Re-enacting the Generic Age

[Tim Edwards]

On attending an event in Germany in 06, I spent several hours touring other re-enactor's displays.
One particular group confused me. I spent a long time privately trying to work out what period they were, before eventually having to give up and ask.

The reply was that at this event they were representing first century AD Germanic tribesmen, but they also did late Roman and Migration era. I've studied as an Archaeologist, and been reenacting for over a decade, but failed to find even one reconstruction in the display that was diagnostic Iron Age.

I do not wish to be too harsh on this group, who I'm not going to name, but I will say that I have seen a great deal of this in ancient and early medieval reenactment, of piles of generic kit, not copied from anything excavated from the period, but purchased cheaply off the internet with a minimum of research. Moving from group to group, a member of the public will often see the same equipment in every camp, from 500 BC to 500AD.

The equipment of a Generic Age Re-enactor might be the following:
V necked linen tunic, tartan dog blanket, synthetic Wool mix trousers, penanular brooch, half a dozen pendants inpisred by 'Celtic' designs, round shield with spun boss and nailed dog chew rim, with suitable Book of Kells 'celtic' knotwork, rusty axe and spear bought cheap from India. The camp set up will feature several dozen sheep skins and baskets from IKEA, some generic iron pots, and the inevitable machine stitched linen awning.

I'd like to write this approach off as individual FARB types just having a bit of fun, but I fear Generic Age reenactment has a popular following...

I'd love to see a paradigm shift...

[Denis Grabow]

I agree with you that quite a few groups use generic equipment. Some more, some less.
Maybe it is because not everyone has the time, and/or money and/or dedication to research for the right equipment. Maybe they don't know where to look. Maybe it is because they can't obtain it all at once. And this is especially true if you are a group and have a whole campsite to provide. And I know some, who are not experts. And when they ask a merchant if the particular brooch fits the right century, and the merchant says "Yes", they believe him.

I admit, I use generic equipment myself. A lot. But I do my best to replace that stuff with period fitting equipment when and where I find it. Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary skills to produce my own kit. So I have to rely mostly on bought stuff from fairs and exhibitions.

This is not meant as an apology by the way. ;) But maybe it is one possible explanation for the FARBism in groups. The other of course is plain lazyness.

[J Meijer]

I'd love to see a paradigm shift...

I agree completely.

First, I have to admit that I've been active in this hobby for only a year and a half, but I've been 'researching' early Germanic history for quite some years now.
Also, my impression is far from perfect, but I'm always the first person to point out anything that might be wrong about it (for example: the weave pattern of my trousers is a bit off).
I don't mean to sound like an utter bastard and elitist, but few things frustrate me as much as seeing someone who's 'clearly' a 'crossover', passing it off as true, honest history.

The argument of 'not-enough-money' is something which I somehow link mostly to re-enactors who walk around like a chieftain carrying a sword, helmet and in some cases chainmail.. For some reason they do have the money to buy those things, but not enough to buy an accurate reproduction of a fibula instead of the all too familiar fantasy omega-brooches.


Joost

[Alex Hovorka]

On the subject of not having the skills or the money to make your own good kit (not to single you out Denis, I've just heard that before). An accurate iron age kit is not hard to reproduce. I started wearing tunics with viking style gores and neck holes and complicated multi-peice shoes. The more research I've done and the more accurate I've become I've definitely started having way simpler outfits. Just a rectangle for with slits in it for a tunic, tapered sleaves, three piece pants, and one piece shoes with a hook belt, is all you need and you'll be more accurate than a lot of people and these things take minimal stitching and cutting, thats why they're period. It's because people made and wore them everyday so they were very simple.

Weaves and period leather of coarse get complicated and pricey but if you look in the right place I've found some great stuff for very little.
Tandy Leather Factory sells entire veg tanned calf hides for $50
Pendleton Wool sells blankets that with a little wear and knowledge of period weaves, are actually really decent fabric, $70 (kinda pricey but some of the patterns are not all just generic tartans and Navajo blankets)
I don't know if I'm lucky or something but I also can buy plain weave hand woven wool (solid colors) from a local place for $10 a yard
Military surplus blankets are around $15 for a huge amount of wool, probably around 6x6 feet (as far as I and the people who sell them can tell 100% wool) and not all of them are felted or have writing on them
Most wool thread is 25% poly-somethin but it really gives you the feel of sewing with wool thread, and is not hard to find or expensive. Any fiber shop will have it for felting, $2.00 for a spool.

I thought I'd put some info out for people looking for reasonably priced, accurate fabrics and leather. If anyone wants to try to order some hand woven fabric from the local place I mentioned just let me know and I'll see if I can get them to ship. Their color selection is pretty limited but they're really cool cats.

There is also reasonable evidence from specifically the Hjortspring bog finds that a small but not rare amount of people in an Iron Age army (at least in Denmark) would have antler spear heads (just a spike on the end of a stick, maybe a serration or a hook) instead of metal. I know 138 spear head were found and I think 20-30 were antler or bone. If this was a ritual practice or just out of necessity is unknown but it definitely was not unheard of at least in areas with less iron. This is cheap and easily made equipment for war.

I have also already given some information on this forum for obtaining and tanning your own hides for literally no money but most people don't seem to be interested (and apparently in Britain you can't get brains legally). Though tanning is not your only option, for the floor of your tent or a mat by the fire a scraped raw deer fur from a game processing companies dumpster is perfect. I get mine for free along with all the head and bones I want. Just make sure it dries flat.

Rant done...

[Tim Edwards]

The group in question seemed to be nice people, as most reenactors are. It would have been inappropriate to have confronted them and start poking holes in their interpretation, just beacuse it was different to mine.

I can accept that everyone is learning, I know I still am, but I'm nonetheless tiring of seeing Generic Age Reenactors preaching to the public on accuracy. I also find claims that so many groups are conducting 'Experimental Archaeology' highly dubious. I don't think there is a wide appreciation of what Experimental Archaeology really is. Peter Reynolds would turn in his grave...

Another thing that I feel stymies reenactor's impressions, is the tendancy to develop several different era mainstream impressions at once, rather than be progressive in just one area. Another reason for the rise of the Generic Age!

I don't put myself on a pedestal either btw, I'm only conscious of several errors because I've made many myself!

There are still those I meet on the Roman circuit who would raise eyebrows at how much it costs for a hand woven 100% woollen twill tunic, but would unquestioningly pay the same for a poorly made and ill fitting Indian made helmet.

I do see a ray of light in the form of the Internet. For the Romans, the RAT form has been excellent for raising awareness of source material and differing interpretations. The growth of online kit guides also makes me optimistic.

[Folkert van Wijk]

In the end, it al starts with finding the right information and/or the right person(s) to get it from.
This takes actualy more time and energy than that it takes money.

And then indeed site's as these or Rat and some others could be of great help.
I can understand that it´s difficult or expensive to find or buy the right archeological books.
But it costs allmost nothing to read your way through all the threads here and ask around to all its knowledgeable members.

So next time that I run into a Generic (iron) age group my advice would be log on to Kelticos and learn, and get a feel of what Iron age reenacting is about.

[Alex Hovorka]

I agree, this site really changed my perspective completely on almost everything I thought I knew. I remember, like most people, my first post on this site consisted mostly of "This site is so amazing, I've been trying to figure these things out for so long!".

[Denis Grabow]

Sewing isn't much of a problem. I made my tunic myself as well. A simple t patterned tunic with a slit for the head. Trousers will be my next project.
Leather and metalworks is my real problem. But I digress.

I always point out where my equipment isn't historical. And I never claim to be accurate. Be it in a conversation with a fellow reenactor or when I talk to visitors.

And Alex, thank you for your tips. They are appreciated.

[Edwin Deady]

To return to the generic clothing question. What are people's opinions about adopting the minimalist possible approach in some instances. For example, the problem of the correct brooch, If an authentic for the period brooch is not to hand or can be afforded then one alternative is to have a cloak held by a brooch but one that might be wrong. Would then a cloak held by a large thorn or whittled bit of wood or bone be wrong as well or might one cover the point by expediency which is the same now as in the Iron Age, I need to fasten a cloak and I haven't a brooch so I will use the natural material to hand?

Skin and sinew were available so a cobbled together skin cloak is what I might have if the old woman had been dilatory on the loom. We accept bare feet in Living History so why not simple gathered "bags" for shoes, pampooties of rawhide perhaps.

Not for best but after some time on campaign wool and leather wear out, things get lost and all armies extemporise.

Edwin

[J Meijer]

To return to the generic clothing question. What are people's opinions about adopting the minimalist possible approach in some instances. For example, the problem of the correct brooch, If an authentic for the period brooch is not to hand or can be afforded then one alternative is to have a cloak held by a brooch but one that might be wrong. Would then a cloak held by a large thorn or whittled bit of wood or bone be wrong as well or might one cover the point by expediency which is the same now as in the Iron Age, I need to fasten a cloak and I haven't a brooch so I will use the natural material to hand?

Skin and sinew were available so a cobbled together skin cloak is what I might have if the old woman had been dilatory on the loom. We accept bare feet in Living History so why not simple gathered "bags" for shoes, pampooties of rawhide perhaps.

Not for best but after some time on campaign wool and leather wear out, things get lost and all armies extemporise.

Edwin

Actually, thorns have been mentioned by Tacitus if I'm not mistaken. So at least there's some literary evidence for it..

In any case, I firmly believe something is going wrong when you CAN afford a sword (no matter the quality), helmet or chainmail but can't afford a decent brooch.

There are quite some finds of skin cloaks, so no discussion on that needed. They've been mentioned a couple of times on this forum.
As for the shoes.. Wouldn't know, no expert on them, but I personally haven't seen evidence of 'pampooties' beyond the Bronze Age.

[Edwin Deady]

Perhaps not the right section but thoughts on expedient costume and i wonder if one could build a truly lower order, scruffy impression. Spears made from branches with no metal are attested from both the Hjortspring deposit and Tacitus. Clubs are mentioned in Irish literature as well. So our utter barbarian figure has a skin cloak (could be his only garment according, again, to Tacitus) but modern custom dictates that he has rough trousers or tunic as well. He has a club thrust through a piece of leather tied round his waist (reef knot rather than granny please) and carries two all-wooden spears and his feet are bare or covered in rawhide laced up "bags". "I don't know if he frightens the enemy but by G.. he frightens me".

Such a figure or even a squad of them could be generic but very effective in displays and very cheap to produce except that the cloaks might be good to be made from appropriate skins for the area they are supposed to be in which could be expensive. For me if doing such an impression I would like to keep the maritime theme going and have a sealskin cloak that modern mores probably forbids. In this case is it acceptable to have "fake" fur or to compromise by using cowhide or sheep/lambskin or the very thin deerskins?

Edwin

[Alex Hovorka]

I would love to see a lower class persona. I've been toying with the idea for a while.

Hjortspring bone spears are a good example and maybe even oil tanned leather clothing (or at least pants). I've worn through a couple pair of pants at the knees from general work everyday. I personally am looking to make a buckskin pair of pants to work in. If I was weaving my own cloths I wouldn't where them to work in. This of coarse is quite a bit a speculation.

Hide tanning like buckskin I've found is very effective a cheap way of making effective leather without having to worry about rot in the tannin bath and the grain slipping. Especially for shoes that don't last long and need to be soft enough to be comfortable. A couple months back I experimented with rawhide shoes and it really didn't turn out well. Though island people in Ireland used soaked rawhide shoes up until the 30's. I swear I don't know how they did it. Mine got extremely warped after a couple weeks and would constrict my feet to the point of being painful. I had to find a source of water every few ours to wet them a little again.

One can effectively buckskin a hide in a matter of a couple days for effective shoe leather. Then its just a matter of hanging it in your house to smoke. I don't know how long this would take but I'm sure in a house constantly full of smoke it wouldn't take long.

Having plain weave, solid colored clothing, that sort of thing, would be a good way of showing that maybe you might have to do your own weaving along with all the other chores that go along with iron age life. I'm sure not every wife was the best weaver that Celts are portrayed to be. Or maybe you didn't have a wife at all and had to trade for spun yarn to weave yourself.

A fearsome farmer on the battlefield would be a refreshing site among all the decked out nobles.

[Sarah Hare]

I agree, we need "Less chiefs and more indians"!

The only proviso I would put on the farmer/ peasant look, would be to not make the representation scruffy.
Poor, yes, but still neat and clean!

Quote from Ammianus Marcellinus, re. the Gauls;

"They are all exceedingly careful of cleanliness and neatness, nor in all the country...could any man or woman, however poor, be seen either ragged or dirty"

Quote from M Dillon & N Chadwick book " The Celtic Realms" P 155.

[Edwin Deady]

Not even the farmer peasant but from the backwoods perhaps living by trapping and fishing. But then a skin cloak won't get ragged nor will bare skin.