ROMAN MILITARY SIGNALLING

Woolliscroft, D. I.

ISBN 10: 0752419382 / ISBN 13: 9780752419381

Published by Tempus, 2001

About this Item

Paperback; very good in card covers. First edition. ; Signalling techniques pioneered by the Greeks and developed by the Romans, and their application at Hadrian's Wall and the German Limes. Illustrated. ; 191 pages. Seller Inventory # 50917

Bibliographic Details

Title: ROMAN MILITARY SIGNALLING

Publisher: Tempus

Publication Date: 2001

Binding: Paperback

Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition

About this title

Synopsis:

The ingenuity and technology of the ancient world never ceases to surprise and signalling demonstrates both to the full. There has, however, never been a study of Roman signalling in English, nor has anyone previously tried to operate the techniques described in the classical manual.
Dr Woolliscroft's study is in two parts: first he describes the signalling techniques pioneered by the Greeks and developed by the Romans; then he looks at the application of these principles to Hadrian's Wall and to the German Limes, as revealed by archaeological research. In each case he finds that, despite difficult terrain, the layout allows nearly all the small observation posts to see, and thus signal to, one of the main garrison forts. Since on occasion this caused marked tactical weaknesses in the line, it is clear that signalling was given high priority by the frontier designers. Similar results are now being found elsewhere in the Roman world, suggesting that all Rome's very different looking frontier systems may have an underlying uniformity
With 80 illustrations and complete with an Appendix containing all the key classical references to signalling, this is a study that will be indispensable for anyone seriously interested in the Roman army or in frontier studies.

About the Author:

Dr David Woolliscroft is a specialist on Hadrian's Wall and an experienced air photographer. He is currently Director of 'The Roman Gask project', a long-term programme to study the Roman frontier on and around the Gask Ridge in Perthshire.