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German battlefield yields Roman surprises
CNN ^ | 2009 | unattributed

Posted on 05/13/2013 6:09:08 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Archaeologists have found more than 600 relics from a huge battle between a Roman army and Barbarians in the third century, long after historians believed Rome had given up control of northern Germany.

"We have to write our history books new, because what we thought was that the activities of the Romans ended at nine or 10 (years) after Christ," said Lutz Stratmann, science minister for the German state of Lower Saxony. "Now we know that it must be 200 or 250 after that."

For weeks, archeologist Petra Loenne and her team have been searching this area with metal detectors, pulling hundreds of ancient Roman weapons out of the ground. They paint a picture of a highly organized, technologically superior Roman army beset by Germanic tribes in a forest about 80 km (50 miles) south of the modern city of Hanover.

The hillside battlefield was discovered by relic-hunters illegally searching for souvenirs of more recent wars near the town of Kalefeld-Oldenrode. One of them brought some of the items he found to Loenne, who works for the local government...

"We believe the Germans ambushed the Romans here, but the legions quickly fired back with catapults and archers -- and then it came to a massive man-on-man onslaught," Loenne said.

The items unearthed so far include an axe, still sharp after nearly 1,800 years; horseshoes; shovels; spearheads; and dozens of arrowheads for a Scorpio, a cross between a catapult and a crossbow -- the ancient equivalent of artillery...

Researchers say the evidence suggests the tribesmen lured the Romans into the forest to keep them from making full use of those long-range weapons and draw them into hand-to-hand combat, outside of the formations the imperial troops had mastered. However, they believe the Romans ultimately prevailed...

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: antoninewall; gaskridge; germaniamagna; germanlimes; germany; godsgravesglyphs; hadrianswall; kalefeld; kalefeldoldenrode; lowersaxony; maximinusthrax; metaldetecting; oldenrode; romanbaltic; romanempire; romangermany; rome; scotland; scotlandyet; teutoburgforest
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To: SkyPilot

I hadn’t watched it in years (kinda lost track of the DVD) then a few weeks back I found the BluRay super cheap at one of the warehouse clubs. I couldn’t believe how magnificent the transfer onto BluRay is. I’ve watched it a couple of times, the version with the extra footage.


21 posted on 05/13/2013 7:31:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

I think Bill Clinton lost one of those.


22 posted on 05/13/2013 7:33:30 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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"Roman Empire" keyword, newest to oldest:
23 posted on 05/13/2013 7:38:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: blueunicorn6

LOL!


24 posted on 05/13/2013 7:39:11 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: bigheadfred

Yeah, what a reli- hey, wait a second...


25 posted on 05/13/2013 7:39:40 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Those Romans—they never let go of any land without a fight—they were tough monkeys! they didn’t give up there Empire without a few battles.


26 posted on 05/13/2013 7:42:52 PM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll)
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To: Forward the Light Brigade

They didn’t take kindly to setbacks. :’)


27 posted on 05/13/2013 8:08:53 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

“Stwike Hewmann, Centuwion Maximus. Stwike him vewy wuffly!”
Meditations and Enunciations of Mawcus Auwelius


28 posted on 05/13/2013 9:59:23 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: All armed conservatives.)
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To: SunkenCiv
I agree the situation was much more fluid that is commonly believed. The history books suggest Verus was defeated, the Legions withdrew and the Romans threw up an Iron Curtain.

In reality, there would have been much trade and travel across the border. Rome was where the action, money and goods were and the "barbarians" had things to offer in exchange.

29 posted on 05/14/2013 1:40:25 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: SunkenCiv

...and music is sometimes distracting....

***
What? And listening to an informative podcast would not distract you from your work?

Thanks for the ping. This sounds like a great dig.


30 posted on 05/20/2013 5:16:47 PM PDT by Bigg Red (Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! -Ps80)
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To: Sawdring
"If you ever listen to podcasts give Mike Duncan's The History of Rome a try."

Thank you for posting that link. I've been listening the last few days - it's great.

31 posted on 05/20/2013 5:24:36 PM PDT by Flag_This (Real presidents don't bow.)
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To: Flag_This; SkyPilot; SunkenCiv

When you get done or want to take a break listen to Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History as well. His Wrath Of The Khans series was great. His stuff is usually in 4 hour blocks instead of 25 minute shows.


32 posted on 05/20/2013 6:16:22 PM PDT by Sawdring
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To: SunkenCiv

In the book The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World by Creasy mentions how the Germanic victory over Varius saved the Germanic civilization and eventually led to the modern (1800s) German Republic.

On a History Channel show not long back, the Germanic Victory over Varius showed how it led to the Nazis and the world would have been better off with Germany being Romanized.


33 posted on 05/01/2014 11:36:17 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Sometimes you need 7+ more ammo. LOTS MORE.)
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To: SunkenCiv

How in the world did I miss all this good stuff! Put me on your PING list!


34 posted on 05/01/2014 11:37:40 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Sometimes you need 7+ more ammo. LOTS MORE.)
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http://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/

http://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/

http://www.revolutionspodcast.com/


35 posted on 12/07/2014 6:56:36 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______________________Celebrate the Polls, Ignore the Trolls)
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36 posted on 12/27/2014 1:33:03 AM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/ _____________________ Celebrate the Polls, Ignore the Trolls)
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Roman Germany keyword topics, from the FRchives:
37 posted on 09/18/2015 10:07:20 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
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