Posted on 05/01/2014 9:44:13 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Dutch archaeologists have recently completed the rescue excavation of a unique treasure hoard dating to the beginning of the 5th century AD, from a field in Limburg...
According to the Byzantine historian Zosimus, Constantine III tried to re-secure the entire Roman Rhine frontier against Germanic invaders... The historians Orosius and Zosimus tells us that Constantine III solved the problem of the invading Germanic groups by liberal use of the money bag along with developing close alliances to Germanic warlords on both sides of the Rhine...
The Echt hoard would therefore have belonged to a Germanic officer in Roman service – part of a network of these warlords in the pay of Constantine III...
Hacksilver reflects the economic and military crisis of the late Roman Empire. The early 5th century would have been a major drain of gold and silver from the Roman Centre to the barbaric periphery as part of desperate efforts to defend the border and help to recruit troops... The tableware may have been given complete to the Germanic leaders and they cut it up in order to be able to distribute the pieces to their soldiers.
The Echt hoard is a find with a special story and it represents a unique document for the final period of Roman rule in the Netherlands. The fact that the complete hoard could be salvaged through a full excavation means that the context was not lost. The concentration of gold hoards from this period seems especially connected to the frantic attempts of Emperor Constantine III to maintain a grip on the border defence in the lower Rhine region. However, in hindsight, the end of the Roman Empire was, by this time, a forgone conclusion.
(Excerpt) Read more at pasthorizonspr.com ...
And unfortunately for manuscripts as well, i.e., the old writing would get scraped off and new writing put on.
Although with modern scientific techniques, they can sometimes recover the earlier writing.
Yeah, it’s impressive. Once we get out to assay the asteroids (I suggest starting with Earth-crossers) one big strike will probably double the known gold supply. That will be good for gold, but maybe not so much for the goldbugs. :’)
yup.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/archimedespalimpsest/index
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/palimpsest/index
Inflation must have been rampant after Alexander sacked Susa. “Here, waiter, have a gold bar. Keep the change”.
:’)
“Bye today’s standards this would be old cell phones and hamburger wrappers”
And starbucks gift cards.
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