03-19-2007, 07:45 PM
In the Netherlands, early and even later Roman roads were very much dictated by the materials available. We have no bedrock here, just sand and bog, mining is limited to the area near the German border. Only after Hadrian had quieted things down do we see an influx of building materials from Germany, mostly by river. It would seem the Romans made due with the stuff at hand in most cases. Gravel was deposited by the rivers and could be sieved out with ease, there are also gravel deposits a bit further up the river towards Germany. Do not forget you are dealing with a river delta system here.
Even the castella in the first century were made of the localy available softer woods, oak only being used in quantity at the very end of the first century. Archeon got their reconstruction of the castellum wall knowingly wrong in this respect, they were informed otherwise by the archeologists of Nijmegen University but were pressed for time and soft woods as ash and elm are not commercialy available.
Building was later taken up using brick and crushed tiles, these could be made from river clay (we have a lot of that) but require field-ovens and kilns (and plenty of fire wood) and time (peace) to get the production organised. I do not dispute Robert's finding and put trust in the archeological explaination offered. Yes, this is as Roman a road as you will find along the Limes in these parts.
Even the castella in the first century were made of the localy available softer woods, oak only being used in quantity at the very end of the first century. Archeon got their reconstruction of the castellum wall knowingly wrong in this respect, they were informed otherwise by the archeologists of Nijmegen University but were pressed for time and soft woods as ash and elm are not commercialy available.
Building was later taken up using brick and crushed tiles, these could be made from river clay (we have a lot of that) but require field-ovens and kilns (and plenty of fire wood) and time (peace) to get the production organised. I do not dispute Robert's finding and put trust in the archeological explaination offered. Yes, this is as Roman a road as you will find along the Limes in these parts.
