Archaeological Methodology applied to the Study of Ancient Battlefields. The Case of Baecula and the Battle between Sources and Archaeology
Since 2006, the Institute of Iberian Archaeology Research has been undertaking the “Baecula” project focusing on the analysis of the preserved remains of the battle of that name, in which Scipio the African and Hasdrubal Barca clashed in 208 BC. In this scenario we need to structure the analysis of...
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| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | Artículo publishedVersion |
| Lenguaje: | Español |
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Revista de Arqueología Histórica Argentina y Latinoamericana
2018
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| Acceso en línea: | http://plarci.org/index.php/RAHAYL/article/view/209 http://suquia.ffyh.unc.edu.ar/handle/suquia/9930 |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | Since 2006, the Institute of Iberian Archaeology Research has been undertaking the “Baecula” project focusing on the analysis of the preserved remains of the battle of that name, in which Scipio the African and Hasdrubal Barca clashed in 208 BC. In this scenario we need to structure the analysis of the settlements, which range from longterm sequences to structures used over just a few days. However, the most innovative aspect of our project impacts on the attestation of a battlefield (weapons, impedimenta, coins, etc.), the remains of various camps, and the path taken by the Roman army in their attack, which is clearly revealed by clavii caligari (Roman sandal nails). Our battlefield is an archaeological laboratory. Our methodology is based on surface surveying, metal detecting and digging test trenches at specific points. All this is backed up by a GIS that allows the whole record to be integrated through two types of entity: area and point. The former corresponds to the surface finds record, and the latter −the points− to those mainly metallic items associated with the battle that contain their own information and whose distribution analysis is a key factor in interpreting how the battle unfolded. The distribution of certain items on the battlefield tells us that we are analyzing an event that took place over several days, but within which there were changes and shorter periods of hours or even perhaps minutes. |
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