologists and historians most definitely can't do... well, I'm having a go at the moment, but I'm no great shakes...;-) 
 
So, when an armourer got his hands on the Corbridge Hoard, he was able to understand the armour in a way nobody else had done. 
 
Mike Bishop

10-15-2002, 11:45 AM

Oh, right...I thought you might be talking about a successor to Robinson...yes, academics should be made to practice things they pronounce on first...I did Classical Engineering under Prof A Trevor Hodge and it was an eye-opener for sure. 
 
E

10-16-2002, 10:23 PM

#&$Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â§%*!! 
Can't find any reference for those folks making the new pics of the Augsburg tombstones. Does anyone have information or contacts? 
 
Greetings, 
 
Martin

10-21-2002, 03:46 AM

Mike, are you indeed that M C Bishop who shows up in an inordinate number of references in Bowman's book on the Vindolanda Tablets? Colour me maxime impressed/abashed! It has been years since I attempted a second degree in classical studies (I didn't 'ave the Latin for the judgin') but it's this sort of thing that reminds me how thoroughly down to earth many people in the field are, and what great talks and times we had in the pub after lecture. Unfortunately, over here we have a harder time getting our hands dirty, though I count myself lucky to have done a couple of tours with the Vergilian Society (the Bay of Naples and the Limes Germanicus) in the early 80s. 
 
I'm so happy I found this site :-) 
 
Eric 
(L Spurius Rutabaga Cocles 
Gregarius ad spem honestae missionis 
bloody XI Claudia 
bloody Durostorum)

mcbishop · 10-22-2002, 10:06 PM

> Mike, are you indeed that M C Bishop 
 
Allegedly. 
 
Mike Bishop

10-26-2002, 04:42 AM

Then I lay my ancestral Rutabaga masks at your ancestral feet...and those are SOME masks...as will no doubt hereafter be related. 
 
E

10-26-2002, 05:52 AM

yer like a kid in a candy store eh eric? Wait till I get you suited up in a lorica, then the real fun begins...E EM 
Magnus/Matt 
Optio 
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"

10-28-2002, 10:06 PM

Then it better be a dam BIG lorica boyo, I ain't no chicken you know... 
 
Over and out. 
 
E

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