Roman Army School 2019 will run from Friday 29th March to Monday 1st April, at St Chad's College, University of Durham. This year the theme is:

Roman Artillery And Sieges

The subject is inspired by the recent publication of Alan Wilkins' Roman Imperial Artillery. Alan and his colleague Len Morgan will speak and also demonstrate their replica Roman artillery pieces at Binchester Roman Fort. Guy Stiebel will lecture on recent work at Masada and other sieges in the East and Jorit Wintjes on artillery in the field. Graham Sumner will be on hand to put colour onto sculptural depictions of Roman artillery. Lawrence Keppie will talk on inscribed ballista balls and sling bullets. Other speakers include David Breeze and Val Maxfield on the evidence from Britain.

Lecture Programme

Friday

15.30 - 17.00   Arrive, Meet and Greet. Tea, Coffee, Biscuits.

17.00 - 18.30  Welcome Session.

18.30 - 20.00  Evening Meal.

20.00  Bar Open in Atrium.

Saturday

08.00 - 09.00  Breakfast.

09.00 - 10.30  A Stone Throw...Artillery in Roman Judea. Guy Stiebel.

10.30 - 11.00  Tea, Coffee, Biscuits.

11.00 - 12.30  Roman Artillery on the Battlefield. Jorit Wintjes.

12.30 - 13.30  Lunch.

13.30 - 15.00  Masada Shall Not Fall Again? News from the field. Guy Stiebel.

15.00 - 15.30  Tea, Coffee, Biscuits.

15.30 - 17.00  Getting your message across: inscribed ballista balls and sling bullets. Lawrence Keppie.

17.00 - 18.30  Unleash Hell: the Roman Army on Screen. Graham Sumner.

18.30 - 20.00  Evening Meal.

20.00  Bar Open in Atrium.

Sunday

08.00 - 09.00  Breakfast.

09.00 - 10.30  Catapult Research 1840 to 2019: Progress and Regress. Alan Wilkins.

10.30 - 11.00  Tea, Coffee, Biscuits.

11.00 - 12.30  Vitruvius' Ballista and Constructional Techniques in the Fabricae. Len Morgan.

12.30 - 13.30  Lunch.

13.30 - 18.30  Artillery Demonstration at Binchester with short tour of the site.

18.30 - 20.00  Evening Meal.

20.00  Bar Open in Atrium.

Monday

08.00 - 09.00  Breakfast.

09.00 - 11.00  Vespasian in Britain. Val Maxfield.

Burnswark: Siege, Training or Display? David Breeze.

11.00 - 11.30  Tea, Coffee, Biscuits.

11.30 - 12.30  Discussion.

12.30 - 13.30  Lunch.

13.30  Depart for Home.

View or download the Lecture Programme here.

To book a place at the conference please go to the Bookings page.

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