On the end of Haltern

Abstract

The question whether the main camp of Haltern (Kr. Recklinghausen) was in use until AD 9, whether it then was reused until AD 16 or whether it was in continuous use for the whole period, is subject to scholarly controversy. The most important observations are the barricades of the South and East gate, the missing of an uninterrupted layer of destruction, killed soldiers buried in a pottery kiln and »disturbances« in the cemetery. The latter will not be discussed here as the evidence is not yet published in detail. Original excavation reports show that the situations at the two gates are too different as to be interpreted in the same way. An uninterrupted layer of destruction is not to be expected considering the existing sandy ground, however, in many pits burnt layers were observed. According to the interpretation of the excavator, the killed soldiers in the pottery kiln relate to events immediately after the defeat of Varus. There is therefore only insufficient evidence for a re-use after the destruction.