In the German land of Saxony-Anhalt, archaeologists have identified the first settlements of Roman legions along the Elbe River. This discovery, announced on January 15, became a real "archaeological sensation" for historians, as these areas were previously considered inaccessible to Romans.
Rim military outpost
According to research, the camps found around Aken, Trabis, and Dersheim are the northeasternmost military fortifications of the Roman Empire within Germany. For a long time, it was believed that the Romans did not reach the Elbe after the defeat at the Teutoburg forest.
Satellite & Amateur Support
Modern technologies and devoted enthusiasts made a great contribution to this historic discovery:
- Search process: In 2020-2024, two amateur archaeologists studied satellite images and noticed suspicious underground structures.
- Finds: During the excavations, more than 1,500 items were found, including iron weapons, clothes hangers (fibula), and ancient coins.
- Emperor Denarius: The discovery of a silver coin from the time of the Roman Emperor Caracalla in Trabitz helped to establish the exact period of the camp.
New pages of history: 3rd century AD
The finds confirm that Roman armies conducted large-scale campaigns against Germanic tribes at the beginning of the 3rd century AD - in particular, under Emperor Caracalla in 213 AD and Maximilian I of Thrace in 235-236 AD.
- Previous impression: Previously, it was believed that the Romans, after the defeat in 9 AD, were limited only to defense.
- New fact: the traces of the camp in Saxony-Anhalt are the first material evidence that the Roman army penetrated into the depths of Germany and attempted to establish strategic control over the banks of the Elbe.
Clash with German tribes
The emergence of a new and strong tribal union in German territories in the 3rd century AD posed a serious threat to the Roman Empire. According to archaeologists, these camps were temporary military fortifications built to contain this threat and protect the empire's borders.
These military campaigns, which have not survived in written sources, now force us to rewrite history in the language of artifacts found underground.
What, in your opinion, could have prevented these camps of the Roman Empire on the Elbe from becoming permanent cities?
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