Archaeology of the Roman Conquest
Tracing the Legions, Reclaiming the Conquered

This Element provides a current synthesis of the archaeology of the Roman conquest, combining new theoretical and methodological approaches.

Manuel Fernández-Götz (Author), Nico Roymans (Author)

9781009507295, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 April 2024

112 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 0.8 cm, 0.303 kg

'The Roman conquest of Western Europe is well-studied by generations of scholars. The authors nevertheless succeed in providing new insights into a history that is still highly topical today.' Stefan Burmeister, Museum und Park Kalkriese

This Element volume provides an up-to-date synthesis of the archaeology of the Roman conquest, combining new theoretical and methodological approaches with the latest fieldwork results. Recent advances in conflict archaeology research are revolutionising our knowledge of Rome's military campaigns in Western and Central Europe, allowing scholars to reassess the impact of the conquest on the indigenous populations. The volume explores different types of material evidence for the Roman wars of conquest, including temporary camps, battlefields, coinage production, and regional settlement patterns. These and other topics are examined using four case studies: Caesar's Gallic Wars, the Cantabrian and Asturian Wars, the Germanic Wars of Augustus, and the Roman conquest of Britain. By focusing on the 'dark sides' of the Roman expansion and reclaiming the memory of the conquered, the Element aims to contribute to a more holistic understanding of the processes of incorporation and integration into the Roman Empire.

1. Introduction
2. Caesar's invasion: the conquest of Gallia Comata
3. The last frontier in Iberia: the Cantabrian and Asturian Wars
4. The Germanic Wars of Augustus: a failed imperial project
5. Beyond the sea: the Roman conquest of Britain
6. Conclusion
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Archaeology by period / region [HDD]