Marcus Aurelius should be viewed as the ideal role model for Roman Emperor because he was able to deal with natural disasters, economic crises, military campaigns and governmental issues.
The 3rd century crisis of the Roman Empire is generally considered to be a consequence of developments within various segments of the Roman Empire (social unrests and uprising, economic instability, inflation etc.) and external influences... more
The 3rd century crisis of the Roman Empire is generally considered to be a consequence of developments within various segments of the Roman Empire (social unrests and uprising, economic instability, inflation etc.) and external influences (devastating barbarian raids and military conflicts). Many scholars mentioned amongst others the effects of an epidemic event, which could have led to significant interferences within demographic, institutional and economic structures in various parts of the Roman Empire. Our present state of knowledge concerning quantitative and qualitative impact of the so-called Antonine Plague (or Galenic Plague) includes considerable differences in estimated death toll figures, resulting in the range of many millions. Besides its role due to the further development during the 3rd century AD, a non-negligible part of the epidemics has to be considered during the 2nd half of the 2nd century AD in the region where the most intensive part of military conflict of the Marcomannic wars has taken place – the Middle Danube region, within the provinces as well as beyond the Roman borders. The latest state of research of the Roman military presence at the Germanic territories point out both extensive and intensive form of occupation.
Bakalárska práca sa zaoberá rímskou výzbrojou a vojenským vybavením, ktoré boli archeologicky zachytené na území stredodunajského barbarika. Z chronologického hľadiska sleduje celé obdobie doby rímskej od vzniku provincie Panónia (11 p.... more
Bakalárska práca sa zaoberá rímskou výzbrojou a vojenským vybavením, ktoré boli archeologicky zachytené na území stredodunajského barbarika. Z chronologického hľadiska sleduje celé obdobie doby rímskej od vzniku provincie Panónia (11 p. n. l – 350/375 n. l.). Cieľom práce je druhové a typové triedenie nálezov, analýza z hľadiska priestoru, nálezového kontextu a časového zaradenia. Nemenej dôležitým cieľom je prepojenie analyzovaných nálezov s historickými udalosťami, v súvislosti s ktorými sa mohli dostať na skúmané územie. Práca preto zahŕňa vymapovanie jednotlivých nálezísk, charakteristiku územia stredného Dunaja a barbarika z pohľadu histórie, charakteristiku rímskej výzbroje a výstroja, druhové i typové triedenie nálezov, priestorovú analýzu, nálezový kontext a časové zaradenie nálezov a aj ich následnú interpretáciu.
The bachelor thesis deals with Roman military equipment and accoutrements archeologically captured on the territory of Middle Danube Barbaricum. From chronological point of view it traces the period of the entire Roman period since the establishment of the Pannonia province (11 BC – 350/375 AD). The main aim of the thesis is findings´ type classification and classification of species, the analysis in terms of space, context of findings and time classification. The important aim is also connection between findings and historical events in connection with which they may have reached the research area. The thesis also includes mapping of individual places of discovery, characteristics of the Middle Danube and barbaricum from historical point of view, characteristics of Roman equipment and accoutrements, type classification and classification of species, spatial analysis, finding context and time classification of findings and their subsequent interpretation.
The paper deals with the issue of Roman archaeological finds and assemblage in the Malá Haná region in the context of substantial strong Germanic settlement activities that had or may have had connections to the period of Marcomannic... more
The paper deals with the issue of Roman archaeological finds and assemblage in the Malá Haná region in the context of substantial strong Germanic settlement activities that had or may have had connections to the period of Marcomannic wars. During the last decade of research in particular on sites near Jevíčko town in was possible to gain a lot of knowledge on the issues of settlement of the Early Roman period. In addition to Roman imports, related to trade activities, a whole range of artifacts (especially militaria) can be associated with the movement of the Roman army deep in the Barbaricum or directly with the orthernmost Roman temporary camp near Jevíčko. The Malá Haná region thus becomes an important research area for a detailed interpretation of Roman-Germanic interactions at the end of the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Roman-Barbarian contacts are a special phenomenon and enjoy a long tradition in various fields of archaeological research on the Roman Period in the Middle Danube region. One of the most interesting forms of these relations, which vary in... more
Roman-Barbarian contacts are a special phenomenon and enjoy a long tradition in various fields of archaeological research on the Roman Period in the Middle Danube region. One of the most interesting forms of these relations, which vary in type and intensity considerably, are traces of military confrontations dating into the period of the Marcomannic wars. Next to the known sites with evidence of Roman military presence in Mušov-Burgstall and Iža, our knowledge of spatial deployment, dynamics and structure of Roman military offensive forces on Germanic territory is primarily based on the research of the so-called temporary camps. During the last decades, our state of knowledge in this field of research has improved considerably through the discovery of numerous new temporary camps of the Roman army as well as through the compilation of all available information on this research topic. It was the aim of an international research project, among other things, to determine the topographical location of the temporary camps, their chronological classification and period of use as exactly as possible. In a second step, an attempt was made to define their role within the overall geostrategic concept of the Roman offensive forces. At present, we register 16 localities within the Marcomannic settlement zone west of the Little Carpathians, where it has so far been possible to distinguish or reconstruct a total of 26 separate temporary military camps or their phases. East of the Little Carpathians, in the settlement area of the Quades, we now know 6 sites with 20 identified fortifications. The purpose of the presented paper is to give a comprehensive overview of the current state of research.
The paper examines the lacuna in Cassius Dio's books covering the reigns of Antoninus Pius and the first half of Marcus Aurelius. On the basis of evidence showing that the narrative of the years 138-169 was lost to the later epitomizers... more
The paper examines the lacuna in Cassius Dio's books covering the reigns of Antoninus Pius and the first half of Marcus Aurelius. On the basis of evidence showing that the narrative of the years 138-169 was lost to the later epitomizers of Dio, it is argued that the two excerpts of Dio (69.15.3 & 71.3.1a), which are presently edited within the lacuna should instead be allocated into the sections prior and after the lacuna. The first case - the visit of Pharasmanes to Rome - is explainable on the basis of Cassius Dio's writing method; while the latter case - the invasion of Pannonia by the Langobardi and Obii - is explained to be more understandable when allocated to the year 169. In addition, serious doubt is cast on the origin of the two fragments from the Suda (s.v. Martius; Zeugma) that are presently edited into Dio's book 71.
Keywords: Cassius Dio; Ioannes Xiphilinus; terminology; Pharasmanes; Marcomannic wars; Macrinius Vindex; Parthian war
Mařín hillfort and its surroundings in the Roman period. The concentration of finds from the Roman period, including militaria, together with the configuration of the terrain with its relicts of extinct roads in the form of cuttings in... more
Mařín hillfort and its surroundings in the Roman period. The concentration of finds from the Roman period, including militaria, together with the configuration of the terrain with its relicts of extinct roads in the form of cuttings in the hilly landscape west of Jevíčko is evidence of the existence of a road in the Roman period, the embouchure of which was controlled by a short-term Roman camp. Artefacts and the strategic situation of Hradište hill with its wide visual surveillance enable us to form the hypothesis of a possible forward guard point controlled by a Roman garrison in this place. The finds could as well represent lost items, or evidence of the ritual behaviour of Barbarians.
The amber road was primarily a via publica, maintained by colonies as well as municipia, which were each subject to different rights of intervention by the governor and thus the imperial house in questions of infrastructure. It was a via... more
The amber road was primarily a via publica, maintained by colonies as well as municipia, which were each subject to different rights of intervention by the governor and thus the imperial house in questions of infrastructure. It was a via militaris only where it passed through territory with a special military status, so for example at the time of the Marcomannic Wars in the passport area between the Regio X and Noricum, and during the first two centuries CE in the area of Strebersdorf metalla.
About the alteration of Roman swords during the 2 nd century AD and its state in the period of the Marcomannic Wars : A comparison between archaeological well documented Roman Army swords of the 1st and otherwise of the 3rd century AD... more
About the alteration of Roman swords during the 2 nd century AD and its state in the period of the Marcomannic Wars : A comparison between archaeological well documented Roman Army swords of the 1st and otherwise of the 3rd century AD reveals clear differences in their kind of blades as well as in the designs of the hilts and scabbards. The present paper deals with the question, when and in which way the alterations took place during the 2nd century AD. Important clues for a serious scientific evaluation are thereby the archaeological small finds from the period of the Marcomannic Wars (AD 166–180) as well as the presented weapons on the reliefs of Traian's Column (AD 113) in contrast to that on the Column of Marcus Aurelius (AD 179–183).
During the rescue archaeological excavations from the site of Schineni – ‘La Islaz’ (2017-2020), a multi-layered site was identified, dated from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. The aim of this paper is to present the coin finds from... more
During the rescue archaeological excavations from the site of Schineni – ‘La Islaz’ (2017-2020), a multi-layered site was identified, dated from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. The aim of this paper is to present the coin finds from the 2nd-4th century AD settlement. Five Roman imperial denarii were discovered inside three houses (H6, 17, 20). All coins came exclusively from the earliest habitation level of the site (ca. AD 106-170), which is divided into two chronological phases. The earliest issue (denarius of Vespasian, H17) belongs to the first occupation phase of the site (ca. AD 106-150). The remaining denarii (of Domitian – H17, Hadrian – 2 pcs. – H6 and H17 and Marcus Aurelius / Lucius Verus – H20) were discovered in the upper layer, which represents the second habitation phase of the site (ca. AD 150-170). Some of these relics even bear the traces of the fire that led to the destruction of the housing complexes and the cessation of the first habitation level. Among this small coinage batch, there are some very particular issues, such as: a denarius subaeratus (of Vespasian) and two pierced denarii (of Domitian and Hadrian). So far, most of the Roman coins from a ‘Free Dacian’ site have been discovered in the settlement of Schineni. The fact they were found in clear, well-dated archaeological contexts contributes to the understanding of the chronology of Roman coin finds in this part of the Barbaricum. The imperial denarii arrived in Western Moldavia in already formed hoards likely since the first half of the 2nd century AD. Starting with this early period, the local population, of ‘Geto-Dacian’ origin, reworked and awarded them with new functions, different from those held within the Empire.
The Roman-barbarian interactions along the Middle Danube Limes exhibit a wide range of forms, from peaceful contacts and trading activities to full-scale military conflicts. The direct evidence of the latter type of events represents a... more
The Roman-barbarian interactions along the Middle Danube Limes exhibit a wide range of forms, from peaceful contacts and trading activities to full-scale military conflicts. The direct evidence of the latter type of events represents a specific source of archaeological information – generally referred to as temporary camps. The regions of Moravia, W Slovakia and Lower Austria, which could be considered as a Marcomannic settlement territory, currently encompass 24 verified Roman military field installations. The specifics of these archaeological contexts and the present unsatisfactory state of knowledge have raised the necessity of approaching the given questions with advanced techniques, not least with respect to their chronological position. Along with multiple methods and analytical procedures of relevant natural sciences (geophysics and geochemistry, archaeobotany, microstratigraphy, etc.), radiocarbon (14C) dating has also been involved in order to further establish the chronological position of temporary camps because the archaeological data provide limited possibilities in this respect. In multiple cases, the method has augmented traditional dating techniques and allowed more secure establishment of the chronological position of the field camps of the Roman army. Using a series of 14C data and synchronizing it with other records obtained during the last years of an international research project, it has been possible for to establish dating of many camps on more solid ground. The data so far do not provide any dating support allowing the camps to be associated with the campaign against Marobuduus in 6 AD. On the contrary, in most instances radiocarbon data clearly contribute to their assignment to a group of Roman military structures from the period of the Marcomannic wars of the emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Roman camps in the Middle Danube region as geographic, military strategic and cultural defined places of mobilitiy The variation in spatial context in the barbarian lands north of the Danube, which were populated by the germanic tribes of... more
Roman camps in the Middle Danube region as geographic, military strategic and cultural defined places of mobilitiy The variation in spatial context in the barbarian lands north of the Danube, which were populated by the germanic tribes of the Marcomanni and Quadi, and the axial nature of the main watercourses in the region were the basic natural conditions for penetrating the landscape and for potentially carrying out the geostrategic plans of the Roman occupation forces. In particular, the distribution of evidence of the latter’s presence creates favourable conditions for spatial analysis using GIS (Geographic Information System) to help resolve questions relating to the Roman military occupation of the barbarian territory. Concerning the character of the activities of individual military contingents of various sizes and different operational deployment, we mainly used the tools available for analysing how the landscape could be crossed as a continuous space through modelling potential marching routes. Knowing this is crucial not only for identifying potential communication corridors for the transfer of military units, but also for the study of the possibilities for provisioning such units in campaigns that could last over long periods in a territory without a secure road network. Although many different factors must have influenced the selection and planning of these routes, the principle of minimal expenditure of movement in a variable geomorphological context can logically be regarded as one of the most important aspects. Apart from the courses of modelled routes and their buffer zones in the form of corridors (which reflect the potential for lateral variation), the distances covered by a socalled day’s march were inferred from existing estimations, analogous situations and directly calculated costs within the modelled linear courses of potential routes. This not only makes it possible to compare the difficulty of the various modelled routes and assess their role in the overall scheme of the Roman army’s occupation strategy, but also offers the possibility to predict the location of further, yet undetected, traces of the Roman military presence in the barbarian territory.
The author studies in this article a funerary inscription from Aquileia. The man has been killed by latrones intrusi. The author expresses the opinion, that these latrones can be identified as the Marcomans and the Quads who have broken... more
The author studies in this article a funerary inscription from Aquileia. The man has been killed by latrones intrusi. The author expresses the opinion, that these latrones can be identified as the Marcomans and the Quads who have broken into Italy (intrusi) in the 170 AD. Further on the author analyzes the terms latro and intrudere and puts together the literary and epigraphic sources that use these terms for barbarian peoples from outside of the Roman Empire, especially for Sarmatians and Quads.
The cremation grave from Vlkov nad Lesy, which was discovered by J. Celler, a pupil of a local municipal school, at the location of Vyšehrad in around 1910, represents an important complex dating from the second half of the 2nd to the... more
The cremation grave from Vlkov nad Lesy, which was discovered by J. Celler, a pupil of a local municipal school, at the location of Vyšehrad in around 1910, represents an important complex dating from the second half of the 2nd to the early 3rd century AD. Its importance lies in the fact that the cremation was placed in a bronze, Westland-type cauldron. Along with the mentioned urn, the grave also contained two iron stuhlsporn-type spurs, a deformed sword and other small objects. The grave and its nature build on the traditions of burials in bronze vessels of the early Roman period. This phenomenon can be considered as a typical sign of rank of the barbarian elite.
The finds from Kariv offer a great deal of material for discussion; on one hand with regard to the trans-regional contact networks of the barbarian elites in the 2nd century AD, and on the other, with regard to the connections of these... more
The finds from Kariv offer a great deal of material for discussion; on one hand with regard to the trans-regional contact networks of the barbarian elites in the 2nd century AD, and on the other, with regard to the connections of these elites with the Roman world and their involvement, in particular, in the events known as the Marcomannic Wars (AD 166/168–180). Whereas previously known finds had focused attention mainly on the northern part of the Central Danube region and on areas along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, the Suebian cauldron from Kariv now extends this focus eastwards to include areas which have hitherto received little attention in this context: the eastern periphery of Suebia and the areas of eastern Europe beyond, and the territory occupied by the Western Balts. From the point of view of Roman Imperial archaeology, Graves 1 and 2 from Kariv are amongst the most important and interesting discoveries of recent times. A series of questions arises merely from the situation of the find site, in an area on the periphery of the 2nd-century Empire that was obviously subject to a settlement dynamic which has not yet been sufficiently studied, and was not one of the known settlement centres.
Das Forschungsprojekt zu den römischen Feldlagern nördlich der Donau konzentrierte sich auf die Erprobung verschiedener Methoden zur Untersuchung dieser temporären Strukturen. Die Analyse historischer Karten sowie von Luftaufnahmen,... more
Das Forschungsprojekt zu den römischen Feldlagern nördlich der Donau konzentrierte sich auf die Erprobung verschiedener Methoden zur Untersuchung dieser temporären Strukturen. Die Analyse historischer Karten sowie von Luftaufnahmen, unterschiedliche geophysikalische Messmethoden, Rammkernsondierungen, Metalldetektor-Surveys und kleinräumige archäologische Ausgrabungen wurden angewandt. Die untersuchten Strukturen sind von sehr großen Dimensionen (Engelhartstetten: 46,57 ha, Ruhhof: 36,5 ha, Kollnbrunn: 23,3 ha), aber neben Graben / Toranlagen sind keine antike Innenstrukturen dokumentiert. Im Zuge eines archäologischen Strategie zur Erforschung römischer Feldlager wird eine Kombination aus geophysikalischen Prospektionen, Rammkernsondierungen und / oder kleinräumigen Grabungen und Metalldetektorsurveys über den Grabenverläufen empfohlen. Im Zusammenhang mit den Forschungen der Nachbarländer Slowakei und Mähren eröffnete die historisch-archäologische Analyse der Daten des Projektes im Nordosten von Niederösterreich völlig neue Einblicke in die Organisation der römischen Militärpräsenz sowie in die verschiedenen strategischen militärischen Maßnahmen außerhalb des römischen Reiches nördlich der Donau.
An archaeological situation documented in 2016 in the cadastral territory of Boršov (Svitavy district, Pardubice Region, Czech Republic) contained more than 70 metal artefacts scattered mostly over an area of 5 x 2 m. The finds were made... more
An archaeological situation documented in 2016 in the cadastral territory of Boršov (Svitavy district, Pardubice Region, Czech Republic) contained more than 70 metal artefacts scattered mostly over an area of 5 x 2 m. The finds were made with the use of metal detectors in an otherwise unsettled space in close proximity to defunct roads crossing a sharp local terrain fault. The finds were concentrated on hilly terrain between two slight watercourses. The collection is composed mainly of fragments of intentionally broken artefacts made from a copper alloy, castings of the mouth of casting channels, ingots, as well as craft tools, coins, a fragment of a bronze mould, fibula parts, etc. The assemblage dates to the end of the Marcomannic Wars or the period immediately following them and documents a close relationship with the processing of non-ferrous metals. The assemblage also contains antiques, especially in the form of a La Tène belt hook.
The article focuses on the problem of the "internationality" of finds from the "royal" burial complex of the second half of the 2nd century AD discovered near Mushov in Southern Moravia. Although the burial was robbed in antiquity, a... more
The article focuses on the problem of the "internationality" of finds from the "royal" burial complex of the second half of the 2nd century AD discovered near Mushov in Southern Moravia. Although the burial was robbed in antiquity, a large number of objects was found inside the burial chamber. Some of them are definitely of Provincial Roman origin, whereas others were manufactured on the territory of Barbaricum. Among the latest group three objects (two belt-buckles and a spearhead) were ornamented, as we believe, with Saarmatian tamgas widespread in the Northern Black Sea area during the first centuries AD. Sinca the closest analogies to the Sarmatian tamgas from Mushov are known from the northwestern Black Sea coastal regions or more precisely within the reconstructed Alan-Sarmatian kingdom of Inismeus dated to the second half of the 1 - the beginning of the 2 c. AD. Thereupon we suggest that tamgas from Mushow resulted from armed hostilities with the Alan-Sarmatian kingdom. Moreover we suggest that Germanic tribes Sarmatian signs as military trophies.
The author presents the movements of the Przeworsk culture warriors basing on written and archaeological sources but utilizes also the results of anthropological research. The warriors participated in military enterprises, viz. the raids... more
The author presents the movements of the Przeworsk culture warriors basing on written and archaeological sources but utilizes also the results of anthropological research. The warriors participated in military enterprises, viz. the raids but also more important ventures aimed at different areas (i.a. to the north-Vimose on Funen, and southeast -Čatyr Dag on Crimean Peninsula). Anthropological studies suggest that what was important for them was not the permanent direction, but tantalizing goals accomplishable in a military way. Possibly the warriors participated in retinues, also multi-ethnical ones, as described by Tacitus. It seems possible that the Przeworsk culture warriors occasionally collaborated with the Balts, but also the Wielbark culture warriors. Whether they occupied a privileged position among the Barbarians is still uncertain, but the Przeworsk culture forms of weapons imported and imitated in neighbouring cultures seem to suggest that for a long time they were treated as 'role model' warriors. The loss of their leading military impact in the Younger Roman Period should be linked with the increasing position of the Scandinavians with their well-equipped and stratified armies, probably fighting in the battle order. Written sources and weapons appearing as elements of grave furnishing, although not so frequent due to changes in the burial rite, suggest that it did not erase Przeworsk culture zealots from the military sphere. Detailed studies of sacrificial bog/watery sites, found in the territory of Poland, Scandinavia, and maybe also Lithuania and Latvia, have allowed finding further evidences of distant warlike expeditions.
První čtyři století našeho letopočtu prostor středního Podunají zastihují ve výrazně bipolárním uspořádání. Sousedství dvou odlišných světů, Římské říše a germánských společností za jejími hranicemi, provází řada různých forem vzájemných... more
První čtyři století našeho letopočtu prostor středního Podunají zastihují ve výrazně bipolárním uspořádání. Sousedství dvou odlišných světů, Římské říše a germánských společností za jejími hranicemi, provází řada různých forem vzájemných interakcí od „mírových“ obchodních kontaktů až po rozsáhlé vojenské konfrontace. Zejména ty poslední zanechaly zřetelné stopy v literárních a také v archeologických pramenech. Těžiště těchto stop spadá do období římsko-barbarského konfliktu označovaného jako markomanské války, které se s různou intenzitou odehrály mezi lety 166 až 180 n. l. V rámci tohoto konfliktu se měla římská vojska dostat hluboko do barbarských území středního Podunají. Variabilita prostorového kontextu naddunajského barbarika, osídleného germánskými kmeny Markomanů a Kvádů, a axialita hlavních vodních toků přirozeně formovaly základní podmínky regionu pro prostupnost krajiny a pro možnosti naplnění geostrategických záměrů římského okupačního vojska. Zejména geografická distribuce jeho stop vytváří vhodné podmínky pro aplikaci prostorových statistik prostřednictvím GIS (geografických informačních systémů) při řešení otázek římské vojenské okupace na barbarském území.
From the first to the fourth century AD, the Middle Danube region was in a significantly bipolar state. On their border, two entirely different worlds, the Roman Empire and Germanic communities, interacted in many ways. There were peaceful trading contacts as well as extensive military actions. Especially, the latter left obvious traces in both literary and archaeological sources. These traces lead to the period of the Roman-barbarian conflict known as Marcomannic wars, which took place with varying intensity between AD 166 and 180. In this conflict, the Roman troops got deep into the barbarian territories of the central Danube area. The variability of the spatial context of the barbarian territories, inhabited by the Germanic tribes of Marcomanni and Quadi, and the axiality of the main watercourses, naturally formed the basic conditions of the region for the permeability of the landscape and for the possibility to fulfill the geostrategic intentions of the Roman occupation troops. Particularly the geographical distribution of their traces creates suitable conditions for the application of spatial statistics through GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to deal with the issues of Roman military presence in barbarian territory.
In the Central Danube region, the largest number of Roman temporary camps is known from the surroundings of Brigetio (Komárom-Szőny). In the southern foreground of the legionary fortress, aerial reconnaissance has revealed traces since... more
In the Central Danube region, the largest number of Roman temporary camps is known from the surroundings of Brigetio (Komárom-Szőny). In the southern foreground of the legionary fortress, aerial reconnaissance has revealed traces since the 1990s, and in parallel, their growing numbers on the northern side, in Slovakia, have become known. The camps are basically related to the Marcomannic Wars, but this could only be stated on the basis of analogies, since, unlike our northern neighbour, their verification took place only in 2015-2016 by geophysical survey and trial trenching in some cases in Hungary. In parallel with the excavations, small-scale metal detecting survey helped in their dating. Our investigations mostly confirmed the Roman origin of the phenomena, and we were also able to obtain data on the structure and stratigraphy of the V-shaped ditches. The small number of finds from metal detecting partly coincides with the observations on the other side of the Danube, however, a broader spectrum beyond the Marcomannic Wars could be identified, which may be partly related to Roman land use.
This article describes the state of research on the Roman bronze vessels, brooches and the Terra Sigillata, which were found and published in Moravia until 2010. The results show that the typo- logical composition of these finds... more
This article describes the state of research on the Roman bronze vessels, brooches and the Terra Sigillata, which were found and published in Moravia until 2010. The results show that the typo- logical composition of these finds changed consid- erably before, during and after the Marcomannic Wars. The investigations are affected by a lack of an analysis of Roman coarse ware pottery, which is strongly represented in Moravia and the landscapes of Lower Austria north of the River Danube. Trade and political contacts of the Germanic elites are dis- cussed as reason for the presence of Roman products in the area under investigation.
The archaeological traces of the Roman-barbarian confrontations represent a specific group of information sources for understanding of complex aspects of the various interactions of the two profoundly distinctive worlds – Roman and... more
The archaeological traces of the Roman-barbarian confrontations represent a specific group of information sources for understanding of complex aspects of the various interactions of the two profoundly distinctive worlds – Roman and barbarian. Despite the first evidences of the Roman presence come from more distant past, only during the last decades there has been a significant progress in available archaeological sources and data. Besides the distinguishing forms of military installations of more permanent nature (Mušov-Burgstall and Iža), the most significant testimony of the direct presence of the Roman military power throughout the Germanic settlement regions of the Middle Danube region is represented by temporary field camps. Presently there are positive evidence of 26 camps from 16 localities to the west and 21 camps from 7 localities to the east of the Little Carpathians. Except them, among the available sources of information also count indirect indices of probable interactions in form of the finds of the Roman military equipment and weaponry within the local Germanic context or as stray finds. According to the present state of research and ascertained archaeological and other relevant multidisciplinary data the most of the evidences can be associated with the historical period of the Marcomannic wars.
Bronze fibula found near Loštice (district Šumperk, north Moravia) belongs to the type Almgren 125. Bronze fibulae of this type have been discovered very rarely, mostly in the territory of contemporary Poland (in women graves), most often... more
Bronze fibula found near Loštice (district Šumperk, north Moravia) belongs to the type Almgren 125. Bronze fibulae of this type have been discovered very rarely, mostly in the territory of contemporary Poland (in women graves), most often from localities of the Przeworsk-Culture. Recently these fibulae have been found in the area north of the middle Danube too. They are dated to the period of the Marcomannic wars (B2/C1). It seems, that typologically they are close to the type Almgren 129.
An accidental find of mainly bronze parts of a horse tackle from Roman period discovered in 2017 in the Lesser Carpathians near the municipality of Borinka. The set includes, as well as a bit with chains, the end forgins of cheek pieces,... more
An accidental find of mainly bronze parts of a horse tackle from Roman period discovered in 2017 in the Lesser Carpathians near the municipality of Borinka. The set includes, as well as a bit with chains, the end forgins of cheek pieces, end forgins of a strap with gold-plated silver metal plate, a frontal metal plate with silver applications, as well as other forgins and fragments. Tie bit is a Vimose I type, finds of which appear over an extensive area of Barbarian territory from southern Scandinavian to the central Danube region, and are dated to B2/C1 and C1a. By the metal items, a preserved part of a strap was find, which was subjected to detailed DNA analysis. The analysis documented the use of cowś leather.
The impact of the Roman army in the territories north of the Middle Danube can be particularly seen in the core area of Germanic settlement along the middle reaches of the River Dyje and its tributaries the Svratka and Jihlava. In the... more
The impact of the Roman army in the territories north of the Middle Danube can be particularly seen in the core area of Germanic settlement along the middle reaches of the River Dyje and its tributaries the Svratka and Jihlava. In the surroundings of the Roman military base at Mušov-Burgstall several Roman temporary camps closely connected to the local river network are known. New investigations have provided more detailed information on these installations discovered by aerial survey in the 1990s. In Mušov-Na Pískách it was possible to record several camps in their exact positions and with detailed characteristics of their defensive circuits. Comparable results were obtained from the surveys in the Přibice camps north of Mušov-Burgstall. Further to the north along the River Svratka there is a camp at Modřice near Brno in the middle of a local Germanic settlement area. At all sites new results were obtained on each location, ground-plan, chronology, as well as further details.
In its first part, the contribution briefly summarizes the possible traces of Marcomannic Wars in the archaeological “records” of Quadi settlements in southwest Slovakia. It shows that the development of some of the villages was... more
In its first part, the contribution briefly summarizes the possible traces of Marcomannic Wars in the archaeological “records” of Quadi settlements in southwest Slovakia. It shows that the development of some of the villages was discontinued about the time of the wars (the second half of the 2nd century). The second part of the article presents the selection of Roman-provincial and domestic Germanic pottery in the archaeological context of the 2nd century. This collection also includes pottery used in the war times.
Přírodní prostředí vždy hrálo významnou roli při utváření lidských aktivit v prostoru a představuje významnou součást v procesu poznání archeologických struktur. Aspektů interakcí mezi lidskými komunitami a jejich životním prostředím je... more
Přírodní prostředí vždy hrálo významnou roli při utváření lidských aktivit v prostoru a představuje významnou součást v procesu poznání archeologických struktur. Aspektů interakcí mezi lidskými komunitami a jejich životním prostředím je nekonečné množství. Vzhledem ke značnému geografickému rozsahu římského vojenského zásahu na územích severně od středního Podunají (Morava, JZ Slovensko a Dolní Rakousko) během markomanských válek (172 až 180) je tato problematika vhodná pro aplikaci GIS analýz. Hlavním cílem příspěvku je poukázat na některé faktory, jež mohly ovlivnit koncepci římské logistiky a strategického uvažování. Evidence přítomnosti římské armády na dotčeném území jsou unikátním archeologickým pramenem, jehož prostorové aspekty je možné zkoumat také za pomocí GIS. Prezentovaný přehled některých základních metod poukazuje na postupy, které mohou v budoucnu napomoci odkrýt některé vzájemné prostorové vztahy.
The environment always featured important determinant of men’s activity in space and represents essentials part in process of cognition of previous cultures. There are countless aspects of interactions between human communities and the environment. Because of its vast geographical impact Roman military invasion within territories north of Middle Danube (Moravia, SW Slovakia and Lower Austria) during the Marcomannic wars (172 to 180 AD) represent appropriate domain of questions for GIS application. The base topic of this paper aims to explore some factors which might have influenced Roman logistic behavior. Local evidences of the Roman military presence are unique archaeological sources of information and its spatial aspects are convenient for GIS application. We would like to outline here some basic GIS methods and analyses which may reveal some additional spatial relations in future.
The environment has always featured as an important determinant of human activity in space and represents an essential part in the process of cognition of previous cultures. There are countless aspects of interactions between human... more
The environment has always featured as an important determinant of human activity in space and represents an essential part in the process of cognition of previous cultures. There are countless aspects of interactions between human communities and the environment. Because of its vast geographical impact the Roman military invasion within territories north of the Middle Danube (Moravia, SW Slovakia and Lower Austria) during the Marcomannic wars (AD 172 to 180) represents an appropriate domain of questions for the GIS application. The base topic of this paper aims to explore some factors which might have influenced Roman logistic behaviour. Local evidence of the Roman military presence is a unique archaeological source of information and its spatial aspects are convenient for the GIS application. This paper aims to outline some basic GIS methods and analyses which may reveal some additional spatial relations in the future.
A half of a mould made from an alloy of copper, tin, zinc and a considerable percentage of lead intended for the production of brooches of Type Almgren 132 was discovered at a Germanic settlement in the cadastral area of Kočí, Eastern... more
A half of a mould made from an alloy of copper, tin, zinc and a considerable percentage of lead intended for the production of brooches of Type Almgren 132 was discovered at a Germanic settlement in the cadastral area of Kočí, Eastern Bohemia, dated by other finds to the period of the Marcomannic Wars. Finds of production waste indicate that non-ferrous metals were worked there some time around the Marcomannic Wars. Brooches of Type Almgren 132 have been very rarely documented from the territory of Bohemia and Moravia. J. Tejral points out the specific situation in the Central Danube region after Commodus had made peace with the Germans, as we encounter an intesive inflow of Roman imports into the East Germanic milieu while products of East Germanic origin also appear there. J. Tejral explains this situation in the rise of specific conditions for mutual cultural exchange, in which the hinterland of Noricum and Pannonia hled an extraordinary position. The territorial impact of tehse manifestations was probably much greater than it has seemed so far, however.