Our work has discussed the relation between the military and the landscape within the Hispania Ci... more Our work has discussed the relation between the military and the landscape within the Hispania Citerior province through the remaining epigraphic evidence. We were very aware of the limitation that is the amount of military epigraphy compared to the global number of roman inscriptions available in Spain. We accounted for the lack of archaeological and spatial contexts as well. It is a fact that the majority of the military epigraphy known to date in the Iberian Peninsula was found in unknown circumstances, in remote times (resulting in unavailable information) or was even re-used for subsequent structures (which usually transforms the original form). Nevertheless, by analysing and tracing the individual history of epigraphs it is possible to locate them on the territory and eventually in some capital locations within the military provinces. That is if we assume the abovementioned precautions. A meticulous approach to each file (understood as the inscription and the history of the monument together) and the combination of other materials and data on them partially makes up for the scarcity of specific contexts for the pieces. In any case, these two elements do not suffice to successfully resume this task. Roman urban archaeology and military archaeology contribute with referential frames that are key to understand and reconstruct an epigraphic landscape. That is both from a global perspective as well as from the perspective of specific areas in the territory and specific locations where the military had a prolonged stay. ‘
La devoción del soldado romano. Cultos públicos y cultos privados. Sabino Perea Yébenes (coord.). Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED). , 2020
Siste Viator, La epigrafía en la Antigua Roma, 2019
This paper deals with the epigraphic habit within the roman imperial army from a broad spreading ... more This paper deals with the epigraphic habit within the roman imperial army from a broad spreading but accurate perspective conceived to reach as much people interested in ancient roman epigraphy as posible . This is precisely the starting point of the main catalogue of the exhibition: Siste Viator. La epigrafía en la Antigua Roma, organized by Centro CIL II-UAH (Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum) and recently opened in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain), being this work one of its several scientific contributions.
The subject of this paper is a lead projectile from the municipality of Montilla (Córdoba) which ... more The subject of this paper is a lead projectile from the municipality of Montilla (Córdoba) which incorporates a double inscription - of great interest due to its particularity within the framework of the study of the corpus of glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula. This piece could be directly related to the war events narrated in the Bellum Hispaniense, as some of its most important episodes took place in this region. It contributes to the increasingly advanced archaeological knowledge of the Roman civil wars in Hispania and also provides elements of analysis complementary to the corpus of projectiles with Caesarian inscriptions known to date
Four glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula are presented in this paper. For two of them a... more Four glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula are presented in this paper. For two of them a connection to the Republican governors C. Flaminius and L. Mummius is proposed, and therefore a date in the 2nd century BC. A third slingshot bullet was most likely cast at the beginning of the governorship of the proconsul C. Valerius Flaccus, c. 92/91 BC. On the fourth specimen two names are inscribed, Afranius and Messalla, presumably two military leaders; it is carefully suggested that they could have been active during the Sertorian War. The communis opinio regarding the use of glandes inscriptae on the Iberian Peninsula must be modified: rather than being a phenomenon of the 1st century BC, peculiar to the Sertorian War (82-72 BC) and the confrontation between Caesar and the Pompeian faction (48-45 BC), they can now be traced back as far as the early 2nd century BC.
Four glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula are presented in this paper. For two of them a... more Four glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula are presented in this paper. For two of them a connection to the Republican governors C. Flaminius and L. Mummius is proposed, and therefore a date in the 2nd century BC. A third slingshot bullet was most likely cast at the beginning of the governorship of the proconsul C. Valerius Flaccus, c. 92/91 BC. On the fourth specimen two names are inscribed, Afranius and Messalla, presumably two military leaders; it is carefully suggested that they could have been active during the Sertorian War. The communis opinio regarding the use of glandes inscriptae on the Iberian Peninsula must be modified: rather than being a phenomenon of the 1st century BC, peculiar to the Sertorian War (82-72 BC) and the confrontation between Caesar and the Pompeian faction (48-45 BC), they can now be traced back as far as the early 2nd century BC.
This paper presents the funerary inscription of M. Casellius Nestor, soldier of legio VII Gemina,... more This paper presents the funerary inscription of M. Casellius Nestor, soldier of legio VII Gemina, unknown up to now. The inscription, actually disappeared, has been copied on an epigraphic sylloge gathered by F. Porras de la Cámara, dean of Seville’s cathedral, at the end of XVIth century and beginning of the XVIIth. The epitaph shows several problems concerned with its reading and historical interpretation. We try to shed some light on them in order to contextualize properly the epitaph within the military dipositive of Roman Hispania during the Principate.
This paper deals with the epigraphic habit within the roman imperial army from a broad spreading ... more This paper deals with the epigraphic habit within the roman imperial army from a broad spreading but accurate perspective conceived to reach as much people interested in ancient roman epigraphy as posible . This is precisely the starting point of the main catalogue of the exhibition: Siste Viator. La epigrafía en la Antigua Roma, organized by Centro CIL II-UAH (Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum) and recently opened in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain), being this work one of its several scientific contributions.
espanolRESUMEN. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo ha sido abordar la relacion entre los militares y ... more espanolRESUMEN. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo ha sido abordar la relacion entre los militares y el territorio en la provincia Citerior a traves del estudio de sus monumentos epigraficos. Ya desde el principio hemos sido conscientes de la limitacion que constituian la escasez de epigrafia militar con respecto al conjunto total de inscripciones romanas disponibles en Espana y la ausencia de contextos arqueologicos y espaciales definidos para abordar la cuestion. En efecto, de la mayor parte de la epigrafia militar atestiguada en la Peninsula Iberica se desconocen las circunstancias de hallazgo de las piezas, su localizacion en tiempos remotos (con la consecuente falta de informacion sobre el lugar y las propias circunstancias), o la reutilizacion del monumento en estructuras posteriores (con la consecuente modificacion de su forma original); a ello hemos de anadir la dificultad que supone la perdida y estado fragmentario de un numero muy considerable de textos que conlleva otro tipo ...
Este trabajo presenta un amplio conjunto inédito de elementos asociados a la arquitectura domésti... more Este trabajo presenta un amplio conjunto inédito de elementos asociados a la arquitectura doméstica y a partir de ello arroja nueva luz sobre las técnicas constructivas ibéricas en Andalucía, sobre las que apenas hay detallados publicados. Se analizan en detalle las improntas de elementos arquitectónicos vegetales sobre bloques de barro, que a su vez formaron parte de esa misma arquitectura, así como las improntas de elementos de cestería. Todo procede de las recientes excavaciones en el poblado ibérico del Cerro de la Cruz (Almedinilla, Córdoba), destruido a mediados del s. II a.C. Se relacionan estos elementos con otros similares ya conocidos.
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC, 2021
Our work has discussed the relation between the military and the landscape within the Hispania Ci... more Our work has discussed the relation between the military and the landscape within the Hispania Citerior province through the remaining epigraphic evidence. We were very aware of the limitation that is the amount of military epigraphy compared to the global number of roman inscriptions available in Spain. We accounted for the lack of archaeological and spatial contexts as well. It is a fact that the majority of the military epigraphy known to date in the Iberian Peninsula was found in unknown circumstances, in remote times (resulting in unavailable information) or was even re-used for subsequent structures (which usually transforms the original form). Nevertheless, by analysing and tracing the individual history of epigraphs it is possible to locate them on the territory and eventually in some capital locations within the military provinces. That is if we assume the abovementioned precautions. A meticulous approach to each file (understood as the inscription and the history of the monument together) and the combination of other materials and data on them partially makes up for the scarcity of specific contexts for the pieces. In any case, these two elements do not suffice to successfully resume this task. Roman urban archaeology and military archaeology contribute with referential frames that are key to understand and reconstruct an epigraphic landscape. That is both from a global perspective as well as from the perspective of specific areas in the territory and specific locations where the military had a prolonged stay. ‘
Resumen: Este trabajo presenta la inscripción funeraria de M. Casellius Nestor, soldado de la leg... more Resumen: Este trabajo presenta la inscripción funeraria de M. Casellius Nestor, soldado de la legio VII Gemina hasta ahora desconocido. El epígrafe, actualmente desaparecido, fue copiado en la sylloge epigráfica reunida por F. Porras de la Cámara, deán de la catedral de Sevilla entre finales del siglo XVI y comienzos del XVII. El epitafio presenta una serie de problemas de lectura e interpretación histórica sobre los que tratamos de arrojar luz a fin de contextualizarlo apropiadamente dentro del dispositivo militar de la Hispania romana en época alto-imperial.
Abstract: This paper presents the funerary inscription of M. Casellius Nestor, soldier of legio VII Gemina, unknown up to now. The inscription, actually disappeared, has been copied on an epigraphic sylloge gathered by F. Porras de la Cámara, dean of Seville's cathedral, at the end of XVI th century and beginning of the XVII th. The epitaph shows several problems concerned with its reading and historical interpretation. We try to shed some light on them in order to contextualize properly the epitaph within the military dipositive of Roman Hispania during the Principate.
Palabras clave: Nueva inscripción militar, Porras de la Cámara, soldado, legio VII Gemina, reclutamiento itálico.
Our work has discussed the relation between the military and the landscape within the Hispania Ci... more Our work has discussed the relation between the military and the landscape within the Hispania Citerior province through the remaining epigraphic evidence. We were very aware of the limitation that is the amount of military epigraphy compared to the global number of roman inscriptions available in Spain. We accounted for the lack of archaeological and spatial contexts as well. It is a fact that the majority of the military epigraphy known to date in the Iberian Peninsula was found in unknown circumstances, in remote times (resulting in unavailable information) or was even re-used for subsequent structures (which usually transforms the original form). Nevertheless, by analysing and tracing the individual history of epigraphs it is possible to locate them on the territory and eventually in some capital locations within the military provinces. That is if we assume the abovementioned precautions. A meticulous approach to each file (understood as the inscription and the history of the monument together) and the combination of other materials and data on them partially makes up for the scarcity of specific contexts for the pieces. In any case, these two elements do not suffice to successfully resume this task. Roman urban archaeology and military archaeology contribute with referential frames that are key to understand and reconstruct an epigraphic landscape. That is both from a global perspective as well as from the perspective of specific areas in the territory and specific locations where the military had a prolonged stay. ‘
La devoción del soldado romano. Cultos públicos y cultos privados. Sabino Perea Yébenes (coord.). Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED). , 2020
Siste Viator, La epigrafía en la Antigua Roma, 2019
This paper deals with the epigraphic habit within the roman imperial army from a broad spreading ... more This paper deals with the epigraphic habit within the roman imperial army from a broad spreading but accurate perspective conceived to reach as much people interested in ancient roman epigraphy as posible . This is precisely the starting point of the main catalogue of the exhibition: Siste Viator. La epigrafía en la Antigua Roma, organized by Centro CIL II-UAH (Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum) and recently opened in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain), being this work one of its several scientific contributions.
The subject of this paper is a lead projectile from the municipality of Montilla (Córdoba) which ... more The subject of this paper is a lead projectile from the municipality of Montilla (Córdoba) which incorporates a double inscription - of great interest due to its particularity within the framework of the study of the corpus of glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula. This piece could be directly related to the war events narrated in the Bellum Hispaniense, as some of its most important episodes took place in this region. It contributes to the increasingly advanced archaeological knowledge of the Roman civil wars in Hispania and also provides elements of analysis complementary to the corpus of projectiles with Caesarian inscriptions known to date
Four glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula are presented in this paper. For two of them a... more Four glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula are presented in this paper. For two of them a connection to the Republican governors C. Flaminius and L. Mummius is proposed, and therefore a date in the 2nd century BC. A third slingshot bullet was most likely cast at the beginning of the governorship of the proconsul C. Valerius Flaccus, c. 92/91 BC. On the fourth specimen two names are inscribed, Afranius and Messalla, presumably two military leaders; it is carefully suggested that they could have been active during the Sertorian War. The communis opinio regarding the use of glandes inscriptae on the Iberian Peninsula must be modified: rather than being a phenomenon of the 1st century BC, peculiar to the Sertorian War (82-72 BC) and the confrontation between Caesar and the Pompeian faction (48-45 BC), they can now be traced back as far as the early 2nd century BC.
Four glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula are presented in this paper. For two of them a... more Four glandes inscriptae from the Iberian Peninsula are presented in this paper. For two of them a connection to the Republican governors C. Flaminius and L. Mummius is proposed, and therefore a date in the 2nd century BC. A third slingshot bullet was most likely cast at the beginning of the governorship of the proconsul C. Valerius Flaccus, c. 92/91 BC. On the fourth specimen two names are inscribed, Afranius and Messalla, presumably two military leaders; it is carefully suggested that they could have been active during the Sertorian War. The communis opinio regarding the use of glandes inscriptae on the Iberian Peninsula must be modified: rather than being a phenomenon of the 1st century BC, peculiar to the Sertorian War (82-72 BC) and the confrontation between Caesar and the Pompeian faction (48-45 BC), they can now be traced back as far as the early 2nd century BC.
This paper presents the funerary inscription of M. Casellius Nestor, soldier of legio VII Gemina,... more This paper presents the funerary inscription of M. Casellius Nestor, soldier of legio VII Gemina, unknown up to now. The inscription, actually disappeared, has been copied on an epigraphic sylloge gathered by F. Porras de la Cámara, dean of Seville’s cathedral, at the end of XVIth century and beginning of the XVIIth. The epitaph shows several problems concerned with its reading and historical interpretation. We try to shed some light on them in order to contextualize properly the epitaph within the military dipositive of Roman Hispania during the Principate.
This paper deals with the epigraphic habit within the roman imperial army from a broad spreading ... more This paper deals with the epigraphic habit within the roman imperial army from a broad spreading but accurate perspective conceived to reach as much people interested in ancient roman epigraphy as posible . This is precisely the starting point of the main catalogue of the exhibition: Siste Viator. La epigrafía en la Antigua Roma, organized by Centro CIL II-UAH (Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum) and recently opened in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain), being this work one of its several scientific contributions.
espanolRESUMEN. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo ha sido abordar la relacion entre los militares y ... more espanolRESUMEN. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo ha sido abordar la relacion entre los militares y el territorio en la provincia Citerior a traves del estudio de sus monumentos epigraficos. Ya desde el principio hemos sido conscientes de la limitacion que constituian la escasez de epigrafia militar con respecto al conjunto total de inscripciones romanas disponibles en Espana y la ausencia de contextos arqueologicos y espaciales definidos para abordar la cuestion. En efecto, de la mayor parte de la epigrafia militar atestiguada en la Peninsula Iberica se desconocen las circunstancias de hallazgo de las piezas, su localizacion en tiempos remotos (con la consecuente falta de informacion sobre el lugar y las propias circunstancias), o la reutilizacion del monumento en estructuras posteriores (con la consecuente modificacion de su forma original); a ello hemos de anadir la dificultad que supone la perdida y estado fragmentario de un numero muy considerable de textos que conlleva otro tipo ...
Este trabajo presenta un amplio conjunto inédito de elementos asociados a la arquitectura domésti... more Este trabajo presenta un amplio conjunto inédito de elementos asociados a la arquitectura doméstica y a partir de ello arroja nueva luz sobre las técnicas constructivas ibéricas en Andalucía, sobre las que apenas hay detallados publicados. Se analizan en detalle las improntas de elementos arquitectónicos vegetales sobre bloques de barro, que a su vez formaron parte de esa misma arquitectura, así como las improntas de elementos de cestería. Todo procede de las recientes excavaciones en el poblado ibérico del Cerro de la Cruz (Almedinilla, Córdoba), destruido a mediados del s. II a.C. Se relacionan estos elementos con otros similares ya conocidos.
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC, 2021
Our work has discussed the relation between the military and the landscape within the Hispania Ci... more Our work has discussed the relation between the military and the landscape within the Hispania Citerior province through the remaining epigraphic evidence. We were very aware of the limitation that is the amount of military epigraphy compared to the global number of roman inscriptions available in Spain. We accounted for the lack of archaeological and spatial contexts as well. It is a fact that the majority of the military epigraphy known to date in the Iberian Peninsula was found in unknown circumstances, in remote times (resulting in unavailable information) or was even re-used for subsequent structures (which usually transforms the original form). Nevertheless, by analysing and tracing the individual history of epigraphs it is possible to locate them on the territory and eventually in some capital locations within the military provinces. That is if we assume the abovementioned precautions. A meticulous approach to each file (understood as the inscription and the history of the monument together) and the combination of other materials and data on them partially makes up for the scarcity of specific contexts for the pieces. In any case, these two elements do not suffice to successfully resume this task. Roman urban archaeology and military archaeology contribute with referential frames that are key to understand and reconstruct an epigraphic landscape. That is both from a global perspective as well as from the perspective of specific areas in the territory and specific locations where the military had a prolonged stay. ‘
Resumen: Este trabajo presenta la inscripción funeraria de M. Casellius Nestor, soldado de la leg... more Resumen: Este trabajo presenta la inscripción funeraria de M. Casellius Nestor, soldado de la legio VII Gemina hasta ahora desconocido. El epígrafe, actualmente desaparecido, fue copiado en la sylloge epigráfica reunida por F. Porras de la Cámara, deán de la catedral de Sevilla entre finales del siglo XVI y comienzos del XVII. El epitafio presenta una serie de problemas de lectura e interpretación histórica sobre los que tratamos de arrojar luz a fin de contextualizarlo apropiadamente dentro del dispositivo militar de la Hispania romana en época alto-imperial.
Abstract: This paper presents the funerary inscription of M. Casellius Nestor, soldier of legio VII Gemina, unknown up to now. The inscription, actually disappeared, has been copied on an epigraphic sylloge gathered by F. Porras de la Cámara, dean of Seville's cathedral, at the end of XVI th century and beginning of the XVII th. The epitaph shows several problems concerned with its reading and historical interpretation. We try to shed some light on them in order to contextualize properly the epitaph within the military dipositive of Roman Hispania during the Principate.
Palabras clave: Nueva inscripción militar, Porras de la Cámara, soldado, legio VII Gemina, reclutamiento itálico.
Actualidad de la Investigación Arqueológica en España II (2019-2020). Conferencias impartidas en el Museo Arqueológico Nacional. Catálogo de publicaciones del Ministerio: www.culturaydeporte.gob.es, 2020
We present the historical context and the first results of the field survey of the Caesarian batt... more We present the historical context and the first results of the field survey of the Caesarian battlefields around Ulia/Montemayor, and the excavation of the Iberian Iron Age chariot mor wagon from Cerro de la Horca (Montemayor).
Keywords: Battlefield Archaeology. Roman civil wars. Weaponry. Militaria. Iberian Iron Age chariot.
Epigraphica. Periodico Internazionale di Epigrafia, 2019
The aim of this paper is to shed light on the study of epigraphic landscape generated in Tarraco ... more The aim of this paper is to shed light on the study of epigraphic landscape generated in Tarraco by the roman soldiers during the Principate, particularly studying one of the most representative military funerary monuments, the pedestals.
This paper presents two new Roman inscriptions coming from Clunia and actually preserved in Peña... more This paper presents two new Roman inscriptions coming from Clunia and actually preserved in Peñalba de Castro (Burgos). They are two descontextualized blocks wich have been reused as wallbricks in a local house. Both of them contains traces of epitaphs belonging to both soldiers and engraved in a pretty common sort of funerary monument of roman Clunia.
ACTUALIDAD DE LA INVESTIGACIÓN ARQUEOLÓGICA EN ESPAÑA II (2019-2020) CONFERENCIAS IMPARTIDAS EN EL MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO NACIONAL, 2019
Durante la última década, y desde el Grupo de Investigación Polemos, desarrollamos en el sur de l... more Durante la última década, y desde el Grupo de Investigación Polemos, desarrollamos en el sur de la actual provincia de Córdoba, un amplio Proyecto de Investigación sobre la Cultura Ibérica y la transición durante la conquista romana. En su fase actual, y en forma de Proyecto de I+D del Plan nacional de Investigación, tiene el título: ‘Ciudades y complejos aristocráticos ibéricos en la conquista romana de la Alta Andalucía’.
El periodo analizado abarca entre el siglo IV y el I a.C., y la zona de estudio es el área fronteriza entre la Campiña y la Subética o, en la antigüedad, la región transicional entre la Turdetania (Bajo Guadalquivir) y la Bastetania (Alta Andalucía) de las fuentes romanas, lo que aporta un interés adicional, ya que se trata de un área a caballo entre el mundo ibérico y un área muy más influida por fenicios y púnicos.
Como cualquier Proyecto de investigación moderno, el trabajo es complejo e incluye prospecciones de superficie en varios municipios, y excavaciones en tres puntos muy seleccionados: el hábitat ibérico del Cerro de la Cruz en Almedinilla, el complejo aristocrático o palacial del Cerro de la Merced en las cercanías de Igabrum/Cabra, más al oeste; y el entorno de la ciudad de Ulia, actual Montemayor, ya en la campiña.
Taller de Epigrafía Centro CIL II-Kommission für Alte Geschichte und epigraphik. Inscripciones de la parte occidental de la Península Ibérica. Problemas y debate. , 2018
Festum, VIII Jornadas Ibero-romanas (Almedinilla, Córdoba).. Viriato, Primus ínter pares, las guerras lusitanas y la consolidación de la conquista romana., 2015
Primer Coloquium Unediense sobre el ejército romano. Milicia y religión en la Roma Antigua. Cultos oficiales y cultos privados., 2018
This presentation, focuses on roman military votive practiques in Hispania through the epigraphic... more This presentation, focuses on roman military votive practiques in Hispania through the epigraphic evidence. The central purpose is to make conceptual differences between official, public and private devotions.
The main goal of this work is therefore to apply an analytic model to outline an epigraphic topo... more The main goal of this work is therefore to apply an analytic model to outline an epigraphic topography of the early imperial Roman army in Hispania, taking into account the scarce amount of available epigraphic sources and the above-mentioned issues regarding analysis and context. Our methodological contribution to the subject of the Roman military in Spain is thus to obtain an approximate, systematic and spatial image of said military topography. A meticulous approach to each file (understood as the inscription and the history of the monument together) and the combination of other materials and data on them partially makes up for the scarcity of specific contexts for the pieces. In any case, these two elements do not suffice to successfully resume this task. Roman urban archaeology and military archaeology contribute with referential frames that are key to understand and reconstruct an epigraphic landscape. That is both from a global perspective as well as from the perspective of specific areas in the territory and specific locations where the military had a prolonged stay. ‘Between Epigraphy and Archaeology’ refers to the central aim of our work which is in line with many other scholarly reviews of the Roman military history in other parts of the Empire. On the other hand, we obtain a rather complex and fragmentary image from studying sources and contexts. It cannot be conceived as a uniform entity in time and space as it is subject to the history of the Roman Empire and its provinces. The different phases of the Roman establishment in Hispania, especially in the studied province, were influenced by events such as: the articulation of the territory of Hispania and the Citerior province after the conquest, the exploitation and administration of the newly acquired resources, or the civil wars in the 1st and 3rd centuries A.D. Considering the size of this subject, we believe we have outlined a detailed image of the relationship between the roman military and the occupied Iberian territories. Our perspective has been social rather than event-driven as we have encountered numerous examples of interaction between soldiers and the territory on which they served. Our work refutes the idea of an exercitus Hispanicus that is ‘secon-class’ in comparison to other early imperial Roman armies, which is usually justified by shifting the focus towards more conflictive areas of the Empire. The specific circumstances of Hispania shaped an specific military approach characterised by unique elements that resulted in the development of an active, busy and dynamic army. An army that was involved in infrastructure works to extend the imperial authority’s reach in the Citerior province. It evolved to become an agent of Romanization in times of peace and thus helped to define the early-imperial identity of Hispania.
ACTUALIDAD DE LA INVESTIGACIÓN ARQUEOLÓGICA EN ESPAÑA II (2019-2020) CONFERENCIAS IMPARTIDAS EN EL MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO NACIONAL. Madrid, MAN, 2020, 2020
We present the historical context and the first results of the field survey of the Caesarian batt... more We present the historical context and the first results of the field survey of the Caesarian battlefields around Ulia/Montemayor, and the excavation of the Iberian Iron Age chariot mor wagon from Cerro de la Horca (Montemayor).
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Abstract: This paper presents the funerary inscription of M. Casellius Nestor, soldier of legio VII Gemina, unknown up to now. The inscription, actually disappeared, has been copied on an epigraphic sylloge gathered by F. Porras de la Cámara, dean of Seville's cathedral, at the end of XVI th century and beginning of the XVII th. The epitaph shows several problems concerned with its reading and historical interpretation. We try to shed some light on them in order to contextualize properly the epitaph within the military dipositive of Roman Hispania during the Principate.
Palabras clave: Nueva inscripción militar, Porras de la Cámara, soldado, legio VII Gemina, reclutamiento itálico.
Abstract: This paper presents the funerary inscription of M. Casellius Nestor, soldier of legio VII Gemina, unknown up to now. The inscription, actually disappeared, has been copied on an epigraphic sylloge gathered by F. Porras de la Cámara, dean of Seville's cathedral, at the end of XVI th century and beginning of the XVII th. The epitaph shows several problems concerned with its reading and historical interpretation. We try to shed some light on them in order to contextualize properly the epitaph within the military dipositive of Roman Hispania during the Principate.
Palabras clave: Nueva inscripción militar, Porras de la Cámara, soldado, legio VII Gemina, reclutamiento itálico.
Keywords: Battlefield Archaeology. Roman civil wars. Weaponry. Militaria. Iberian Iron Age chariot.
El periodo analizado abarca entre el siglo IV y el I a.C., y la zona de estudio es el área fronteriza entre la Campiña y la Subética o, en la antigüedad, la región transicional entre la Turdetania (Bajo Guadalquivir) y la Bastetania (Alta Andalucía) de las fuentes romanas, lo que aporta un interés adicional, ya que se trata de un área a caballo entre el mundo ibérico y un área muy más influida por fenicios y púnicos.
Como cualquier Proyecto de investigación moderno, el trabajo es complejo e incluye prospecciones de superficie en varios municipios, y excavaciones en tres puntos muy seleccionados: el hábitat ibérico del Cerro de la Cruz en Almedinilla, el complejo aristocrático o palacial del Cerro de la Merced en las cercanías de Igabrum/Cabra, más al oeste; y el entorno de la ciudad de Ulia, actual Montemayor, ya en la campiña.
A meticulous approach to each file (understood as the inscription and the history of the monument together) and the combination of other materials and data on them partially makes up for the scarcity of specific contexts for the pieces. In any case, these two elements do not suffice to successfully resume this task. Roman urban archaeology and military archaeology contribute with referential frames that are key to understand and reconstruct an epigraphic landscape. That is both from a global perspective as well as from the perspective of specific areas in the territory and specific locations where the military had a prolonged stay. ‘Between Epigraphy and Archaeology’ refers to the central aim of our work which is in line with many other scholarly reviews of the Roman military history in other parts of the Empire.
On the other hand, we obtain a rather complex and fragmentary image from studying sources and contexts. It cannot be conceived as a uniform entity in time and space as it is subject to the history of the Roman Empire and its provinces. The different phases of the Roman establishment in Hispania, especially in the studied province, were influenced by events such as: the articulation of the territory of Hispania and the Citerior province after the conquest, the exploitation and administration of the newly acquired resources, or the civil wars in the 1st and 3rd centuries A.D.
Considering the size of this subject, we believe we have outlined a detailed image of the relationship between the roman military and the occupied Iberian territories. Our perspective has been social rather than event-driven as we have encountered numerous examples of interaction between soldiers and the territory on which they served. Our work refutes the idea of an exercitus Hispanicus that is ‘secon-class’ in comparison to other early imperial Roman armies, which is usually justified by shifting the focus towards
more conflictive areas of the Empire. The specific circumstances of Hispania shaped an specific military approach characterised by unique elements that resulted in the development of an active, busy and dynamic army. An army that was involved in infrastructure works to extend the imperial authority’s reach in the Citerior province. It evolved to become an agent of Romanization in times of peace and thus helped to define the early-imperial identity of Hispania.