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

[vannrox]

Wow. Every day is full of new discoveries.

[dinasour]

Who did they get the tomato sauce from?

[dinasour]

Who did they get the tomato sauce from?

[wildbill]

And I thought Grandpa's two-holer was an American invention.

[El Sordo]

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

Too much archaeological information....

[Rebelbase]

"traces of defecated egg"

[Billthedrill]

Apart from the latrines, which revealed traces of defecated egg...

Ah, the romance of archaeology!

Most of the legions of the day carried what was essentially a vegan diet, long on cereals and dependent on the land for whatever pot meat might be scrounged on the march, if any. Nearly a millennium later the Byzantine Emperor Julian was interrupted at dinner at camp by a foreign emissary - his dinner at the time consisted of two handfuls of dried peas.

Veganism = peace? Well, mebbe, but watch out for that gladius...

[RightWhale]

They made bread. Flat bread, panne, is possible. Apple filling, pear, not tomato.

[truth_seeker]

Who did they get the tomato sauce from?

From the Mexicans. I thought you knew that.

[Brett66]

How about that, after 2,000 years even your sh*t is worth something.

[aristeides]

Couldn't they have gone to the toilet in pairs just for the sake of security? Never can tell when those wild Picts might attack.

By the way, Agricola was father-in-law of the historian Tacitus.

[Senator Pardek]

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

"So, what do you think of Flavius? This one finally has a job - and two chariots! Do I have anything in my teeth? Gawd - I feel soooo bloated..."

[monkey]

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

Another male innovation that women have ruined.

[hometoroost]

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

That explains the skirts.

[Dog]

FOFLMAO!!!!!!!!

[strela]

Apart from the latrines, which revealed traces of defecated egg, the dig has revealed ...

I think we found the job they give to new archaeologists.

"So, what do you do for a living?"

"I catalog ancient poop."

"You catalog ANCIENT POOP? What a lousy job - why don't you quit?"

"What, and give up archaeology?"

[TopQuark]

Theories range from a Roman liking for military symmetry to the suggestion that they simply enjoyed a good conversation.

Yeh, that's why they are getting big bucks. How about the safety factor: we are talking about military here.

[DainBramage]

"I gotta go like a rodeo mule, care to make a pair?"

"Never again with you Maximus Dumpus, be sure and wipe your Ceaser..HA HA !"

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I'm all for a good conversation, however, I can't imagine what conversations would come about while on the toilet.

[Billthedrill]

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

Well, I distinctly recall from boot camp a line of toilets with no dividers between...mostly what we did was stare straight ahead and ignore the mellifluous tones emitted from the throne next door...