My first loculus

[pavka]

It's (almost) "brutally authentic", as Rusty Myers would put it ("almost" because the red leather is chromed; sorry, I'll know better next time). The rest: vegetable-tanned goat leather, waxed linen thread, brass (the central ring - from Quiet Press). I still need to put a shoulder strap and some dangles (I think I'll suspend them from the rings).

I have to say that one goat skin got used absolutely perfectly - just enough, with only some small scraps left over (the biggest piece left over was used to make an inside pocket, seen in the first picture).

[M. Demetrius]

Nice work! There's nothing to apologize for here. Many stitches involved, yes?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Nice work!
There is the theory about that these were actually water skins.
Although I wonder why the soldiers would carry 2 skins, of different designs,
On campaign where much of the route is along a river, and the rest in
Mountains whee there are many streams!

[jvrjenivs]

There is the theory about that these were actually water skins.

And there is the theory that these bags would be made out of (waterproved) linen/canvas. Unless one turns up, we don't know.

Nice work. Well done!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

There are leather bits from Egypt which apparently
Match these! I would like to see them!

[caiusbeerquitius]

The leather (!) finds from Mons Claudianus were published by

M. Volken, The Water Bag of Roman Soldiers, in: JRA 21 (2008), 264-274.
and
S. Winterbottom, The Leather Objects, in: J. Bingen (Ed.), Quatrième campagne de fouilles au Mons Claudianus, DIFAO 90 (1990), 78-81.
and a few others referenced in Volken´s article. IMO rather sound, although the reenactment community seems to be quite resistant to this.

[pavka]

Many stitches involved, yes?

Oh yes, many hours of work... A lot more than I'd care to admit to my wife :-)
However, it's a very nice hobby. When I get bored with my other work (web programming :-)) I just get up from my desk, go to the work bench and do some stitching.

Re water bottles - yes, maybe these bags were water bottles but in the absence of other designs for bags it was the best I could do to have a bag. And, for a water bottle, I can't hope to do better than these guys (link) so I just bought two from them...