Means of carrying water?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone done any research on how the soldiers carried water on the march? I have read the posts concerning the possibility that the metal canteen was used for oil, if that is so, what was used to carry water on an individual basis? Again, I have heard some say that ceramic water containers were carried but I wonder about that as clay containers are rather fragile. Any info on the use of leather water skins or something similar? <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

I've been wondering this myself, I was thinking the water skin as well.<br>
<br>
As to the fragility of ceramic water containers, worse things than that have been used. In WWII many Soviet troops had glass canteens. <p></p><i></i>

[Octavianus]

Salve<br>
This is the most common ceramic canteen model.<br>
<img src="http://www.mambri.com/legio/cantimplora-2.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
And a esparto grass canteen cover, found in the Mazarron roman mines, in Spain. And also an esparto grass sandal, found in the same place.<br>
<img src="http://www.mambri.com/legio/fundacantimplora.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<img src="http://www.mambri.com/legio/espardenya.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
Vale<br>
Pr. Min. Oct. <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Gods, Clumsy oaf that I am that canteen wouldn't survive a single season. I wonder if there are a lot of fragments around in the digs? <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

The ceramic canteens aren't particularly common finds on British Roman excavations. I've seen rather more ceramic canteens from medieval excavations (where they're called costrels).<br>
<br>
There's an interesting article about water in the Roman legions at:<br>
<br>
www.saddlersden.co.uk/articlewater.html<br>
<br>
and there is the leather water bottle that the author sells:<br>
<br>
www.saddlersden.co.uk/Period.html<br>
<br>
Know what you mean about 'clumsy oaf' - I wouldn't dare carry a ceramic canteen on that account either <p></p><i></i>

[TFLAVIUSAMBIORIX]

during the civil war confederate troops with a need for a canteen would use nearly anything available, could this have been the case for the romans. <p></p><i></i>

[Caius Fabius]

The ceramic round canteen shown above is almost an exact match to one in the Museum of Chersonesos in Crimea, dated to either early Roman occupation, or late Hellenic, so period for most Roman troops. Thick walled and well fired ceramics are not as fragile as some may assume. <p>"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance -- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer</p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

There is a parallel discussion on the Roman Army List here: groups.yahoo.com/group/Ro...y/messages <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

I hope all keep in mind that weight is an enemy (one of many) while on a march. Its cool to see we CAN make ceramic canteens, but how would such a device compare in price to other materials? I'm a poor soldier and I have to ask my superior for money to get a container. What will he tell me to buy? Availability, Repairability and Replaceability too while on a hard march will also dictate whether any device is favored by a soldier or auxiliary, not to mention the camp followers. I can't tell you how many times I've woken up to a broken tea cup that I forgot to empty out the night before during winter and that too might indicate a variety of liquid containers were used throughout the year not unlike the soldiers in the US Civil War. <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Does anyone sell those flat ceramic canteens? <p></p><i></i>

[Ebusitanus]

I would say that the most logic method for someone on the march would have been the leather option. <p></p><i></i>

[TFLAVIUSAMBIORIX]

for troops in the southern Mediterranean a gourd canteen would be plausible, they are native to nearly all of africa <p></p><i></i>

[Lucius Aurelius Metellus]

Indeed. A gourd water bottle is what I use even now, slung in a net bag. From previous discussions on this list, I have also found out that gourd fragments have been found at the Saalburg in Germany, so a gourd canteen or water bottle there would be plausible as well. If it breaks, I just pick another out of the garden and keep on truckin' Gourds are actually very tough. <p>Lucius Aurelius Metellus, draconarius, Secunda Brittanica<br>
www.greeneknightforge.bravehost.com </p><i></i>