This week we built and attempted to use basic Roman surveying equipment. The groma, pictured above, has four arms arranged in a cross with weights hanging down from their ends, and from the center. By lining up three cords with a distant point (as Soren and Ruby are doing here), you can guarantee points in…
Group F Data: Measurement
Group Members: Isabel, Rahim, Bee, Eila The Experiment: We used ancient measurement techniques to complete several different tasks involving drawing out straight lines and right angles onto a field. Most of the data collected was qualitative, since the experiment largely revolved around our experiences using the Groma. A Groma is an ancient tool which allowed…
data collection – measurement group A
Road building: In about an hour we were able to build a road from the north-most tree on the field outside Anderson Hall to the grass outside Gould Library. Our road had three right angles and crossed over two sidewalks. We were able to use the groma to easily pass over these areas of cement. …
Group E Data: Week 9 (Measurement)
Group Members: Luisa, Marta, Jake, Dylan This week, our lab was once again dominated by qualitative data that came from our experiences working with our group’s Groma. Our group completed three tasks: outlining two templa (one 7x7m, the other 14x14m), building a “road” across part of campus, and centuriating part of the “Midi” Bald Spot…
DATA REPORT WEEK 9: Group D
This week, we constructed a set of surveying tools and proceed to use them in measuring and surveying various areas around campus. The groma, a set of weights suspended from an X-shaped set of bars, was used to make straight lines and right angles, a very useful thing in charting roads, foundations, and other such…
Group A Tactics Data
This week’s lab was very much focused on the experiential side of things, as we were trying to asses the battle formations of the hoplite, the phalanx and the maniple in three very qualitative metrics: the time needed to learn the basic functions within the formation, the feeling of safety within the formation, and whether…
Week 8: Group D Tactics Lab Data
Group D: Ann Beimers, Will Brewster, Em Jahn, Morgan Dieschbourg For this week’s lab on tactics, collective involvement in the various types of movement and action was key in gaining insight into ancient Greek and Roman military formations. Initial questions: How fast is the learning curve? In a group, can we accomplish all three tactics:…
Data Report Week 8: Tactics
Our research questions: Formation 1: the greek hoplite Equipment: Description of formation: Notes on the formation in action: Formation 2: the phalanx (mass transition to this tactic in 338 BC) Equipment: Description of formation: Notes on the formation in action: Formation 3: the roman maniple Equipment: Description of formation: Notes on the formation in action:…
Group F Week 8 Data Collection: Tactics
This week’s experiment into ancient military formations ended up being much more experiential than it was experimental. The questions we were investigating, such as the learning curve for each formation and ease of tactics or holding positions, are quite subjective metrics to try to quantify and so we generally asked ourselves how we were feeling…
Group C Tactics data
This weeks data is primarily qualitative as there was not a lot to measure quantitatively, especially as we were all constantly involved in the movement and action. Hoplites We spent about 40 minutes working on the hoplite formation including figuring out the positioning, trying different formations, and attempting to fight each other (gently). We used…