• ARCHAEOLOGY
  • Military science
  • Religion
  • Historical context
  • Agricultural archaeology
  • Beer
  • The vallus
• WALKING IN MALAGNE
• TEACHERS
• CHILDREN

The vallus

Some of the archaeological projects are real world scoops.

As for instance: the creating of the Gallic Roman beers in the very small ancient brewery or the building of a copy of the ancient vallus, the famous 'mowing machine of the Treviers' and its use by pulling the yoke during mowing.

Trial of the ancient tractor (vallus)

At the time of the Gallic Romans a hew or a spade were used for smaller soil exploitation. But for bigger ones, such as at Malagne, the famous Gallic Roman mowing machine named vallus was used.

Thanks to the cooperation with the mule Marius, Malagne have participated together with their scientific partners an experiment that was really unique in the world in the field of ancient pulling power. A vallus was reconstructed and a mule was put to it with the help of a yoke. Experience in this area made it possible for us to counterproof what history books tell. The ancient pulling system is often seen as inefficient and annoying for the animal in comparison to the middle aged shoulder equipment that is considered as a turn. However, tests proof that there was nothing to bother for.

The mule is lead between the bearers with its head in the direction of the collection point. The yoke, which is placed on its shoulders, is tightened to the bearers in the middle of the cords. During the work the conductor should be at the backside and fulfils a function of counterweight, but next to this is it his task to conduct the mowing machine to the right, to the left, up, down. A conpulsor that is placed at the front, presses with the help of a sort of a fork with a handle the ears of corn to the front until they get stuck in the comb. This mowing machine works only with breakable corns such as spelt or starch. The ears of corn break and fall in the collection unit. The worker will have to go forth and back on the same strip of land in order to collect all ears of corn that lean over the wrong side. A regular harvest is fast, efficient and leaves behind only few ears of corn.