Das Kampfareal von Kalkriese

Fallstudie einer antiken Konfliktlandschaft

Abstract

The battlefield of Kalkriese, which can in all probability be associated with the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (AD 9) known from historical sources, has yielded many Roman coins and pieces of equipment beyond the main site at ‘Oberesch’. To gain a better understanding of the scenario in which the extended armed conflict between the Romans and the Germanic tribes took place, a detailed archaeological study of the Germanic settlements in the area around the turn of the era was launched. In addition, the hypotheses developed on the basis of the material from the Oberesch site were improved. In particular, the consequences that post-battle processes, especially looting, had on the possible interpretation of Roman finds from the entire study region around Kalkriese, were taken into account.
The combination of settlement archaeology and battlefield archaeology has now presented a more precise picture of the conflict  landscape, which has yielded evidence attesting a series of attacks on the passing Roman army. Against the background of the indigenous infrastructure, the distribution of fragments of army equipment makes it possible to reconstruct in more detail the itinerary of the marching Roman troops and how they reacted to the attacks by the Germani.

Digital supplement: https://doi.org/10.11588/data/CSYOYU