Posted on 05/21/2008 3:38:38 PM PDT by blam
Romans were upper crust on daily bread
May 21 2008
by Tony Henderson, The Journal
WHEN it came to their daily bread, troops at a Northumberland Roman fort took no chances.
Excavations at Vindolanda are revealing two massive granaries whose quality even outshone the nearby commanding officer’s quarters. The dig is also uncovering a magnificent flagged roadway next to the granaries.
“The masonry of these granaries is far superior to that of the nearby commanding officer’s residence, and although some of the walls have suffered from stone robbing, others are standing to a height of around 5ft,” said director of excavations Andrew Birley. “The magnificent section of superbly flagged Roman roadway is probably now the best example to be seen in the North.”
Samples of material trapped in vents below the flagged floors of the granaries are expected to reveal the nature of the foodstuffs and other goods once stored in the buildings, together with the bones of rodents that attempted to feed upon them.
Patricia Birley, director of the Vindolanda Trust, said: “They would have had to keep considerable amounts of supplies for at least 500 men in the fort.
“But the granaries and roadway are very impressive. It is Roman building at its best.”
Archaeological evidence, including a bronze brooch and strap end, has also confirmed that people were using the granaries as accommodation from the 5th to the 8th Centuries, proving that Vindolanda continued to be occupied long after the end of Roman rule in Britain. Previous digs have uncovered the remains of a 5th Century church on the site.
The Vindolanda 2008 excavations, with a large contingent of volunteers drawn from all over the world, will continue every day until mid-September.
Can you visit the site? Are there more photos?
One thing about the Romans is that they weren’t vandals, no pun. Wherever they went they built things.
GGG Ping.
Well yes and no. Wasn't it Bodica who said of the Romans "they make a desert and call it peace"?
Tacitus wrote of the Roman troops grumbling because they were forced to eat meat because there was no bread, their main staple.
Focaccia...Mmmmm.
Some more here with some pictures.
I grew up hearing that the word `salary’ comes from the Latin “salarium” meaning an allowance paid to each Roman soldier for the purpose of buying salt, which they called `magic white sand’. They were not paid in kind with salt.
Ave Caesar Imperator! All roads lead to Rome!
Interesting they put their best efforts into building the grainy and not the commanders residence.
I read the Romans started their work day at sunup and were done with work by 12:30—a truly civilized people.
The spent the rest of the day at the games, in the Baths, the racetrack or hunting. It was good to be a Roman.
I heard it the other way around. That they were paid in salt and the word salary came from the word salt.
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Thanks Blam. |
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Kinda reminds me of us...
Tacitus' is quoting Galgacus, a Briton, and his impression of the Roman army in an attempt to inspire the Britons to fight off the invaders.
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