Nederlandse Oudheden 19 Four approaches to the analysis of (pre-)Roman Nijmegen Aspects of cultural evolution, acculturation, contextual function and continuity J.H.F. Bloemers (ed.) Four approaches to the analysis of (pre-)Roman Nijmegen Aspects of cultural evolution, acculturation, contextual function and continuity J.H.F. Bloemers (ed.) Nederlandse Oudheden 19 Cover illustration: Overview from the east Four approaches to the analysis of (pre-)Roman Nijmegen of the western half of the small early Roman Aspects of cultural evolution, acculturation, contextual function and fortification during the excavation in 1973 before continuity the reconstruction of the Trajanusplein. Authors: J.H.F. Bloemers, J.S. Boersma, R.M. van Dierendonck, M. Erdrich, The publication of this book has been R.C.G.M. Lauwerier, J. Raap, D. Teunissen and J.R.A.M. Thijssen supported by the Cultural Heritage Agency With contributions by S.Y. Comis, W. Dijkman, E. Schouten, L. Smits, of the Netherlands (RCE, Amersfoort), the A. Vanderhoeven, G.F. IJzereef. Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology (ACASA; University of Amsterdam) Editor: J.H.F. Bloemers (ed.) and the Stichting Nederlands Museum voor Anthropologie en Praehistorie (SNMAP, Illustrations: H. de Kort, A.M. Nijs (Werkvoorzieningschap Nijmegen e.o.) Amsterdam). Editor of illustration: M. Haars (BCL-Archaeological Support) English translation: C. Jefferis Design and layout: uNiek-Design, Almere Print: Xerox/OBT, Den Haag ISBN/EAN: 9789057992537 © Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, Amersfoort, 2016 Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands P.O. Box 1600 3800 BP Amersfoort The Netherlands www.cultureelerfgoed.nl Contents Summary 6 3 The pre-Flavian occupation: an aspect of acculturation 35 Samenvatting 8 3.1 The great early Roman fortress as a topographical element 35 Zusammenfassung 10 3.1.1 Introduction 35 3.1.2 The ditches 35 1 Introduction 13 3.1.3 The road 39 1.1 The excavations at Nijmegen 13 3.1.4 Conclusion 39 1.2 The relation with the surrounding Batavian area 15 3.2 The small early Roman fortification 40 1.3 Four themes for the analysis of the (ROB) 3.2.1 Introduction 40 excavations at Nijmegen 1957-1981 15 3.2.2 The fortification 40 1.4 Scales and legend of illustrations 16 3.2.3 The datable finds 47 1.5 Acknowledgements: teamwork over generations 16 3.2.4 Conclusion 50 3.3 The pre-Flavian settlement around the Valkhof 51 2 A small Middle Iron Age cemetery with a 3.3.1 Introduction 51 cart burial in Nijmegen: an aspect of cultural 3.3.2 General orientation 51 evolution 20 3.3.3 The periodization and the stratification 54 2.1 The cemetery 21 3.3.4 The buildings 55 2.2 The cart burial no. 60/9 21 3.3.5 The clay pit 58 2.2.1 The grave and the retrieval method 21 3.3.6 Special pits or cesspools 64 2.2.2 Description of the grave goods 22 3.3.7 Conclusion 67 2.2.3 The burial ritual and the deposition of the 3.4 The pre-Flavian cemetery on the Hunerberg 68 grave goods 28 3.4.1 Introduction 68 2.2.4 Man or woman? 29 3.4.2 The location, shape and size of the cemetery 69 2.3 The remaining burials 29 3.4.3 The graves 70 2.3.1 Grave no. 60/21 29 3.4.4 The dating of the cemetery 80 2.3.2 The other graves 30 3.4.5 Conclusion 83 2.4 Dating and parallels 30 3.5 The boundaries of the early Roman settlement 2.5 The feasibility of a socio-cultural interpretation 31 around the Valkhof 83 2.5.1 Theory and method 31 3.5.1 Introduction 83 2.5.2 The analysis of the Nijmegen cemetery 32 3.5.2 The excavated segments of the ditch 83 2.5.3 Pater familias, ‘big man’ or chief? Or big woman? 32 3.5.3 The outwork 86 3.5.4 Conclusion 90 3.6 Synthesis and interpretation 90 3.6.1 Early Roman Nijmegen: from military base to proto-urban settlement 90 3.6.2 The relation between the Roman occupation at Nijmegen and the surrounding Batavian tribal territory 93 3.6.3 A comparison with observations elsewhere in the northern Meuse and Rhine region 95 3.6.4 A wider context of the establishment of colonial cities and the early phase of integration with the native society 98 4 The Flavian-Trajanic legionary fortress: 5 The fourth-century defence system around a pilot study for future analysis the Valkhof and the problem of continuity (with R.M. van Dierendonck) 101 during the early medieval period 4.1 Introduction 101 (with J.S. Boersma, W. Dijkman, M. Erdrich, 4.1.1 Definition of the problem 101 R.C.G.M. Lauwerier, J. Raap, D. Teunissen and 4.1.2 Aim and starting-points 105 J.R.A.M. Thijssen) 175 4.1.3 The choice of three sub-areas 106 5.1 Introduction 175 4.1.4 The choice of analysed features and finds 5.2 The features 175 and the method of analysis 107 5.2.1 Foundations and foundation trenches 175 4.2 Description of the building features 112 5.2.2 The multiperiod ditch system 175 4.2.1 Area 3 112 5.2.3 The single period ditch 181 4.2.2 Area 5 117 5.2.4 The system of two parallel ditches 183 4.2.3 Area 9 120 5.3 The finds and samples 184 4.3 Description of the pits 123 5.3.1 The method of collecting the finds and samples 184 4.3.1 Introduction 123 5.3.2 Pottery finds from the late Roman fortifications 4.3.2 Area 3 123 at Nijmegen (by M. Erdrich) 188 4.3.3 Area 5 125 5.3.3 Numismatic evidence for the dating of the 4.3.4 Area 9 127 late Roman defence system (by J.S. Boersma 4.4 Analysis of the finds (by R.M. van Dierendonck) 128 and J.Raap) 193 4.4.1 Introduction 128 5.3.4 Animals and animal food in fourth-century 4.4.2 Analysis of the pottery 129 Nijmegen (by R.C.G.M. Lauwerier) 194 4.4.3 Conclusion and interpretation 157 5.3.5 Palynological investigation of the late Roman 4.5 Synthesis of building features, pits and single period fortification ditch at Nijmegen selected groups of finds, mainly pottery 159 (by D. Teunissen) 203 4.5.1 Introduction 159 5.3.6 Miscellaneous finds 208 4.5.2 The relation between the surface area of 5.3.7 The distribution and deposition of the finds 208 (sub-)areas, pits and finds 159 5.4 The dating, periodization and evolution of 4.5.3 Relation between character and number of the defence system 211 finds, use and deposition of finds and pits 166 5.4.1 The dating 211 4.5.4 Relation between features, finds and the 5.4.2 The periodization 211 socio-economic function of the (sub-)areas 168 5.4.3 The evolution of the defence system 213 4.6 Evaluation of the results in the light of the 5.5 Synthesis and interpretation objectives of the pilot study 172 (by J.H.F. Bloemers & J.R.A.M. Thijssen) 213 4.6.1 Introduction 172 5.5.1 Introduction 213 4.6.2 The spatial and socio-economic aspects 172 5.5.2 The defence system in relation to the 4.6.3 The method 173 fourth-century topography and occupation 4.6.4 Conclusion 174 of Nijmegen 213 5.5.3 Generalization of some morphological aspects of the fourth-century defence system at Nijmegen 215 5.5.4 Evidence of habitation in Nijmegen between c. AD 400 and 750 216 5.6 Reflections on the continuity of settlement at Nijmegen between AD 400 and 750 224 5.6.1 Introduction 224 5.6.2 Continuity in the late Roman period and the early Middle Ages and processes of formation 224 5.6.3 Continuity and formation processes in Nijmegen 226 5.6.4 A hypothetical model for the continuity of occupation at Nijmegen 228 References 232 List of contributors 255 Appendices 256 6 — Summary This monograph presents a selection of The third chapter covers the early Roman period conceptual and methodological framed issues from c. 15 BC to AD 70, the episode in which relating to the excavations in ‘Roman Nijmegen’ the invading Romans brought into use the 3 which were carried out by the State Service for km2 area on the Nijmegen push moraine and Archaeological Investigations in the Netherlands developed it as a location for a military force (ROB) from 1972 until the end of 1981. This of over 12,000 soldiers plus smaller units and investigation is characterized by its focus to build a capital for the Batavian civitas in the on the wider surroundings of the previously making. In this period, large military and civilian excavated fortress of the Tenth Legion on the groups of ‘immigrants’ from far and wide settle Hunerberg dating from the late first century in Nijmegen, whether or not permanently, AD. This broadening of perspective resulted in and they are recognizable from their ‘foreign’ substantial new insights into the organization material culture and burial methods. and spatial development of an area 3 km2 in size For the interpretation of this radical process between the town centre of Nijmegen and the that was to influence the character of Roman Kops Plateau from the late first century BC to Nijmegen for centuries, use was made of the beginning of the fifth century AD, the various concepts from developmental geography elements of settlement and the nature and and anthropology such as acculturation and role of the different groups of inhabitants and articulation.