Oldest lorica segmentata discovered in Kalkriese | Photo: ARUSSCHLACHT im Osnabrücker Land gGmbH – Museum und Park Kalkriese
The archaeological site in Kalkriese, Lower Saxony, Germany, presented the results of the conservation of a unique artifact: the oldest and best-preserved example of Roman lorica segmentata, or segmented armor used by legionaries in the early imperial period. The discovery provides new insights into the armament of the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Augustus and the development of legionary equipment.
Discovery from the Kalkriese Battlefield
The armor was discovered during excavations conducted in 2018 at the Kalkriese site, which most researchers identify as the site of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD. In this battle, Germanic forces under Arminius defeated three legions commanded by Publius Quinctilius Varus. This defeat ended Roman attempts to permanently subjugate the lands east of the Rhine.
Exceptional degree of preservation
The armor consists of approximately thirty iron plates. Also preserved are elements of hinges, buckles, bronze fittings, and fragments of leather belts that connected the individual pieces of armor. Such a high degree of completeness is rare, as most previously known finds only included individual pieces of armor.
Until now, the most important artifacts of this type came from Corbridge in Britain and dated to the 2nd century AD. The Kalkriese specimen is over a hundred years older, making it the earliest material evidence of this type of armor.
What new does it reveal about Roman armor?
Research has shown that even the earliest varieties of lorica segmentata were carefully designed. Individual plates formed a flexible torso shield while providing considerable freedom of movement. The discovery allows us to trace the design solutions used even during the reign of Augustus and compare them with later armor variants known from the 2nd century AD.
Conservation was preceded by computed tomography (CT) scans, which allowed us to determine the arrangement of elements hidden within the earth mass and the corrosion products without having to immediately separate them. Only after the scans were completed did the months-long conservation work begin.
Hypotheses regarding the owner
A metal element, likely used to restrain prisoners, was also discovered near the armor. This has drawn the attention of researchers, who are considering the possibility that the armor may have belonged to a legionary captured after the battle. However, at this stage of research, there is no evidence to confirm this scenario. Both the armor and the second artifact could have ended up next to each other as a result of subsequent events on the battlefield. This hypothesis remains the subject of further analysis.
Significance of the discovery
The Kalkriese find is one of the most important discoveries related to Roman weaponry in recent years. Thanks to it, archaeologists can more accurately reconstruct the structure of the lorica segmentata, its production techniques, and the equipment of legionaries serving in Augustus’ army. This is also further evidence that the Kalkriese site remains one of the most valuable sources of knowledge about the beginnings of the Roman Empire and the events surrounding the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
