04-03-2012, 02:33 PM
I don't see why you count all these soldiers as being on the march, or why this would exclude our "system".
The Cordus stele seems to me a soldier having (temporarily) swung his shield on his back (holding the straps used to hang it on his back, regardless of what 'system'), rather than really having it like that to go marching a few kilometres/miles. The soldier on the Mainz base could also be holding his shield with his hand (judging from your image, maybe it's more clear on other ones).
None of the soldiers is wearing a loaden furca (neither were we of course, but you'd say that it's possible that if they had a system for long marches, it could have been used for shorter patrols as well).
Of course it's all speculation. mile: But it is a really easy and comfortable way (as if you would be wearing a heavy backpack): just two straps going through the handhole, around the grip. The weight is evenly distributed on your shoulders and it is stable as well (it doesn't go swinging around, or turning around the handgrip).
The Cordus stele seems to me a soldier having (temporarily) swung his shield on his back (holding the straps used to hang it on his back, regardless of what 'system'), rather than really having it like that to go marching a few kilometres/miles. The soldier on the Mainz base could also be holding his shield with his hand (judging from your image, maybe it's more clear on other ones).
None of the soldiers is wearing a loaden furca (neither were we of course, but you'd say that it's possible that if they had a system for long marches, it could have been used for shorter patrols as well).
Of course it's all speculation. mile: But it is a really easy and comfortable way (as if you would be wearing a heavy backpack): just two straps going through the handhole, around the grip. The weight is evenly distributed on your shoulders and it is stable as well (it doesn't go swinging around, or turning around the handgrip).
Valete,
Titvs Statilivs Castvs - Sander Van Daele
LEG XI CPF
COH VII RAET EQ (part of LEG XI CPF)
MA in History
Titvs Statilivs Castvs - Sander Van Daele
LEG XI CPF
COH VII RAET EQ (part of LEG XI CPF)
MA in History