When Jon and I decided to undertake the project to produce a third edition of Roman Military Equipment, we set out a few criteria. High amongst these was the need for the book to feel worth the investment of money for any potential reader who had one of the earlier editions. So, to reflect…
One improvement we considered for B&C3 was adding dimensions and weights for Roman military equipment. Archaeology and replicas both pose problems: incomplete finds, conservation repairs, lost materials, and reconstruction guesswork. Any weights included will be carefully sourced notes, offering guidance only.
ROMEC XXI in Brno was a vibrant tribute to Jon Coulston, highlighted by his wife Hazel’s contributions for travel bursaries. The event featured engaging discussions on armour and protective equipment, extensive tours of scientific facilities, and enjoyable entertainment. Future publications are planned, while venues for the next conference remain under consideration.
This is the text of a (hitherto unpublished) paper presented by MCB to the Roman Finds Group Conference on Richborough, held at the University of Canterbury in 2018. We offer it here as a reflection on the development of Roman military equipment studies.
The future of B&C3
The book At the end of February 1993, Batsford Books published the first edition of our Roman Military Equipment from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome (B&C1). This was effectively an expansion of the ideas we put forward in our short booklet, also called Roman Military Equipment, published by Shire Books in…
There are hundreds of artefacts illustrated in edition 2 of Roman Military Equipment, and we have often been asked why use drawings and not photos in B&C2? This question has some history to it. Shire: drawing of a Tekija apron terminal Our first book on the subject, published by Shire Publications, had to be…