Welcome!

[Sarah]

Just to get things started, I would like those who join the group to give us a short run down of what aspects of pre-modern warfare they are most interested in and why.

For myself, I am most interested in the correlations between trade and ancient warfare, i.e, how the exchange of resources plays into the instigation of wars, and how it affects the outcomes. Second, I am quite interested in the different uses of equids (horses, donkeys, mules, etc) in times of war. I think it is the culture exchange implicit in both of these actions (war and trade) that has drawn me to them.

[Shayne Linder]

My current interest is warfare in the Archaic and Classical Ages of Greece. Looking at the changes and similarities and what caused them. For example how political changes lead to the institution of hoplite tactics, and how Demosthenes military campaign in northern Greece, during the Peloponessian War, lead to changes in his tactics later. using light armed forces to harass hoplite troops

[Sarah]

so, basically tactics? neat. i have learned (quite recently actually) about how the whole hoplite arrangement was use mostly just between greek city states, and that when they were fighting non-greeks they had to use different tactics. Here is a link to an article about the symbolism in hoplite warfare ... i thought it was pretty interesting. the other article is pretty informative about hoplite battle in general.

Cawkwell


Conner


or if you prefer i can just send them to you on yahoo sometime.

[Nicolae Roddy]

I have an interest in Iron II urban fortifications and monumental architecture in general, stemming from my involvement in helping supervise excavation of the largest and best preserved four-chambered gate of any Syro-Palestinian site. Identified with the biblical Tzer and the capital of the Geshurite kingdom, this city's massive fortifications fell to Tiglath-Pileser III in 732 BCE. The destruction layer was incredibly thick and temperatures in the smoldering ruins climbed so high that iron arrowheads were inextricably fused to burnt brick. I know less about the seige machines and other weaponry brought to bear on the Levantine cities, but I look forward to learning more from other members of this group.

[Sarah]

i just gotta say... that sounds wicked cool. you got any websites associated with this dig? I'd love to hear more about it.

[Nicolae Roddy]

Yeah! Thanks for asking! Check out another of my projects at www.virtualworldproject.org and navigate to the northern part of Israel, at the northern shore of Lake Kinneret (aka Sea of Galilee). Click on the white dot marked Bethsaida, hover the mouse over Area A at the right hand side of the plan in the lower lefthand corner and take a fully interactive virtual reality tour of the fortified city. If you want to participate there this summer, go to www.nicolaeroddy.net and click on the Bethsaida logo for information and an application.

[Randy Norris]

I more interested in the visible signs of damage to bones, made by various weapons. I can't really pinpoint which time periods i'm interested in, just military conflicts in particular.

[Sarah]

wow... also extremely cool. i always wondered what kind of signs would be left behind (if any) from an arrow wound, and if you would be able to tell it from other types of wounds.

[Sarah]

Do you guys think it would be useful to start separate discussions on each of these topics? i.e. Trade and Warfare, Archaic and Classical Greek Tactics on land, Urban Fortification and Siege warfare in Levant, and Osteological evidence of weapon violence.... ? Feel free to start your own discussions and all that. Cheers

[Marika Cotton]

Hi Sarah,
I too am interested more in the evidence of trauma left behind after battle. I have some paperwork somewhere of interest to you which I could dig out, but in the meantime you might find the following book interesting. OK, its not ancient warfare but pretty close, as many of the wounds are the same as for an ancient battle. Its an archaeological report of the dead from a Wars of the Roses battlefield:



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Red-Roses-Veronica-Fiorato/dp/1842172...

[JB]

Hi. Well, I really enjoy studying Ancient Greek military. Especially the wars with Persia. I find Phalanx battle tactics very interesting really. I like trying to answer the question " What effect did this battle have on the history of the two fighting peoples?" and even what have our modern day armies learned from ancient armies. That's the major reason I study it. I also like the correlation between war and trade or culture, but to a lesser extent then I do just learning about the the battles and wars that went on 2500 years ago. I really like learning about the weapons of the ancients. I actually am about to start building a Spartan style shield. Anyway, those are the reasons for my interest in warfare from that time period.

[Ben G.]

I am too interested in the osteological aspects resulting from violence. And the application of physical anthropology to battlefield archaeology.
I also have an (probably less academic) interest in classical Japanese martial arts and weaponry.
Don't like reenactment though. It might be fun, but I believe its only possible to reconstruct ancient methods of warfare and ancient martials arts to a certain degree. But maibe thats not really archaeology anymore. Although I think its relevant to archaeology.

[Sarah]

I know what you mean, about reenactments only being so useful. Reconstructing an ancient battlefield via archaeology, however, is a different story. And that is just where osteological violence would make a strong appearance. The information from physical anth, regarding growth patterns and adaptations to certain physical stresses (archery, armor wearing, sword swinging, cavalry, etc) is so important to understanding a battlefield... i think anyways. I wish i knew more.

Japanese warfare is pretty amazing stuff. from one on one martial arts battles to full scale armies engaging on the battlefield- it seems especially surreal and intriguing.