History Challenge & Journal

[dtaai-maai]

Long shot - Is it a wolf/bear trap... ?

That's actually quite an interesting interpretation, as you'll see when you know what it is. The nearest so far for purpose.

[Siani]

So the region is Wales?

[dtaai-maai]

Did I say that?

[STEVE G]

Is it some kind of defensive feature? Something to stop cavalry.

[dtaai-maai]

Defensive most certainly, cavalry - unlikely.
You're definitely heading in the right direction, Steve!

[Frank Hovis]

To stop chariots?
Somewhere in northern europe on the edge of the Roman Empire, Germany maybe?

[STEVE G]

Roman seems right; apparently they were called Lillia's and had spikes at the bottom.
I think they're at Rough castle in Falkirk:
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/f ... ughcastle/

[dtaai-maai]

Spot on - well done!
Part of the Antonine Wall, north of Hadrian's Wall, and something I confess I'd completely forgotten about until I started looking around for a wee challenge.

[sandman67]

see....I sodding knew the alternating pattern was relevant. The pattern mirrors the chequerboard Roman Manipule battle formation....which the troops would have been highly familiar with so they would have known how to retreat through the "minefield" ....the same way wounded men from the front lines were passed diagonally back through the gaps between the manipules.

Clever buggers those Romans.

[Jimbob]

An easy one for General Sandman and D-T
where is this place, and what was important about it?

[dtaai-maai]

It's a star fort, innit - I'll have to get back to you on which one though.

[Siani]

It looks to be American ? The building inside look French which what look to be like Dorma type windows and red roof. The "houses" inside look to be like cottages in Brittany, but in Brittany all the roofs are slate or stone. Close?

[Frank Hovis]

I watched a programme on TV about this place, can't remember the name but I'm sure it was 1750(ish) and somewhere on the US/Canadian border?. Held by the French and (American) Indians and attacked by the British. They had to scale some huge valley wall to get to the fort and were beaten back by the French and when that failed they decided to wade across some mudflats instead and were beaten (to death) by the Indians, but I think somehow the British did manage to take the fort.
Could it be Fort George, but I'm thinking Fort George is in New York, but there must a few Fort Georges around.

[Siani]

YES FH could be on the right track...French Canadian?

[dtaai-maai]

Well, I was thinking of Fort Henry(?) in Baltimore, but I've had a look at that and it's bigger. Now I'm stumped