Presence to a congress

Thank you for being present in this presentation. My name is Nicola Rainiero, vexillifer of the I Italica group. I am here for illustrating you as we have reconstructed the loricae Segmentatae and Hamatae.

Sandro Maragno is a GAV member, he has founded the I Italica group and has personally followed the realization of these two types of armor.

To do this I will divide the intervention in two parts:

 A theoretical-descriptive part, composed of: 

• the existing principal TYPES of armor (for remains and done studies);
• some photos of REMAINS to show what indeed it is found in the archaeological sites;
• the MATERIAL-USED for the reconstruction: the reasons.

 A practice-executive part, composed of: 

• the real RECONSTRUCTION, a schematization of the procedure that we have used for realizing it;
• the DIFFICULTIES met in phase of realization and the problems that introduces the type of lorica;
• the LAST RESULT, a simple photo of the lorica in examination with description of the gotten product.

However before starting it is necessary to quote the SOURCES that we have consulted and studied for the realization of the armors, these are of two types:

Publications:
 Thanks to these two books we have started to realize the first armors.

Web Sites:
 The experience of reenactment groups in the web has allowed us to resolve some constructive problems.

I will start from the Lorica Segmentata because it was the first armor that we have studied and reconstructed.

"Lorica" is a Latin term that means leather strips; "segmentata" is a modern term applied to Roman classical iron caresses made of plates, introduced at the end of the first century B. C.

However its origins are unknown. Recent discoveries done in the Teutoberg Forest and in other places have shown that the lorica Corbridge that we and the most greater part of the Roman groups uses it was not the first type of Lorica Segmentata used. However it is the only type, that currently for quantity of recoveries and done studies it can be reproduced with extreme accuracy and besides for dating it draws near to the date of the foundation of our legion.

What differentiates these three types of loricae? It is the form of the plates, of the adaptations and the type of edging.

In this slide I have brought two examples of remains that they are usually found in the archaeological sites.

The material that we have used for the armor:

• Stainless steel slabs, thickness around 1 mm (callipers 18) for the plates (40), if we stuck to realities, we had to use some mild steel to be more authentic but this would have involved the presence of the Rust with all the connected problems.
• Natural leather (2 mm tick) for the straps. Unfortunately the first loricae don't have the leather but strips of synthetic material.
• Brass plates of varying thickness (0,5-0,8 mm) for to stamp the adaptations.
• Copper and brass for the rivets. The rivets are of three types: flat head (130), small (160) and great (24) furnished of dome. They serve for fixing the plates to the straps and the plates to the adaptations. 

To reconstruct a lorica segmentata has a problem: the sizing of the plates, better to attribute a correct proportion to the metal strips that then they will be fixed the one to the other. To do this we are based on an initial standard model that we after have improved according to the physical demands of the soldier to which it was destined.

Indicatively this trial is divided in 2 parts:

1) preparation of the material: cutting, polishing, smoothing and filing of the plates and the adaptations from the metal slabs;

2) assemblage: folding and rivetting the parts previously cut.

To do this we have departed from the shoulder plates and we have connected the others.

The lorica segmentata has these problems:

• The availability of the material, for example rivets and the leather strips.
• Presence in phase of construction and when it breaks itself of an experienced blacksmith.
• Wearability: the weight and the conformation of this lorica need a help to wear it.The weight extends to accumulate on the shoulders that are in effects the point of support of the whole lorica.
• The constant maintenance that means to oil the leather straps and to polish the plates and the external adaptations.

The photo shows 2 different groups both provided with lorica segmentata.

Our soldiers have a greater shield and they wear a 8 kg weight lorica. Currently we have built 10. The first 6 have some imperfection (plate cuff, synthetic straps, little coordination) the last 4 instead have been made to measure and they don't have these problems.

The Lorica Hamata was the standard armor before the introduction of the segmentata and remained in use among the legionaries for the whole imperial period. This iron sweater was also brought by musicians, carriers of insignias and clearly from the auxiliary troops.

That this why they exist in a lot of types and it is not possible to give an exact characterization of it. In the slide I have put in evidence the more important distinctive characteristics.

In this slide I have inserted an exceptional find: a lorica hamta complete found in Britannia.

The material that we have used for the armor:

• A spool of around 35 m of thread galvanized, 2 mm thickness (callipers 12).
• Leather to dress the doubling of the shoulder.
• Steel 1,5 mm thickness (callipers 14) for the adaptations (the hook that it is seen in photo).

To reconstruct a lorica hamata requires a lot of patience and time: for the preparation of the rings (approximately ten thousand of rings) and for the union of these. Indicatively this trial is divided in 4 parts:

1) It builds a tool to yeld steel spirals and they are cut stopping them on a vice. We have also produced them with the help of the blacksmith, using a lathe and this has made them more uniforms. The final result is an open ring.

2) We have used the method 4 rings in 1 to build the base unities. With these we have produced the strips that have constituted the stitch. The rings are from time to time closed (that is to fit the two extremities) with the aid of a normal tweezers.

3) Assembly: it is necessary to pay attention how the rings lines stick , because a wrong orientation involves a wrong expansion of the rings, and so the whole sweater.

The scheme shown in the slide has allowed us to observe the correct orientation of the rings in the single parts of the maille, but for the sizing of the single pieces we have tried from time to time.

4) Galvanization removal: this confers to the lorica a more authentic aspect.

The lorica hamata has these problems:

• The time to manufacture it: to unite thousand and thousand of rings requires a constant and prolonged work;The wereability: the weight obstructs the wearing how if it were a normal shirt, even if once worn this is uniformly distributed on the whole body.
• The maintenance: it needs to avoid that rusts itself, requires a continue prevention job: greasing and cleaning.

The photo shows our centurio that wears a 14 Kg weight lorica without the doubling of shoulder, it is worn thanks to an opening on the back. We have built currently 2 hamatae or better two legionaries have built them ring after ring.

LET'S REDISCOVER THE LIFE OF ANCIENT ROMAN

Experimental archaeology aims to reconstruct, reproduce and experiment several aspects of the lives of the Ancients. During the Conference the subiect will be widely discussed in order to improve our knowledge of their lives. Either experimental topics or other subjects recalling the past will be discussed such as the reenactment with all its educational aspects, museums, archaelogical sites, the persistence and the influence of ancient techniques and customs on present everyday life.

PROGRAMME
Ore 10.00 a.m.: Welcome of Authorities and beginnings of works. Chairwoman dr. Anna Maria Liberati - Director of Museo della Civiltà Romana di Roma.

Scheduled partecipations
Experimental experiences (10.30 a.m.) - 1^st session)
Enzo Bellettato, Alberto Parri (Gruppo Astrofili di Rovigo, Gruppo Archeologico di Villadose)
Experience of telling the time on a reconstructed hemiciclum "sun-dial"

Karolina Tomic (Etnologa - Museo Archeologico di Sremska Mitrovica - (YUGOSLAVIA))
Food cooking at Roman times

Giorgio Reggiani, Samuele Bernini (Gruppo Archeologico Ostigliese - Ostiglia (MN))
Experimental laboratories of GAO - Cooking and dressmaking at Roman times (workshop)

Vittorio Brizzi, Mauro Cesaretto (Museo dei Grandi Fiumi di Rovigo, Gruppo Archeologico di Villadose)
Reproduction and trial of a bronze "tendiarco" (draw-bow)

Jasmina Davidovic, Miroslav Jesretic, Lazar Kostantinovic (Archeologi - Museo Archeologico di Sremska Mitrovica - (YUGOSLAVIA))
Mind of a coin of Decio Traiano (workshop)

Antonella Nanni (Archeologa - PADOVA)
Experimental laboratory on cosmetics. Beauty treatments at Roman times - Borgoricco Century Museum (workshop)

Sandro Maragno, Nicola Rainiero (Gruppo Archeologico di Villadose)
Reconstruction of Roman legionary cuirasses and armours. Description of a reproduction of a "lorica segmentata" and a "lorica hamata"

Clerence Gauthier (Eques Corpus Equestris Legionis X - Malagne la Gallo Romaine - Rochefort - (BELGIO))
Reconstruction of a Roman eques, equipment, research, work, horses and .... patience

Giampaolo Stella (Ceramista - Mestre )
Experiment of black enamelled ceramics (workshop)

Paola Montani (Archeologa - PADOVA)
Research and reconstruction of ancient Roman games (workshop)

Cyril Catrou, Brice Lopez (Ars Dimicandi Francia - (MONTPELLIER))
Experience of bronze casting

Antonio Antonucci (Docente Istituto Agrario di Padova (PADOVA)
Experiment of the growing of vegetables typical of Roman times

Alessandra Toniolo (Archeologa - PADOVA)
Experiments aiming at getting wines and vineyards back from Roman times

Representative of Archeopark of Malagne (la Gallo Romaine - Rochefort -B )
Research and experiments of agriculture of Gallo Roman peoples.

Museum and Archaelogical sites teaching (3 p.m.) 2^nd session
Raffaele Peretto, Cristina Vallicelli (Museo dei Grandi Fiumi - ROVIGO)
Surroundings and reconstructions in the setting up of Museo dei Grandi Fiumi

Angelo Nin Scolari (Compagnia di Teatro Continuo - PADOVA)
The site of Myth - Theatrical project for archaelogical and monumental places. An experience among archaelogy, philology and theatre

Marta Zocchi (Gruppo Archeologico di Villadose - BADIA POL.)
A journey through history with the children of a secondary school during a school camp

Lluis Pinol Masgoret, Magì Seritjiol (Archeologi - Museo Storico di Tarragona - SPAGNA)
A plan for the historical and archaelogical exploitation of Tarragona

Persistence of ancient Roman customs on modern life (4 p.m.) 3^rd session
Boris Surdic (Ministero della Cultura della repubblica di Yugoslavia - Belgrado (YUGOSLAVIA)
Brick factories and kilns from Roman times to the present

Alessandro Bonomini (Architetto - (PADOVA)
The evolution (development) of gardens and cultivated soils from Roman times to the present

Novica Vojnovic (Facoltà di Legge dell’università di Sarajevo - (BOSNIA-ERZEGOVINA))
The links between Roman law and modern time law

Giovanni Di Pasquale (Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze - (FIRENZE)
Water-clocks at Graeco Roman times

Alessandro Malato, Graziano Galvani (Compagnia delle Armi e delle Arti di Bologna - Nova Scrimia - (BOLOGNA))
The persistence in fencing and in Italian Schools of Fight of the principles and the tecniques of self-defence art at ancient Roman times

Historical Reconstructions and Reenactment (5.30 p.m.) 4^th session
Fabio Massari (Ass. Principia, Legio I Italica di Roma)
Reenactment between historical spreading (divulgation) and experimental archaeology. The experience of Roman Legio I Italica

Luca Pizzocaro, Stefano Parancola (Sez. di Lotta Greco-Romana del Centro Universitario Sportivo - (PADOVA)
Graeco -Roman wrestling from ancient to modern times

Ulrich Sauerborn (Direttore museo di Aalen Germania)
Roman days in Aalen. The most important historical reconstruction in Central Europe

Guido Senesi, Enrico Maragno (Gruppo Archeologico di Villadose)
The market of Roman Century at Villadose. Seven years of historical reconstructions in Italy

Dario Battaglia (Istituto Ars Dimicandi)
Campo Marzio. A plan to popularize the art of fight among ancient people

Mario Manzana (Redattore della rivista Costume - ARGENTA)
Italian Celtic groups

Brice Lopez (Ars Dimicanfi Francia - (MONTPELLIER))
Reconstruction of "ars dimicandi" in France. Comparison between Roman and Celtic groups

Eric Seritjiol (Gruppo Progetto Phoenix - TARRAGONA - SPAGNA)
The reconstruction of Legio VII Gemina in Tarragona

Workshops ( 5 p.m. in the square at break time)
Giampaolo Stella - Painting and baking of black enamelled ceramics
Teatro Continuo - Performance aiming at increasing the value of archaelogical sites
Cooking made by GAO
Antonella Nanni - Ancient Roman games
Plants and vegetables at Roman times
Paola Montani - Cosmetics
Lazar Kostantinovic - Experiment of minting Roman coins
Gruppo Astrofili - How Ancient Roman used to tell the time using water-clocks
Exhibition of some products made for educational competition concerning everyday life of ancient Romans
Presentation of Internet - NOVA ROMA PROVINCIA ITALIA

7 p.m.: End of works

• Entrance-fee: 5 euro,
• Fee including the booking of the conference proceedings: 20 euro,
• Lunch at the "Taberna del Legionario": 15 euro.