Discoveries from the Rhenish frontier of the Roman Empire

Three recent archaeological discoveries in Germany, Luxembourg, and Denmark have highlighted a number of aspects of life in the territories along the border of the Roman Empire in its later years.

The first is from Peterhagen, which lies on the Weser in north-eastern Westphalia, and is very much an elite item - a very small gold padlock of a distinctively Roman type. It is dated to the third or fourth century. The discovery was made by a metal detector.

The lock is described and illustrated by The Independent at Metal detectorist discovers unique golden artefact from Roman-era Germany and in more detail by Popular Mechanics at A Man Found a Tiny Gold Lock in the Dirt. It’s an ‘Extraordinary’ Example of Ancient Roman Craftsmanship.

The second discovery is a hoard of 141 gold solidi in near mint condition which was excavated by archaeologists at a Roman site near Holzthum in northern Luxembourg. The couns were initially found by metal detectors and as the number of items increased it was clear a full excavation was required. The coins were minted by a succession of Emperors between 364 and 408.

There is a report about the discovery from the Greek Reporter website at Ancient Roman Gold Treasure Discovered in Luxemburg

Wikipedia has an entry about the coins with appropriate links at Holzthum Hoard.

The third discovery is not gold but less glamorous items, but nevertheless of great interest. They are some fragments of late Roman armour which had been placed, probably as a ritual offering, in a pagan burial in what is now southern Denmark.

Heritage Daily has a report about the discoveries from the site at Roman helmet discovered in Denmark

.Whilst not directly linked these three discoveries do offer a number of insights into life in the north-west of the Roman Empire as, unconsciously, it moved into a state of decline without realising what was actually happening. Not a sudden or dramatic decline and fall but a gradual transformation.