The Tel Megiddo camp

In an excavation recently conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the foot of Tel Megiddo the remains of a Roman military camp dating back 1,800 years were discovered. The discovery is not accidental. The presence of the site was known to scholars: archaeological surveys and six seasons of excavations have been conducted in the last decade.

According to Dr. Yotam Tepper, director of the excavations: «The unique contribution of this research project lies in the rarity of these archaeological discoveries». While temporary Roman military camps with siege functions or belonging to auxiliary divisions are known in Israel, in this case it is a large permanent camp that was inhabited for more than 180 years, from 117-120 to 300 AD. approximately, by over 5 thousand soldiers.
Architectural remains were discovered during the excavation. A monumental road, the Via Pretoria, crossed the field. In the center, a semicircular podium and stone-paved areas were found, part of a large public building. The walls of this structure, probably the headquarters, have not survived in height as most of the stones were re-used in buildings from the Byzantine and Islamic periods. In the center of the camp the two main roads crossed. It was from this point that the distances to the main cities in the north of the country were measured and marked with milestones.

Several objects were discovered during the excavation which made it possible to date the finds: coins, parts of weapons, fragments of ceramic and glass. However, the numerically most present objects are the tiles, on some of which the stamps of the VI Legion were imprinted. These architectural elements were used for various purposes such as tiling or covering some walls. The construction techniques and weapons that the VI Legion brought with them from their home country are unique to the Roman army.


Agnese Picco
NP March 2024