Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Roman soldier found buried face down with a dagger on his back in newly revealed fortress in Spain. (Roman Pentagon Excavations)
Jerusalem Post ^ | 2/10/2025 | Staff

Posted on 02/14/2025 4:57:37 AM PST by bert

The nearly complete skeleton, with severed feet and a pugio on the back, leaves the cause of death and burial a "real mystery."

Archaeologists excavating a 4,900-year-old fortress in Almendralejo, southwestern Spain, have uncovered the burial of a man who may have been a Roman soldier. The solitary, shallow grave was discovered near one of the defensive ditches of the ancient fortress and contained the remains of a man between 25 and 35 years old, laid face down with a pugio—a Roman dagger—on his back.

The dagger was found completely intact and still in its sheath. It has been dated to the late first century BCE, providing a chronological marker for the burial.

"The deliberate placement of the pugio in the burial is a way of signaling the social position of the buried and his belonging to the army," explained César M. Pérez, director of the excavations. This unusual practice suggests that the soldier was given a dishonorable burial, a rare occurrence for this period, hinting at a story yet to be revealed.

The skeleton was almost complete except for the feet, which appeared to have been cut off. The cause of death, the unusual face-down burial with severed feet, and the placement of the pugio on the individual's back remain "a real mystery," as the archaeologists described.

At first, archaeologists debated whether the skeletal remains belonged to a soldier or a civilian who had acquired the dagger. If confirmed to be a soldier, "he could only have belonged to Legio VII Gemina," the only Roman legion stationed in Hispania at the time.

Established in 74 CE, Legio VII Gemina was quartered in Legio (modern-day León) in the territory of the Asturians and had little direct military activity. Unlike other legions engaged in direct military campaigns, Legio VII Gemina primarily carried out escort duties, road surveillance, and provincial security. This context adds to the enigma surrounding the soldier's death and unusual burial.

Researchers are attempting to extract DNA from one of the individual's teeth. This analysis may provide further insights into his origin and the circumstances surrounding his death.

The burial site is part of a larger archaeological discovery—a pentagonal fortress constructed during the Copper Age. Archaeologists discovered the 4,900-year-old fortress on a hill in southwestern Spain. The fortress is the first built on a hilltop rising 314 meters above sea level, allowing visibility of the entire surroundings.

The fortress was pentagonal in shape and surrounded by three concentric walls, 25 bastions, and three ditches measuring up to four meters wide and two meters deep.

"The complex system of walls and ditches, built from both stone and earth, demonstrates careful planning that required the coordination of a large group of people," said archaeologist Pérez, highlighting the sophistication of the fortress's design.

Inside the structure, archaeologists found numerous artifacts, including arrowheads, idols, axes, grinding stones, plates, bowls, and loom components, providing insight into the activities that took place there. Traces of a water reservoir for storage and cabins were also found within the fortress, indicating provisions for the population during times of siege.

Despite its formidable defenses, the fortress was ultimately destroyed, burned, and razed by enemies, then abandoned 400 years after its construction. Archaeologists found evidence of a widespread fire that affected key areas of the settlement. One of the strongest indicators that the fire was deliberate is the burning of wooden doors embedded in the mudbrick walls.

These doors were far from any flammable materials, indicating that the fire was not accidental but a result of an attack on the fortress. Among the remains of the fire, numerous arrowheads have been found, suggesting a scene of violence and destruction where the settlement was attacked, its defenses breached, and the structure set on fire.

The defensive complex was discovered during preliminary surveys for a photovoltaic solar park planned by the Spanish energy company Acciona Energía on the estate of the Marquis of the Encomienda. Following this discovery, all protocols for the prevention of archaeological impact, protection, and investigation of the site were put in place, financed by Acciona Energía.

"The archaeological research team at Tera S.L. uncovered this site in 2021 and continues to excavate it." In the area of the old Cortijo Lobato, after which the archaeological site is named, researchers identified Chalcolithic-era materials concentrated in an olive grove, which alerted the archaeological team.

The fortress offered a commanding view of the surrounding landscape, but the specifics of its strategic importance are still unknown.

The recovered pugio has since undergone laboratory treatment under the guidance of restoration specialist Maicu Ortega from Madrid Complutense University for its analysis, consolidation, and partial stabilization to guarantee its preservation and prevent deterioration.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq


TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: almendralejo; ancientautopsies; asturians; cesarmperez; copperage; dagger; europe; foulplaysuspected; genealogy; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; hispania; legionvii; legioviigemina; pentagon; roman; romanempire; rome; spain
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-27 last
To: exnavy

For those who reject God, they also reject BC/AD and replace those terms with...
BCE (Before Current Era)
CE (Current Era)


21 posted on 02/14/2025 8:22:55 AM PST by newfreep ("There is no race problem...just a problem race")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: newfreep
They reject and are embarrassed by the Almighty, even peripherally when using this old, old, and accepted abbreviation for the historical eras.

Too hip and agnostic to use BC and AD. Don't want even to use His name in passing. It's too repulsive to them.

Ok, hipsters.

Catch you later.

22 posted on 02/14/2025 9:01:10 AM PST by caddie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: going hot

And the agony of de dagger. ;^)


23 posted on 02/14/2025 12:31:13 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy

Thx


24 posted on 02/14/2025 1:17:27 PM PST by exnavy (See article IV section 4 of our constitution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: newfreep

Thank you.


25 posted on 02/14/2025 1:17:44 PM PST by exnavy (See article IV section 4 of our constitution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: bert

Quartermaster had only small coffins in stock.


26 posted on 02/14/2025 1:22:43 PM PST by Pilsner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

“The nearly complete skeleton, with severed feet and a pugio on the back”

“This will hurt me more than it hurts you”


27 posted on 02/14/2025 4:49:20 PM PST by Redcitizen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-27 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson