Kalkriese
Encyclopedia
Kalkriese is a 157-m high hill in Lower Saxony
, Germany
. It is hard to pass along Kalkriese's northern slope because one has to cross many deep brooks and rivulets. To the north of the Kalkriese is a large wetland, which stretches north for a large distance. It is a presumed archaeological site of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
. It is assumed that saltus Teutoburgiensis (Latin
for Teutoburg Pass) could refer to a strip of cultivated land with a width of 220 m between Kalkriese and a great bog.
Since the beginning of the official explorations in 1988, over 5,500 Roman
objects, mainly pieces of military equipment, were found in an area of 17 km²:Roman swords and daggers, parts of javelins and spears, arrowheads, sling stones, fragments of helmets, nails of soldiers' sandals, belts, hooks of chain mail, and fragments of armor. Among most significant items is the earliest known Imperial
face-mask. Other items include locks, keys, razors, a scale, weights, chisels, hammers, pickaxes, buckets, finger rings, surgical instruments, seal boxes, a stylus, cauldrons, casseroles, spoons, and amphorae. Jewelry, hairpins, and a disk brooch suggest the presence of women. One of the inscribed objects is a plumb bob with "CHOI", or "C(o)HO(rtis) I", i.e. "belonging to the first cohort". The other one is on the fastener of a chain mail: "M AIUS (cohortis) I (centuriae) FABRICI(i) M AII (cohortis) I (centuriae) FAB(ricii)" ("Marcus Aius of cohort
I, centuria
of fabricii; belongs to Marcus Aius of cohort I, centuria of fabricii"). The coin struck to commemorate that Augustus
had adopted his grandsons Lucius and Gaius in 2 BC was also found at Kalkriese.
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is hard to pass along Kalkriese's northern slope because one has to cross many deep brooks and rivulets. To the north of the Kalkriese is a large wetland, which stretches north for a large distance. It is a presumed archaeological site of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest took place in 9 CE, when an alliance of Germanic tribes led by Arminius of the Cherusci ambushed and decisively destroyed three Roman legions, along with their auxiliaries, led by Publius Quinctilius Varus.Despite numerous successful campaigns and raids by the...
. It is assumed that saltus Teutoburgiensis (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for Teutoburg Pass) could refer to a strip of cultivated land with a width of 220 m between Kalkriese and a great bog.
Since the beginning of the official explorations in 1988, over 5,500 Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
objects, mainly pieces of military equipment, were found in an area of 17 km²:Roman swords and daggers, parts of javelins and spears, arrowheads, sling stones, fragments of helmets, nails of soldiers' sandals, belts, hooks of chain mail, and fragments of armor. Among most significant items is the earliest known Imperial
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
face-mask. Other items include locks, keys, razors, a scale, weights, chisels, hammers, pickaxes, buckets, finger rings, surgical instruments, seal boxes, a stylus, cauldrons, casseroles, spoons, and amphorae. Jewelry, hairpins, and a disk brooch suggest the presence of women. One of the inscribed objects is a plumb bob with "CHOI", or "C(o)HO(rtis) I", i.e. "belonging to the first cohort". The other one is on the fastener of a chain mail: "M AIUS (cohortis) I (centuriae) FABRICI(i) M AII (cohortis) I (centuriae) FAB(ricii)" ("Marcus Aius of cohort
Cohort (military unit)
A cohort was the basic tactical unit of a Roman legion following the reforms of Gaius Marius in 107 BC.-Legionary cohort:...
I, centuria
Centuria
Centuria is a Latin substantive from the stem centum , denoting units consisting of 100 men. It also denotes a Roman unit of land area: 1 centuria = 100 heredia...
of fabricii; belongs to Marcus Aius of cohort I, centuria of fabricii"). The coin struck to commemorate that Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
had adopted his grandsons Lucius and Gaius in 2 BC was also found at Kalkriese.