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Muzzaguchi · 10-01-2002, 02:37 AM

Hi all, 
 
Has anyone read this? What is your verdict? I know Dr Woolliscroft completed his PhD in 1993 and is now director of the Gask Ridge project out of Manchester University. Is this a revisionof the Phd? 
 
Cheers 
 
Muzzaguchi

Caius Fabius · 10-01-2002, 02:59 AM

I have it here, and it is not a bad read. The information about ancient Greek and Roman signal towers and types and the ancient technology of signaling is informative. The theory about the towers and forts along Hadrian's Wall and the limes is well presented with several diagrams and maps. The appendix by itself made the book worth adding to my library. 
I don't have access to his original thesis, obviously, but this may just be a version for us crazy people who study Roman Military stuff. If so, I can still say I have enjoyed reading it. "Just before class started, I looked in the big book where all the world's history is written, and it said...." Neil J. Hackett, PhD ancient history, professor OSU, 1987Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/ucaiusfabius.showPublicProfile?language=EN>Caius Fabius</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ROMANISROMANORVM/files/C%20Fabius%201988b.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 10/1/02 5:03:20 am

10-01-2002, 02:28 PM

Salve, 
 
In the book Woolliscroft presents an overview of the possible working of Roman signalling and the influence this may have had on the positioning of installations, but acknowledges that the sources are almost completely silent on the subject and positive proof to corroberate his reconstruction is unfortunately missing. It deals largely with potentialof Roman military signalling than of actual arrangements, about which little is known with certainty, but an interesting read nevertheless. The collection of source references on signalling at the end is indeed very handy. 
 
Regards, 
 
Sander van Dorst

Muzzaguchi · 10-04-2002, 02:52 AM

Thank you both! 
 
I shall get the uni library to order a copy. What I am especially interested in is any remains or reconstructions of signalling equipment from anywhere. No one seems to have responded to my question in the reconstruction re-enactment thread (probably not military enough ). Anyhoo, I know of the flag reconstructions (What the Romans Did for us on the BBC) and of the raising of a torch. I am not convinced that the signalling was so cumbersome on the one hand or simplistic on the other. I am especially interested in fire signals and wanted to know if any brazier remains have been found on the limes. Where might i see them? 
 
I think we can envisage a far more complicated system - in line with those of the Byzantines or even the Ancient Greeks. The systems used in the Borders in the 16th century were by no means complicated but had a capability of transmitting information greater than on/off. 
 
Authors (Donaldson and Southern) seem sceptical about a pre-existing code for Roman signal combinations. I think in the context of the Roman army such scepticism is unwarranted. It would be easy for some kind of pre morse code to have existed with fire signals, especially when there was more than one fire on a signal station. (even at a great distance 1,2, or 3 fires would be distinguishable and in combination these could transmit a variety of prearranged messages). The coins of Constantine and Licinius in the fourth century (the so called campgate coins) depict what appear to be multiple braziers on top of fortlets (they are usually described as towers but they patently are not) and I believe that they are some kind of fire signal (especially if the 'weber barbeque' look that they have is a way of covering the fire when not in use.) These coins show 2, 3 and even 4 such signals on top of towers. 
 
Any way - any thoughts. 
 
Yet another rant from me. 
 
Cheers 
 
Murray Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/umuzzaguchi.showPublicProfile?language=EN>Muzzaguchi</A> at: 10/4/02 5:24:50 am

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