EAA 2022: Abstract

The lower German limes, recently recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, attracted people from across the Roman Empire. Not only did the limes have forts, watchtowers, linked infrastructure, and civilian centres, but its key settlements operated as trade hubs that made them unique meeting points between the Roman Empire and northern populations. Therefore, remains of the Lower German borderscape illustrate the important impacts of the Roman military presence on the landscape and society of the periphery of the Empire.

A few kilometres from where the Lower German limes ends in the North Sea, the unique Roman cemetery of Valkenburg Marktveld has been excavated. Located circa 500 m. south of the auxiliary fort, the archaeological site plays a key role in understanding the population dynamics in a Roman borderscape and coastal landscape. This cemetery was used between 50 – 300 CE for the entire military community that consisted of men, women and children, who lived in the vicinity of the auxiliary fort. Over 650 individuals were recovered, 145 of which are inhumations (41 adults, 104 children and infants); an extraordinary number as cremation dominates the Roman burial record in the Netherlands. A triple Sr-O-C isotope approach was adopted to infer more information about the geographical origin of the inhumed and cremated individuals. In this poster, the first results are presented that give a rare insight into the population dynamics within a militarised borderscape.

Isotope Archaeology, Roman, Borderscape

Poster presentation

  Abstract (PDF)
 Full paper (PDF)

Maura De Coster²

Wouter Vos^3,4
Saskia Stevens¹
Gareth Davies²
Lisette Kootker²