Romans went to war on diet of pizza, dig shows.

The Scotsman ^ | Mon 26 Aug 2002 | John Innes

[vannrox]

Romans went to war on diet of pizza, dig shows

John Innes

ROMAN soldiers went to war on egg and pizza according to archaeological analysis of Roman army toilets in Scotland.

Scientists also have discovered that the soldiers also appear to have gone to the lavatory in pairs.

Further analysis of the 2,000-year old remains of the legionnaires’ breakfasts may produce more clues to the diet and eating habits of the troops led by Gnaeus Agricola. They forced their way to the north of Scotland and victory over Caledonian tribesmen at the battle of Mons Graupius in 84 AD.

But archaeologists still puzzle over why the 15 latrines unearthed in a dig at Kintore, Aberdeenshire - 15 miles from the site of the battle - were dug in pairs. Theories range from a Roman liking for military symmetry to the suggestion that they simply enjoyed a good conversation.

Apart from the latrines, which revealed traces of defecated egg, the dig has revealed 120 individual bread ovens, the largest number ever found on one site in Britain.

The keyhole-shaped ovens lined with stone at one end are early versions of a pizza oven. Stone-lined pits were heated up, the ash raked out and a raw dough, probably mixed with any available vegetable, baked.

This article:

  http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=946522002

[Tailback]

It was probably more like modern day focaccia bread than hardtack. Although, on a forced march the rations may have been different than at a long term encampment.

[Tailback]

I can't imagine what conversations would come about while on the toilet.

You've never been to boot camp have you? There's nothing like an open latrine in boot camp to build a group identity.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I haven't had the pleasure. :)

[gcruse]

ROTFLMAO!!!

[vannrox]

OPORTET MINISTROS MANUS LAVARE ANTEQUAM LATRINAM RELINQUENT

[lizma]

And semper ubi sub ubi

[Redcloak]

In gallon jugs, I presume.

5 gallon buckets.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Anyone interested in details of the Roman army should get the book The Roman Legions Recreated in Colour Photographs by Daniel Peterson. It's great. No pics of fossilized poop, though.

[freebilly]

coprophagia is dung eating. I managed to learn a couple of things in Anthropology class despite the huge amounts of beer consumed

Good to know your education wasn't wasted....;^)

[freebilly]

Ubi O ubi est me sub ubi?

[freebilly]

There's nothing like an open latrine in boot camp to build a group identity.

Multi-coprial....

[Consort]

DiGiorno's or Godfather's?

[lizma]

Somewhere in my little grey cells, I do believe I knew this song. Granted thirty years ago. If you remember it please let me know.

I've got two little ones. They have already been instructed on "Comet. It makes my teeth turn green." and "The first marine ate the beans, parlez-vous"

I feel it is important to keep American culture alive. (and as American have a hoot doing it!!)

[freebilly]

It's fake Latin for Where O Where Is My Under Wear....

Anyhow, I've taught my kids the words to "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I'll go eat some worms...."

[lizma]

But do you remember the verses for Where O where is my underwear??

The more culture we can can share with our kids, the better off they will be. (Wow, that sound so French.)

(Ah, when did you present the concept of "pull my finger"? I think mine are ready) :-)

[freebilly]

I cannot remember the words to Where O Where Has My Underwear Gone... c'est domage. My 5 year old learned about "Pull My Finger" when he was 3. Good thing Child Protective Services never found out. They probably would've wanted to remove him from the home because of Child Endangerment (exposure to methane of something).

[ZULU]

They didn't have tomato sauce. Tomatoes come from the New World and were brought back to Europe by the Spanish.
They did employ a revolting sauce called "garum", made from fermented fish - ughhh!!

[I Hired Craig Livingstone]

[ffusco]

Garum was a lot like Worchestershire sauce, also made from fish.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks to vannrox for posting this topic a couple of years ago. Found it just now using Google.

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