Roman battlefield found deep inside Germany

[mcbishop]

Update:
Dolabra close-up.

Hmmm. The more of the stuff I see coming out of this site, the more I doubt the battlefield (or Field of Conflict, as The Good Dr Coulston would insist I say ;-)) explanation.

Mike Bishop

[jho]

Hmmm. The more of the stuff I see coming out of this site, the more I doubt the battlefield (or Field of Conflict, as The Good Dr Coulston would insist I say ) explanation.

Interesting. Could you explain why?

To me it appears difficult to explain the bolt and arrow heads at Harzhorn in any other way than as remains of a battle. The new find spot is 3 km from the battlefield at Harzhorn and of the same date so it is hardly conceivable that it is not part of the same battle field.

Also, the large numbers of miliitaria including bolt heads, javelin heads, pila, fragments of mail, lorica segmentata and scale armor, the brow guard of a Niederbieber helmet and the „Thekenbeschlag“ would all fit well in a battle context. Finally, the dolabra and the other entrenching tools, the hipposandals and wagon parts,as well as the thousands of hobnails appear to fit very well in the context of a "running fight" fought by an army on the march and the spectrum of finds is actually surprisingly similar to the larger items found at Kalkriese.

Finally, the latest coin found dates to 228 AD; radiocarbon dates are said to indicate a date of ca. 230 - 240 AD. The dolabra possibly bears an inscription reads as: „LEG IIII F(laviana) S(everiana) A(lexandriana)“. What else would this equipment be doing here at this date?

[caiusbeerquitius]

Hmmm. The more of the stuff I see coming out of this site, the more I doubt the battlefield (or Field of Conflict, as The Good Dr Coulston would insist I say ) explanation.

Could you explain, perhaps?

As such I would´t be amazed if you were correct. Would certainly not be the first case, where Hypotheses became facts (or "factoids" as you would say, I presume) without being subject to any method. Or hermeneutic logic, at least.

See => Kalkriese / "Varus disaster"

[caiusbeerquitius]

Siggi,

they "were young and needed the money"

What? Another analogy to Kalkriese?

[Simplex]

GREAT -- now we're having a discussion.

Hi Mike,
...whereas I can follow your reservations against the recent finds to a certain extent,
I think one would be hard-pressed to offer reasonable arguments for the case that the
earlier finds were NOT made in a battleground context. :roll:

Hi Christian,
......w h a t ?! hock:
.... a n o t h e r analogy to Kalkriese ? :mrgreen:

Greez

Simplex

P.S. "Berichte zur Denkmalspflege" in Niedersachsen IV (or IIII like the old folks used to scribble)/2011 seem to contain more specific Infos which were the base of the recent press-releases. I'm gonna see to that as soon as time (and money!) allows for it.

[mcbishop]

GREAT -- now we're having a discussion.

Hi Mike,
...whereas I can follow your reservations against the recent finds to a certain extent,
I think one would be hard-pressed to offer reasonable arguments for the case that the
earlier finds were NOT made in a battleground context. :roll:

Mainly a gut feeling, I admit, but the spectrum of finds seems too rich (there even appears to be a cobbler's last in one picture!). It comes down ultimately to those Rumsfeldian 'unknown unknowns' (stuff we don't know we don't know) and trying to shoehorn a deposit into a rather crude 'battlefield' model. Kalkriese (since it has been mentioned once or twice) appears to be an excellent example of how taphonomic processes complicate and obfuscate a nice simple story (Romans ambushed, drop all their stuff) into a more complex one (stuff dropped, moved around and picked over, tidied up by Germanicus etc) so that it may not be 'the' Varusschlacht site, might be 'a' VS site, but may well be one of many VS sites (others yet to be found: unknown unknowns), all of which all-too-easily becomes 'we've found the site of The Battle of X!' (not deliberately, but simply because the processes involved are more complex than have been reconstructed or even can be reconstructed from the archaeological evidence). A battlefield never ever leaves a nice neat snapshot in the archaeological record, any more than Pompeii is a snapshot of everyday life around the Bay of Naples.

Artefacts are tricksy little devils and you have to box 'em on the ears and smack 'em on the bum to show 'em who's boss and, even then, they may flatter to deceive.

Hence my doubts :-D

Mike Bishop

[Simplex]

Mike,
.....discussion-- I didn't mean that sarcastic.
As opposed to some other postings of mine (other place :wink: ), I think I fully comprehend what you mean, and, yes the affairs with "marketing" Kalkriese do also give me
a slight uneasy feeling here. "Once bitten twice shy."
The interesting thing about Kalkriese was that they were quite "tight" on the probable
scene that happened there and were quite reluctant to directly attribute the finds to that (Varus)battle before 1991-92 AFAIR.
Then the financial fundings got scarcer from about 1994/95 on ..... guess what happened.
Noe, can we compare Harzhorn to Kalkriese ?
Yes and no. :roll:
No, because they didn't expect a battlefield of roman times there, rather more one from the middle-ages. They didn't expect roman incursions after 9AD into Germania Magna that far. As for the Varusschlacht -- ever since the 16th century nearly every place north of the river Lahn has been hold "suspicious" with at least one "local hero/historian" reasoning in favour of it -- this has been a target of jokes from the 19th on.
Yes, because they have been "driving" a "broadsided" press-campaign -- and this from quite early on and early touristic marketing rears its ugly head.
Roman archeology/history seems to be quite popular over here -- why not
exploit it ?!
I won't say more on that until I've read both essays in "Berichte zur Denkmalspflege Niedersachsens" the one mentioned above and the one in Volume I/2011 about the finds from 2008/2010.

So far

Greez

Simplex

Bynote:
An epigraphic paper on an officer of LEGIIII (In German)
http://www.komunikacija.org.rs/komunikac...stdlang=gb
....maybe shedding a little more light (still) on the affair.
The official Press-release (in German -- found no time to translate it, yet):
http://www.archaeologieportal.niedersach...1-2012.pdf

[Vindex]

Artefacts are tricksy little devils and you have to box 'em on the ears and smack 'em on the bum to show 'em who's boss and, even then, they may flatter to deceive.

Hence my doubts :-D

Mike Bishop

Dammit - wine spluttered all over my keyboard!! :mrgreen: Can we have a wrning next time please? :wink:

[Simplex]

This years' campaign at the Harzhorn will be terminated by next week -- after roughly
2 months of work by a staff of 20 led by Dr. Michael Meyer from Berlin Free University for the 4th time in a row.
A press-note with lots of pice gives a sort of "impromptu" resumee.
http://www.hna.de/nachrichten/landkreis-...cmp=defrss
I still miss clear informations on whether there was a germanic field fortification in the course of modern Autobahn A7 or not.
What this news above say is: The roman took another path uphill (from the direction of Sebexen), submitting their opponents to heavy crossfire from catapults and javelins.
A lot of hobnails, around 40-50 catapult bolts and a roman javelin have so far been found in the course of the excavations.
The obvious shortage of roman swords and germanic spears is probaly rooted in burial
customs: a german used to be carried away from the battlefield with his personal weapon -- his spear ! Dr. Meyer also expressed his astonishment about the fact that the germas could muster a sizeable levy against strong roman troups in an obviously
short time.
I'll have a look at when new evidence/findings will be published on th Harzhorn battle.

Greez

Simplex

[Simplex]

Most recent activities on YouTube (ca. 59sec /In German):



:mrgreen:

Greez

Siggi

[Simplex]

Finishing up the last week of excavations for this year at the Harzhorn, there will be an "Open Day" at the site on Sunday , September 9th from 11.00-16.00 h with lectures and guided tours.
Source:
http://www.dtoday.de/regionen/lokal-nach...5994.html

Greez

Simplex

[Simplex]

Dr. Petra Lönne (chief archeologist[ress]) on tour
e.g. 10th of October 2012, 18:00 MEZ at

Archäologisches Museum Frankfurt
Karmelitergasse 1
60311 Frankfurt – Altstadt
Telefon: 069/21235896
Telefax: 069/21230700
E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.archaeologisches-museum.frankfurt.de
Greez

Simplex

EDIT : Entrance free for members of the Frankfurt Historical-Archeological Society
Non-members : A donation of 5,--€ is expected so says the original invitation :
http://www.hag-frankfurt.de/downloads/ha...2012-2.pdf

[Medusa Gladiatrix]

There will be a big special exhibition on this battle field next year from September on in Braunschweig. Information in German only see here:

http://www.3landesmuseen.de/Landesausste...516.0.html

[Simplex]

As promised:
The Harzhorn callin‘ – or: How to spent a pleasant evening at Frankfurt/Main (Germany).
The Historic-Archeological Society of Frankfurt/Man had called upon their members ( and interested
guests !) for a lecture of chief archeologist Dr. Petra Lönne from the distict of Nordheim/Lower Saxony to report on the roman battlefield near Kalefeld(/Oldenrode/Harriehausen) – the so-called
„lost campaign of Rome“.
Having been at the Archeological Museum in the Karmelitergasse for quite a few times I thought that
arriving at Frankfurt Main Railwaystation some 75 minutes earlier would give me plenty of time to get there early – and tob e able to aks a few questions. Boy – was I wrong !
I simply had underrated my excitement and the fact the the skyline of Franfurt had chanced considerably ( again !) during the last 14 monthe when I ha last been there. Some of my „landmarks“ had literally gone up in dust.
When I finally arrived there „in short breath“ – just right in time—I was confronted with the fact that Dr. Lönne’s health did not allow her to participate.
Wow – but my bewilderment quickly changed to merry anticipation when we were told that her „Replacement“ this night was to be Dr. Michael Geschwinde, one of her distiguished colleagues, co-authoring some of her publications, and …the man in charge oft he Landesausstellung about the Harzhorn to be staged next year at Braunschweig.
This pleasant surprise nonwithstanding I had my problems deriving a sensible „writeup“ from what
I heard and saw – partly but not solely owed tot hat fact having been one of the last to arrive I had to take a seat a bit towards the back.
[Rem.:I’d guess there were about 100 people attending.]
IIRC Dr. Geschwinde took the recent spectacular find of a dolabra with the inscrition of one „LEG IIII“ to start his lecture, relating it to a memorial roman stone vom Speyer mentioned in the CIL (Corpus Inscriptorum Latinarum = Body Of Latin Inscriptions) which was about some „Vitalis“ from the LEGIO IIII Flavia Felix
at (its regular garrison-place) Singidunum/Serbia found in the context of other finds from the 3rd century AD. This inscription had always riddled scholars since ist discovery in ca. 1600.[Rem.: It is not preserved today, but has been published regularly ever since.
> D(is)M(anibus)
AVR(elio) VITALI
MIL(iti)LEG(ionis)IIII FL(aviae)
STIPENDIORUM VII VIXIT
AN(nos) XX^V AGENS
EXPEDITIONE
GERMANIAE FL
AVIVUS PROCL
US MIL(es)LEG(ionis)S(upra)S(criptae)
SECUNDVS HE
RES CON^TUBER
NALI BENE MER
E(nti) F(aciendum) C(uravit)
Translates probably like that:
"To the Gods of Death.
For Aurelius Victor
Soldier of the 4th Flavian Legion
Having lived 25 years
Participated in the expedition against Germania
Flavius Proculus
Soldier in the abovementioned Legion
(and)his heir
took care (of this gravestone)for
his tent-comrades' beneficial memory <
Up to now, some scholars have attributed this monumentum to the Expeditio Germanicae of Caracalla in 213,
where the LEG IIII also took part. CIL XIII, 6104—ILS, 2310; ILS = Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae/ Selected Latin Inscriptions]
Another inscription of a gravestone from Budaörs/Hungary (Grave 283) of one „Aurelius [---]nus“ dating in at the same „horizon“ which stated „…defunctus expeditione Germaniae“ was then introduced .
[AE 2004,1143 … also hitherto attributed to Caracalla’s „expeditio germanica“ ]
Then Dr. geschwinde preceeded tot he first main question :
How comes a find of an inscription referring to a LEG IIII from a piece of military equipment
(dolabra – a roman pioneers‘ piece of kit – kind of an axe AND pick), found amongst a host of related finds deep into the german woods ?
If it was from a battlefield – then from a battlefield that should not have been here !
Dr. Geschwinde then took a „recursio“ to the very beginning oft he whole affair.
[Rem.: Most of the story may already have been posted (or linked ) above.]
Back in 2000, two amateur archeologists Herr Dix and Herr Schütte took „a stroll out“ with their metal-detecting Devices. Somewhere in the woods near the Autobahn A7 their devices spotted some metal objects, which they dug out and took home. Due to other „pastime activities“ they did not further explore the objects that they thought were of medieval origin. When they finally posted pictures of their „candle-holders“ „on the net“—they were surprised to hear that more than one hints was give towards these parts being roman -- a horseshoe (hipposandal).
It had already begun to dawn on them that the scope of their finds might become bigger than they expected and given the fact that such diggings are deemed illegal under the laws of nether saxony they finally turned towards chief district archeologist Dr. Petra Lönne at nearby Nordheim on June 18th, 2008.
These „parts“ along with the probable finding-spot associated with them caused Dr. Lönne to „red-alert“.
Having been „nicked“ by illegal diggers on more than one occasion she instantly knew that prospections had to take place fast, in utmost secrecy, ebeing able to employ very limited „human resources“.
Only she and one of her colleagues [Rem.: Not sure whether I got that one completely!], reinforced by 2 excavation-technicians [ Rem.: Brangs and Schwarz] were the first persons available for prospecting a rather sizeable area. So more „human resources“, amongst them the „Ostfalen-Sucher“ ,a group of amateur prospectionists, that had already helped „the officials“ on several occasions before, were finally called to help. The prospections were upheld for about four months, making ample use of modern prospection technics utilizing GPS and SAPOS (= kinda GPS but with higher resolution) and also conventional optical surveyance devices, when finally more news about their activities began to leak towards the public,
that they’d thought to have been useful. So finally a press-conference was scheduled for Oct. 15,2008. (Rem.: Three days before it had already popped up on the screen of yours truly Simplex, by the way of Archeonews, who had spotted it even earlier, much to the grief of the persons involved in the affair.)
[Rem. : A lot of pictures weren give to illustrate Dr. Geschwindes descriptions – a 3x3 metres‘ projection in about lifelike size is much more impressive than merely seeing those pictures in newspapers, magazines or „on the web“ – rest assured !]
Quickly a great number a finds had been made, posing the problem how to exactly date the site –
At first overview the find could be dated to up to the Middle Ages and to Modern Times – in all.
Even fully functional pieces of ammunition from WW II have been found.
The majority, however could be attributed to roman times.
At this stage oft he lecture Dr. Geschwinde was quick to point out that the archeologists involved in
the early stages were by no means specializing in „roman affairs“ ,-- he and Dr. Lönne both had published on Stone Age and Middle Ages before extensively – including their master and doctorate theses. He presumed that this may have spared them some mistakes as they had to wait for „external“ expertises and trying new ways like e.g. catalogizing the finds not only by their nature and their exact finding spot but also according to their orientation.
Their first hypothesis therefore was concerning a roman „resting place“ or marching camp which was discarded rather quick given the size of the area and the distribution/dispersion oft he finds.
This latter hypothesis was also further „reinforced“ by the fact that the weapons/parts found showed clear signs of use.
[Rem.: A couple of impressive pictures underlined this.]
At that stage objects also showed up that could be clearly attributed tot he Germanic culture.
Dating the site remained still a little bit hazardous,then. With that in mind, Dr. Geschwinde recalled a conversation with colleagues: If we are unlucky we’ll have to call the Kalkriese folks telling them „their“ battlefield was in fact here.
Then a first dating of the coins found at the Harzhorn up to now came in.
Dr. Frank Berger from Frankfurt, who also had made some critical remarks on the Kalkriese coinage,
the oldest coin found was from the times of Commodus. [Rem.: IIRC 188/189AD]
Dr. Geschwinde then took a sidestep to explain that through a couple of more recent coin finds there, the site is now firmly dated. The majority oft he array of coins spans from coins of Heliogabalus to Alexander Severus, the latest one here dating to 228 AD.
This dating is further augmented of a sizeable number of C14-analyses of the wood still attached to the arrow-tips found „on-site“. Since the time-span between cutting the wooden shaft and use of the arrows is typically very short, the „verdict“ „second quarter of the 3rd century AD“ „counts high“.
All that points straight towards the end oft he reign of Severus Alexander ( slain in 235 AD).
At this time, Dr. Geschwinde introduced a victory memorial from Bonn-Beuel (right side oft he Rhine !) , which was set by the LEG I MINERVIA ( the Bonn household legion).
It can be dated into the year 231AD and while not referring expressis verbis to a victory over germans, its location
literally speaks for itself. [CIL XIII , 8017]
It was about the same time when roman history took a turn for the worse, when Ardashir I. , the first
Sassanian emperor finally overthrew his former hegemonials , the Parthi, and soon set out to conquer the land between Euphrat and Tigris.
Severus Alexander planned to counter his attempts, gathering a large expeditionary force and stripping the western provinces of a sizeable part of their military garrisons in that process.
[Rem.: It is „ruling opinion“ that this spured sizeable germanic incursions into the neighbouring parts oft he roman empire namely in the Wetterau [north-west of Frankfurt/Main] and even as far as Strassbourg in 233]
The(bad) news from their home territories spurred unrest amongst the troops in the eastern „theatre“. Severus Alexander tried to gain a „quick“ peace with the Sassanis, seemingly under conditions that were considered „dishonoring“ amongst most of his contemporaries and later history writers.
Back on the Rhine he gathered his troops in and around Mainz/Mogontiacum. (234/235)
The number and names oft he units there were „ronded up“ by one Angela Belezza, Dr. Geschwinde pointed out.
[Rem.: I was not quick enough to note down all oft he, so I’m leaving them out here.
As to Angela Belezza, it seems to have been her paper „Massimiano Il Thraco – published in 1964 at Geneva. ]
Dr. Geschwinde then singled out some of the Auxiliaries involved, Osrhoenic Archers, Mauretan spearslingers and especially the Ala Nova Firma Milliaria Cataphractaria a unit of heavy, fully armoured cavalry that had been raised in the East, 1000 strong.
The latter unit left „epigraphic“ traces e.g. the Bad Canstatt memorial stone to Aurelius Regrethus and Aurelius Saluda, members of that unit.
[Rem.: Since I can’t recall finds of a garrison that late around Stuttgart, I’d still hold the possibility of this unit being part of Gallienus‘ expeditionary forces on later occasions as mirrored by the inscription from Herbrechtingen-Hausen ob Lontal, near Heidenheim, Germany]
Rem.: More about it, here : http://chc.sbg.ac.at/lupa_new/monuments/.../menu:off/ in German; BTW: CIL 03, 05933;
> IMP(erator)] CAES(ar)GALI(enus)
GERMANICV(s)
INVICT(us)AV(gustus) <
Which roughly translates :
> To the Imperator Caesar Gallienus
the defeater of Germans
the undefeated Sublime < ]
END OF PART 1

[Simplex]

PART 2:
Severus Alexanders habit of keeping peace by paying subsidiaries to the enemy led to a revolt on
March, 18th or 19th 235, when he was slain by his troops togather with his mother and other relatives. The troops declared Gajus Julius Verus Maximianus, called „Thrax“, the „chief instructor“
of the expeditionary force Emperor. He was around 60 of age already, then.
He was a man that served „his way up“ ,rising to high ranks by merit, but he was not linked tot he senatory nobility of Rome in any way, which should bring his downfall, eventually.
Being a true soldier he immediately went to action, the sources stating that he won a big battle
„in the moor“. The distances given in the sources have remained controversial, as ist he location
„in the moor“ – which could be a mere „topos“ for remote locations of operations, rather than an exact description of the exact place.
Dr. Geschwinde then went back to the traces left by the people involved, both Romans and Germans.
It was obvious, so he said, that a essential part oft he finds also consisted of parts oft he „impedimenta“ like hipposandals (yes, ist plural!), metal harness-guides, yokes and their parts,
a bell of bronce [Rem.: Similar find at Kalkriese IIRC !]some wagonry parts like parts of hubs and associated pegs and other fittings.
Along with it came to lights a couple of tools like axes , especially dolabra [Rem.: yes, -- more than one !] and drawing-axes—although some could also have been used as weapons –from both sides.
Also a set of keys turned up and the cover of an ink-pot.
The distribution oft he finds clearly show a distribution from West to the East, as shown by
The pictures projected against the wall. [Rem.: D***, I need new glasses !]
It was in the later part (of the area), where typical roman weaponry turned up:
2 Pila, visibly used; parts of (at least ?) 2 helmets [Rem.: I’m not 100% sure whether the pics shown here depicted a Theilenhofen-type or a Heddernheim-type, but as 2 helmets from Frankfurt-Heddernheim will also be shown at Braunschweig next year, my vote goes for the latter type – definitely.] ,parts of lorica squamata, a bowed fibula, belt fittings for narrow military belts with small phallic idols attached and fittings for horses‘ harnessing.
[The lor. squa. giving a hint towards troops from the roman east, I‘d say.]
Dr. Geschwinde then came back tot he finds that first promoted the idea of a battlefield on that place at the Harzhorn : Missile-, bolt-, arrow- and spear-tips.
Basically there are a lot of tips for catapult-bolts, typical for roman military, then there are arrow-tips, mostly of the 3-finned types that are related to roman units and to a minor part ,some related to germanic warriors.
There are different types of spears and javelins, a minor part of them relating to germanic warriors,most of them related to roman military and the ones who have been found more recently in increasing numbers can clearly be attributed to Mauretanic spear-slingers, by their type.
[Rem.: And later by the way that they have been used, too ]
So far, no clear finds have been made that can securely be attributed to that Cataphractaria-units,that have been mentioned a spart oft he expeditionary force.
There has, however, a lance-tip of cm. 50cm lenght been found recently, but attributing it to
the Cataphractarii would still be speculatory according to „recent wisdom“.
Also another special kind of lance-tip has been found, which at first glance looks similar to a piece found at Trier [ IIRC Dr. geschwinde mentions Dr. Fischer to consider that type a spart of a vexillium], but with at least 3 times of the size of the „Trier-part.
The germanic lance-/spear-tips show a wider dispersion than their roman counterparts which show certain „centers-of-gravity“.
Now, asked Dr. Geschwinde, can we make a reconstruction of the battle already from the distribution of the finds ?
First the mapping-topography has to be taken into account.
The Harzhorn is forming a defile.
This the romans surely knew.
As the germans knew how the romans would act.
Adding to that ist he geographic situation :
On the eastside we have alumina earth promoting stagnative humidity.
From the old times on we therefore have all traffic connections running on the west side.
[Rem.: Therefore we should expect more finds in that area ?!]
The finds seem tob e arranged in „hotspots“ – five oft hem more „rich“ the others less.
Of major interests hereof are:
--„5“ – west of the main ridge
-- The Main Ridge, where the roman main attack seems to have been „aimed at“.
--„2“ – east of the main ridge
At the at „2“ [I,m not sure whether I got the right order here – folks I’ve been tired ;-) !] we have the remains of arrows and catapult-bolts clearly aimed from the north „into the slope“.
There seem to have been „centers of gravity“ with those, whereas the spear-tipe seem more widely dispersed.
At the Main Ridge we have the remains „arranged“ more disorderly.
The main direction seems to have changed towards east, then southeast, then south uphill left.
In the western part we have a direction to northwest indicated.
All in all one can assume that the „mixover“ in the center would indicate close-combat, centering along the Main Ridge. Two places uphill seem to have subjected to „cross-fire“, as indicated by the „main directions of fire“.
„5“ ist he most impassable area oft he hotspots in question. It is there where most oft he wagonry-parts,some more hipposandals and (roman?!) speartips have been found.
This could indicate roman mule-wagons tripping over down the slope with the mules probably panicking while being attacked.
Besides this area is another area with a dense array of finds already made, and since it is rather „new“ and has not been in the „center of interest“ for long, Dr. Geschwinde said he would not disclose ist exact location (the pics shows an area uphill !). It is there where the main finds of roman helmet parts, pila parts and roman spear-tips have been made along with a couple of coins --- but no arrow-tips and tips of catapult-bolts yet.
The roman projectiles (spears) are pointing towards northeast, densely packed with 5m distance between them at average.
Since a couple of wagonry parts have been made there, one may assume that mounted spearslingers may have
Performed a conter-attack against an asailment towards roman baggage.
With the „face“ of this battle probably slightly modified through new finds, Dr. Geschwinde posed the questuions if we could single out participants of this campaign.
On the germanic side we have no epigraphic evidence , leaving the question whether „noble burials“ like the
„Prince of Gommern“ may be exemplary fort he leaders on the germanic side.
The roman side however, is better „documented“ by far as we have one further memorial-/grave-stone from a member of the abovementioned Ala Nova Firma Milliaria Cathaphractaria, the Decurio Biribam Absei from Frankfurt-Heddernheim/Nida ( CIL XIII 7323).
Furthermore we have coinage struck by Maximinus „Thrax“ and a couple of inscriptions by him, although most of
Them were subjected to „damnatio memoriae /Condemn of Memory“ [= destroying/erasing inscriptions with the name oft he person subjected to the d.m.]
The next question Dr. Geschwinde turned to, was the one about „how did this area look like in roman times“.
Usually in those times the soil of Germania Magna/Libera ouside the area of settlements was covered with mixed beech-forest. This would have made the use of cavallery possible.
Also the uneven dispersion of finds would offer the conclusion that the area showed different types of „flora“ .
After a „recursio“ to his alleged „lack of knowledge“ in „Roman affairs“ Dr. Geschwinde then turned to the last question:
„What was the aim/objective of the roman action ?“
The geographical aim may well have been the Elbe, like it was 230 years before.
Factual aims would have been liberating prisoners from the germanic incursions beforeand/or depriving the incursors of their loot, finally : trying to keep the „Elbgermanic Expansion“ under control, a dynamic process which was in full bloom right then as finds from the Germania Libera, dating from this time, suggest.
Part of this is reflected by recent excavations in that area and the coin finds made with them.

As an afterthought --- I should have written this review while my memory was fresher – but, well, again ist a matter
of „time available“. Therefore I’d consider this as rather „quick’n dirty“ than „extensive“.
As always – this is open to discussion. Hints towards factual mistakes welcome. English is still a foreign languages to me, so : Misspellings are owed to lack of knowledge, time and sleep, not necessarily in that order – those who find them may keep them. [ I‘ve lost count of how many admendments I’ve been forced to make ] :mrgreen:

Ah yes , adding to my "frolics" was that I was unable to upload this as one.
As you see, I've worked my way around this problem. ;-)