The early Roman battlefield of Kalkriese is often equated with the famous defeat of the Roman commander Varus by the Germanic leader Arminius in AD 9. But do the archaeological sources actually allow such a conclusion?
The site of Kalkriese now yields a wide variety of Imperial-period artefacts, including repeated finds of Roman military equipment in spectacular states of preservation. For the first time, the entire range of small finds has been analysed according to dating, function, and spatial distribution, with previously unpublished pieces also presented in a detailed catalogue.
Only in this long-awaited comprehensive overview is it possible to approach—on a solid, source-critical basis—the questions that have been debated for decades regarding the chronological classification of the site, the opposing parties, and the ancient events.
Kalkriese – a battlefield that changed Europe. A site that still raises questions. A study that provides new answers.
For decades, the early Roman site of Kalkriese in the Osnabrück region has fascinated scholars like few other places. It is widely believed to be the site of the legendary Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in AD 9, in which the Germanic tribes achieved a decisive victory over the Roman army. A closer examination, however, reveals a highly complex interplay of archaeological and historical evidence that has so far prevented a definitive assessment of the site. What truly happened in this landscape in the early first century AD? Which Roman troops fought here – and against whom? And how reliable is what we believe we know?
This groundbreaking study by Uta Schröder, originally submitted as a doctoral dissertation at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, for the first time presents a comprehensive and critical synthesis of approximately 5,400 Early Imperial small finds, including more than 1,100 objects previously unpublished. In doing so, the work addresses a long-standing research gap. Through meticulous analysis, the author examines the dating, function, and spatial distribution of the artefacts, opening up a new and previously unavailable perspective on the chronology and character of the site.
The analysis leads to a key conclusion: a battle involving Roman infantry and cavalry units in the late Augustan–Tiberian period can be demonstrated beyond doubt. At the same time, the study reveals the extent to which agricultural activity, the selection of excavation areas, and uneven survey strategies have distorted previous interpretations of the site. Many long-held assumptions are called into question – from the concept of a fixed “Kalkriese horizon” to reconstructions of the actual course of the fighting.
This volume presents Kalkriese as one of the most significant, yet methodologically challenging archaeological sites of the Roman Empire in Europe. It clearly outlines the current state of research, identifies interpretative pitfalls that must be corrected, and highlights the immense potential for future investigations.
A seminal work for archaeology, ancient history, and for all those who seek to understand how scientific inquiry transforms material remains into historical knowledge – and how much history still lies hidden in the soil.
Uta Schröder, 1989 geboren
Werdegang:
2008-2013 Bachelorstudium Archäologie und Geschichte an der Universität zu Köln
2013-2016 Masterstudium Archäologie an der Universität zu Köln mit Schwerpunkt Archäologie der Römischen Provinzen
2017-2021 Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin an der LMU München
2017-2022 Promotionsstudium Archäologie der Römischen Provinzen an der LMU München
2023 Disputatio zur Doktorarbeit „Die römischen Kleinfunde der Kalkriese-Niewedder Senke“
seit 2022 Post-Doc an der Universität Bonn im Projekt „Limes und Legion. Die Wirkmächtigkeit römischer Militärpräsenz am Niedergermanischen Limes. Edition und Interpretation archäologischer Quellen.“
Forschungsinteressen:
Provinzialrömische Archäologie; Frühe römische Militärlager; Römische Militärgeschichte; Römische Militaria; Antike Kleinfunde; Zivile Besiedelung der Germania Inferior; Römische Wassermühlen
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