As AD43 evolves, we are constantly looking for ways to improve the experience! One of the constant concerns we
have heard is ongoing complaints about non- or out of period, or even modern items in camp and on soldiers.
Effective April 2011, the following guidelines are implemented:
BASIC AUTHENTICITY GUIDELINES:
Clothing and equipment for AD43 should be as authentic as he modern world allows, tempered by some practicality.
Our goal is to recreate Roman soldiers, Auxiliaries, Celtic warriors and civilians as authentically as practically possible.
REMEMBER! We do have a lot of extras!! Do not get upset if you bought a trooper helm and
just found out it is unnacceptable! We all started that way and understand! We will have extra gear for you onsite!
ROMAN SPECIFICS:
Clothing--Linen or wool, preferably 100%, only blends that have the appearrance of natural fabrics.
Twills were common. Excellent Linens are available from www.fabrics-store.com.
Leather--Vegetable-tanned, top grain. Avoid splits, suede, and chrome-tanned leathers. Goatskin
and calf were common. May be dyed, and should be treated with oil.
Metal--Mild steel, NOT galvanized or stainless unless the difference is not seeable. Brass may be
used for bronze items.
Wood--Ash is best for weapon shafts and tool handles. Plywood is used for shields.
Armor and Equipment-- should be a minimum of Deepeeka "N" series standard.
Helms-- all Deepeeka "N" and newer models are acceptable. Some older Deepeeka style helms are grandfathered
in. No "trooper" style helms are acceptable.
Armor-- Lorica Segmentata's and Lorica Hamatas are accceptable, doublers preferred for the hamata, but
not required. Chain mail must be a minimum of 8mm butted, with rivetted/solid alternating 6mm preferred.
Lorica Segmentatas should meet at least current Deepeeka production models.
Time Frame-- Equipment for AD43 should be that reasonably expected to be seen in the field from AD13 to
AD73. Generally speaking most LATE PRINCIPATE, EARLY IMPERIAL equipment is accepatble.
Roman Tunics-- We are aware of the arguments for and against tunic colors, the decision has been made
by the event staff to follow these color schemes for AD43. Lafe is what it is. Please comply with the event guidelines.
Legionaries: Should be a rust or brick or dark RED color.
Auxiliaries: Should be Green, darker preferred. If guidance is needed
or you want to know what unit to portray, the generic impression is a "Batavian" auxiliary, though others are very welcome.
Marines: Blue, light sea foam to royal is preferred.
Other color ROMAN tunics must be approved by the event (not field) staff. Cloaks should be at least 80%
wool. This is a safety consideration as wool is naturally fire resistant! (and water resistant too).
Braccae-- are acceptable if the weather is cold, as are closed toe military sandals.
Socks-- should be at least natural wool colored knit ragg wool socks. Naalbinding preferred, though
civil war era ragg wool socks are acceptable. Absolutely no white socks.
CELTIC SPECIFICS:
Clothing-- Fairly complex patterns can be woven into the cloth in addition to the the more simple, and
common, dogtooth, houndstooth, herringbone and twill weaves. You will need to ensure that modern patterned cloth is actually
achievable using ancient techniques. Anything that looks like a 'clan' tartan is usually best avoided ! Very bright
colours can be made using ancient dysestuffs that are 'fast' (i.e. they don't fade too badly), although it is true to say
that some colours are not easily attained or fade very quickly. For that more authentic look, you could wash the life out
of your tunic to get that "faded/not quite fast" look.
Colour-wise, you are on safest ground with blues (although not
too deep a colour), yellows and browns. Natural coloured linen (off-white with a yellow or pearl-grey tinge) or wool that
has its natural brown or "dusty" grey colours are great.
White can be made by using the whitest wool and/or by bleaching, but is probably less practical in terms of everyday
cleaning for your average Briton.
Red is a colour best kept to a minimum, as the only means of producing red cloth is via dyes that are not native to
the British isles. Also avoid black and scarlet. Purple is almost unobtainable beyond the trading infrastructure
of the Roman world.
Celtic Armor-- It is believed that the "celts" invented mail sometime in the late first millenium BC.
It proved to be so popular that it remained in use for another two thousand years, in one form or another. There have been
enough fragmentary finds, and one complete set, which indicate that is was being used, although we are unsure as to how exactly
how common mail was among the Britons.
The find at Kirkburn, which is very much pre-roman invasion by maybe a couple
of hundred years, indicates that British Warriors are using what is termed the "italic" style of shoulder doubling with fastener.
It is possible the shirt is roman in origin, but given other more fragmentary finds of mail then it's equally possible it
is of native manufacture. The other finds are, on average, of larger section link than the typical roman types and often of
the simpler butted construction method, which adds weight to the conclusion that mail is made locally for native consumption.
.
Minimum standard for mail is 8mm butted steel, with 6mm rivetted or celtic/roman riveted solid preferred.
Celtic Helms-- Generally must meet at least Deepeeka "N" standards. "Captured" Roman helsm
are acdeptable.
Celtic Swords-- Generally must meet at least Deepeeka standards
TENTAGE:
Tents-- Tents that expect to be located in the fort MUST be tan, brown, or leather, generally at
least a Panther Primitives Papilio standard. No white tents are allowed in the Fort. White tents are allowed
in the Vicus and Celtic Homestead areas. How to stain your white tent brown: http://legvi.tripod.com/armamentarium/id310.html
ANACHRONISMS:
Modern Containers-- We have all had that "perfect" photo ruined by a plastic water bottle or coke can! With
that in mind ALL MODERN ITEMS MUST BE HIDDEN at all times!! Let's repeat that:
ALL MODERN ITEMS MUST BE HIDDEN at all times!! Periodic inspections by Event and
Fiend Staff will insure this occurrs. Drinks should be consumed in period containers. Meals should be eaten on
period plates. If you must have a 12 pack in your tent, it MUST be hidden (or it may be confiscated by your Centurio)!!
Plastic containers and storage boxes are the ENEMY!!! Hide them well! At the
least a blanket should be thrown over them. We recommend bringing period bags for your modern clothes instread of a
suitcase. The less you have to hide, the easier it is to comply! Burlap bags may hide coolers. Blankets
can cover sleeping pads and bags. Modern containers for WD40, Glue, and screw top bottles should always be
hidden. Empty cans, bottles, etc should be disposed of in an appropriate container. FOR SAFETY'S SAKE, FOOD STORAGE
IN PLASTIC IS FINE, JUST KEEP IT HIDDEN! Each event will have a designated "POLICE CALL" officer who will inspect
for anachronisms! This officer gets his butt chewed if the Event staff inspector finds anachronisms,
so do as he asks! Please comply in the spirit of a re-enactor striving to do better. This is
an EVENT STAFF rule that must be enforced by the FIELD STAFF.
IT IS ONLY POLITE TO HIDE YOUR ANACHRONISMS AS WELL AS POSSIBLE!! PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW
REENACTORS!
NOTE: We have found that using brown or black flat spray paint makes many plastic things easier
to hide! Coolers, boxes, and bright blue, silver, and green plastic things tend to disappear if spray painted brown
or black! Definitely a way to make it easier on yourself to hide your modernisms!
EYEGLASSES: Fact of life, some folks have to have them. These are allowed with the caveat
that they be removed as often as possible for photos, etc. Persons with glasses should strive to hide them as much as
possible and avoid being in photos with them on.
