Reception and History of Research in the Roman Provinces of Germany

Abstract

This chapter considers the reception and history of research in the provinces of Roman Germany. It begins by tracing the roots of the discipline of provincial Roman archaeology to the conceptual framework of ancient history and classical archaeology, and its methods to prehistory and protohistory. It then outlines the eight phases of the history of Roman research in Germany: creation of legends in the Middle Ages; rebirth of the ancient world in the Renaissance; the Roman Germany of the antiquarians and the beginnings of limes research; early science and civic societies; the emergence of modern organised science; the Römlingeat the time of National Socialism; academic recognition; and current research (dissertations and externally funded projects). The chapter concludes by discussing prospects for the discipline of provincial Romanarchaeology.