Time Team

[Conal]

I was watching an old episode the other day and a Late Roman was wacking the hell out of a poor archaeologist with a piece of 4x2 hock: OK he had been kitted out in armour etc but I felt for the poor lad ..... who wants to own up ?????

[John Conyard]

That would be me. But there were mitigating circumstances

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

He asked you to do it? :roll: :lol:

[Conal]

That would be me. But there were mitigating circumstances

What i woul drealy like to know is how did you resist giving Tony a little tap :twisted:

[Memmia]

That would be me. But there were mitigating circumstances

What i woul drealy like to know is how did you resist giving Tony a little tap :twisted:

Tony got away as he 'had a cunning plan' :wink:

[Salvianus]

It was before my time in the group, but I understand the director wanted a bit of drama to make up for the paucity of actual finds :roll:

Attached, the offending rudis wielded by veterans:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Hmmmm, those would hurt a bit I figure.... :lol:

[John Conyard]

I don't really do technology but

www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/t ... b_rom.html

on the Time Team web site has a good description of that particular programme.

The idea was to give the digger 24 hours as a late Roman soldier. I seem to remember a great deal of preparation to make that happen. We set up two barrack rooms, and a tavern for food and drink. Life in the barrack rooms was interesting. I had the front room, and the other seven, including the digger, the rear room. Normally two were on guard or busy at any one time, so sleeping arrangements were not too cramped. Most equipment was kept in the corridor.

The dig actually found very little, so we did a great deal of filming. The crew were very professional, and it was very interesting to see how the programme worked. The Director was excellent, and Tony Robinson obviously knew a great deal about every facet of the production.

There was a need to "tell a story" and to let the tiro "go on a journey" etc. I could accept the the necessity of this. But I wanted to keep modern intrusions to a minimum. I certainly didn't like the crew slipping the digger cigarettes. We found his secret store, and when I ripped them up in front of him while he was on guard at 3 am I thought he might start blubbing. He stayed in roll and and kept focused but I felt he could have tried a little harder. I like people to give 100%. After the filming and 36 hours in the file, he had to go off to the medics for exhaustion, and I suspect too much alcohol. I considered this a job well done.

After the experience I asked the Comitatus members involved if they would do it again. The vote was evenly split, but three years later they remember it fondly. I was pleased and relieved at the finished programme. You never know how your group will be presented, but I believe their editing was fair.

Did people enjoy the programme?

[Salvianus]

I know my Dad was very impressed by how it brought it all to life, though he too thought it looked a bit rough, but it just looks like my first season to me: I can feel Matt's tired arms, making his shield sink and come too close to his body, thus slam into himself a bit; his "throwing" the rudis low rather than striking because his muscles feel like string.

I'm sure Vegetius' ideal recruits from the country and physical trades wouldn't have this problem any more than our blacksmiths and chippies and ex-servicemen do today, but I also think this 'grunt' experience was shared by unfit recruits from the city, drafted refugees and those weakend with parasites, illness and poor diet on entry.

Hmmmm, those would hurt a bit I figure.... :lol:

This scene was fascinating: normally Caius and Rufus fence with great speed in the blade: this was the same in slow motion, taking their time from the momentum of the rudis. You can see why Vegetius recommends such heavy training tools: footwork is slowed down, it needs a firm shield parry and it demonstrates that it's best to put the blow aside early.