In Schaalby, northern Germany, archaeologists found rare bronze cauldrons dating from the 3rd to the 5th centuries AD. The cauldrons have been recovered through a collaboration between the Archaeological State Office of Schleswig-Holstein and Aarhus University.
The cauldrons are called ‘Vestland cauldrons’ and provide important evidence of trade and cultural exchange in antiquity. Previously believed to have only been found in the Scandinavian and Rhine regions, cauldrons found in northern Germany represent an important challenge to how we think about the extent of Roman-period trade networks. Researchers hope to use advanced technology, including ‘block lifting’ and computed tomography (CT) scanning, in order to preserve the cauldrons while also learning about any possible concealed contents that may be buried inside them.
This work will enhance our understanding of the complexity of social hierarchies and the interconnectivity of economies during the Migration Period.
1,700-year-old bronze cauldron found in Northern Germany’s connection to the Roman Empire
Vestland Cauldrons, found in Schaalby, reflect an extensive trade network between the Northern European Elite and Rome more than historians previously estimated. Elite goods such as these might have only been thought to have reached locations such as Scandinavia and the Rhine Basin.
These findings from the Schleswig-Holstein site indicated long-distance exchange networks between the local elite groups of the Roman world and these Northern European elites between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD, as noted in the research study on the Archaeological State Office of Schleswig-Holstein. In fact, there were trade, diplomatic, and ritual exchanges between the Roman world and decentralised and heterogeneous communities of Northern Europe long before the Viking Age.
How CT scanning protected fragile archaeological finds
The metal was very fragile, and as such used a non-destructive block lifting methodology in order for archaeologists to excavate the cauldrons with the dirt around them to keep them from falling and breaking apart during excavation. The cauldrons have been scanned via CT, and once scanned, will undergo controlled laboratory examination.By imaging, the vessels’ interiors without the use of force will allow archaeologists examining these cauldrons to determine if the vessels contained objects or if there are other objects that could be in the grave goods that are associated with them.
The imaging of the cauldrons allows archaeologists the ability to preserve the integrity of the archaeological context within the archaeological record.
Why were elite Roman goods buried in Germany
The initial study has indicated that the cauldrons appear to be placed inside each other, and this has led experts to believe that they were a deliberate deposit, possibly a ceremonial cache or a sacred burial offering. Deliberate interment of such valuable, imported items may indicate their status as highly regarded symbols of social rank and spiritual value among the indigenous Germanic peoples. Continued investigation by the Archaeological State Office for Schleswig-Holstein will evaluate the original purpose of this deposit and will seek to identify if any of the deposited items were organic in nature, which could provide additional information on ancient dining practices or burial customs.
