Sarcina
The crossed pole is a furca and is made from ash. I used a draw knife to reduce the
diameter to approximately an inch. The kit bag, the loculus, is constructed from tanned
goat skin. The primary pattern for this comes from Trajan's column (a drawing suitable
for cutting leather is on the legio XX handbook). One possible kit bag has been found.
It fastens by means of a studded ring. Next to the furca pole is my dolabra, a roman
pick axe. The head I purchased from Albion Armours and it is fitted to a modern axe
staff. My primary reference for the roman marching kit is the article "The mule of the
soldier" by N. Fuentes (Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies Vol. 2). Here are
more detailed photos of the loculus:
diameter to approximately an inch. The kit bag, the loculus, is constructed from tanned
goat skin. The primary pattern for this comes from Trajan's column (a drawing suitable
for cutting leather is on the legio XX handbook). One possible kit bag has been found.
It fastens by means of a studded ring. Next to the furca pole is my dolabra, a roman
pick axe. The head I purchased from Albion Armours and it is fitted to a modern axe
staff. My primary reference for the roman marching kit is the article "The mule of the
soldier" by N. Fuentes (Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies Vol. 2). Here are
more detailed photos of the loculus:
While on the march the legionaire encased his shield, the scutum, within a goatskin
cover. The cover attaches to the scutum by means of a drawstring. I obtained the
vegetable tanned goatskin for both the loculus and the scutum cover from Le Prevo (a
domestic supplier, not of the colored chrome tanned stuff that is sold for book bindings,
but of naturally colored vegetable tanned goat is Siegal of California.). Here is my
scutum cover:
cover. The cover attaches to the scutum by means of a drawstring. I obtained the
vegetable tanned goatskin for both the loculus and the scutum cover from Le Prevo (a
domestic supplier, not of the colored chrome tanned stuff that is sold for book bindings,
but of naturally colored vegetable tanned goat is Siegal of California.). Here is my
scutum cover:
Some sort of harness is needed to carry the scutum while on the march. As no actual
harness has survived, some experimentation and speculation is required to determine
the harness's form. My harness follows the design of Junkelmann (refer to the
illustration on page 177 of his book, "Die Legionen des Augustus"). Florentius has also
developed a variant of Junkelmann's harness. It allows the scutum to be carried across
left shoulder and behind one's back. A horizontal strap goes across the right shoulder.
Note that I've riveted the brass rings together. They would surely break if simply
soldered.
harness has survived, some experimentation and speculation is required to determine
the harness's form. My harness follows the design of Junkelmann (refer to the
illustration on page 177 of his book, "Die Legionen des Augustus"). Florentius has also
developed a variant of Junkelmann's harness. It allows the scutum to be carried across
left shoulder and behind one's back. A horizontal strap goes across the right shoulder.
Note that I've riveted the brass rings together. They would surely break if simply
soldered.
