pelt drape for normal legionary?

[Matthew Amt]

Cloaks made of animal hides or fur were well known in that era among non-Roman cultures, but as far as I've seen they were NOT just pelts with the legs and tails hanging off. All the examples found in bogs and such are shaped, usually trapezoidal (narrower at the top than the bottom), and sewn together from a number of odd-shaped pieces. There could be laces or toggles at the throat to fasten it. I believe that cow, sheep, and goat were the most common, but deer or more "challenging" animals are probably likely. The cloak could be worn with the hair on the inside or the outside.

In his account of the civil wars of 68-69 AD, Tacitus writes that the residents of Rome didn't even realize at first that Vitellius' legionaries were Romans, because of their barbaric dress. I just can't remember if he mentions animal hides specifically, but that would be your smoking gun.

Valete,

Matthew