Alemannic burial chamber found in Germany

[guy]

 

An Alemannic burial chamber was unearthed in Gerstetten, Germany. Radiocarbon dating of a man's rib bone has confirmed the typological dating of the grave goods (including the comb pictured above), indicating that the man died between AD 263 and 342. 

 

 

Note: The Alemanni, who were part of the larger Suebian group, wore a distinct hairstyle called the Suebian knot. This unique hairstyle was a symbol of the Suebi, a confederation of Germanic tribes, and was mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus in his work "Germania". The Suebian knot involved combing the hair back or sideways and tying it into a knot, which was believed to make the warriors look taller and more imposing on the battlefield.

 

 

Here is a powerful passage by Ammianus Marcellinus describing the conflict between the Romans led by the future Emperor Julian and the Alemanni led by their king Chnodomar at the battle of Strasbourg in AD 357:

46. But the Allemanni, still charging forward impetuously, strove more and more vigorously, hoping to bear down all opposition by the violence of their fury. Darts, spears, and javelins never ceased; arrows pointed with iron were shot; while at the same time, in hand-to-hand conflict, sword struck sword, breastplates were cloven, and even the wounded, if not quite exhausted with loss of blood, rose up still to deeds of greater daring.

47. In some sense it may be said that the combatants were equal. The Allemanni were the stronger and the taller men; our soldiers by great practice were the more skilful. The one were fierce and savage, the others composed and wary; the one trusted to their courage, the others to their physical strength.

48. Often, indeed, the Roman soldier was beaten down by the weight of his enemy's arms, but he constantly rose again; and then, on the other hand, the barbarian, finding his knees fail under him with fatigue, would rest his left knee on the ground, and even in that position attack his enemy, an act of extreme obstinacy.

49. Presently there sprang forward with sudden vigour a fiery band of nobles, among whom also were the princes of the petty tribes, and, as the common soldiers followed them in great numbers, they burst through our lines, and forced a path for themselves up to the principal legion of the reserve, which was stationed in the centre, in a position called the praetorian camp; and there the soldiery, being in closer array, and in densely serried ranks, stood firm as so many towers, and renewed the battle with increased spirit. And intent upon parrying the blows of the enemy, and covering themselves with their shields as the Mirmillos do, with their drawn swords wounded their antagonists in the sides, which their too vehement impetuosity left unprotected.

50. And thus the barbarians threw away their lives in their struggles for victory, while toiling to break the compact array of our battalions. But still, in spite of the ceaseless slaughter made among them by the Romans, whose courage rose with their success, fresh barbarians succeeded those who fell; and as the frequent groans of the dying were heard, many became panic-stricken, and lost all strength.

51. At last, exhausted by their losses, and having no strength for anything but flight, they sought to escape with all speed by different roads, like as sailors and traders, when the sea rages in a storm, are glad to flee wherever the wind carries them. But any one then present will confess that escape was a matter rather to be wished than hoped for.

52. And the merciful protection of a favourable deity was present on our side, so that our soldiers, now slashing at the backs of the fugitives, and finding their swords so battered that they were insufficient to wound, used the enemy's own javelins, and so slew them. Nor could any one of the pursuers satiate himself enough with their blood, nor allow his hand to weary with slaughter, nor did any one spare a suppliant out of pity.

53. Numbers, therefore, lay on the ground, mortally wounded, imploring instant death as a relief; others, half dead, with failing breath turned their dying eyes to the last enjoyment of the light. Of some the heads were almost cut off by the huge weapons, and merely hung by small strips to their necks; others, again, who had fallen because the ground had been rendered slippery by the blood of their comrades, without themselves receiving any wound, were killed by being smothered in the mass of those who fell over them.

 

 

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/08/alemannic-chamber-grave-discovered-in-gerstetten/153329

Edited September 7 by guy

[guy]

 

Here’s another article about the discovery. Carbon dating indicates that the man was buried between AD 263 and 342 and was approximately 60 years old.

 

 

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/1-700-year-old-barbarian-burial-discovered-along-roman-empire-s-frontier-in-germany

Edited September 7 by guy