The Roman military constructed thousands of forts across Europe, northern Africa and western Asia while expanding the empire, and most of these fortifications had an adjacent settlement, called a "vicus," that was occupied primarily by merchants, families and other civilians.
One of the highlights of the current excavation is the unexpected discovery of a Roman temple, Kai Mückenberger, an archaeologist with Hessen Archaeology, a part of the Hesse State Office for Monument Preservation, said in a translated video. "Inside the temple, we found several fragments of a dedicatory inscription," he said. Experts have already translated a portion of the inscription, which mentions that the temple was dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war.
One of the important finds was a broken statuette of the goddess Victoria, the personification of victory. (Image credit: © Lars Görze MA, LfDH)
When archaeologists first excavated the Kapersburg fort near the turn of the 20th century, they discovered that it was built in the early second century, likely under either Emperor Trajan, who ruled from A.D. 98 to 117, or Emperor Hadrian, who reigned from A.D. 117 to 138 and expanded the Roman Empire further into northern England, building Hadrian's Wall. The Kapersburg fort was used by a unit of Roman soldiers and cavalry for about a century and a half, until around A.D. 275.
"The astonishing thing is the exquisite preservation of the archaeological layers that start right beneath the forest floor," Mückenberger said. These layers, which include burnt material, almost never survive in agricultural areas but have been well preserved at the vicus. "This is an incredible learning process and a gain in knowledge for us," Mückenberger added.
RELATED STORIESDuring their excavations, the research team discovered far fewer houses than they expected. However, they found much more evidence of craft activities, such as blacksmith pits and ovens for drying wheat and baking bread.
The temple and votive statues provide new insight into the Roman world of beliefs on the border of the empire, according to the statement. But when the fort was no longer useful, the Romans leveled the camp and replaced it with residential buildings, the archaeologists discovered.
From Augustus to Nero, see how much you know about ancient Rome's famous leaders with our Roman emperor quiz!
Hence then, the article about 1 800 year old temple to mars and statue of victory unearthed at roman military fort in germany was published today ( ) and is available on Live Science ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 1,800-year-old temple to Mars and statue of Victory unearthed at Roman military fort in Germany )
Also on site :
- In 1974, three artists buried 10 Cadillacs nose-first in an Amarillo, Texas wheat field; the row was moved 2 miles west in 1997 as the city grew
- Ryde Group Ltd. Sued for Securities Law Violations - Contact the DJS Law Group to Discuss Your Rights - RYDE
- In 1987, Jim Reinders built a 96-foot circle of 39 cars in a Nebraska field as a memorial to his father; an estimated 4,000 people later watched an eclipse from it