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A Roman Army way of entrance to the Galician territory

This penetration route enters Galicia from the Leonese area of O Bierzo. This fact is historiographically relevant since until now the only Roman military sites detected and excavated in Galicia were two forts (A Cidadela, Bande) belonging to later periods of the early Roman empire. Five camps can be directly linked with this military route, being placed four of them in the Galician province of Lugo and the other one in O Bierzo (León).

This last enclosure, named Serra da Casiña, is located in Valboa –close to Villafranca del Bierzo-, over a hill controlling a traditional Access way to Galicia.

One posible logistic base at Sarria

f it fulfilled its strategic, tactical or logistical needs, the Roman army could select a particular place and use it recurrently during the events of one or more military campigns. Some examples of this behaviour have been previously attested in the Península (Herramélluri –La Rioja-, Sasamón –Burgos-). A Chá de Santa Marta, between Láncara and Sarria, is an unique archaeological complex in Galicia since it comprises at least three possible Roman camps. They are located over a hill precisely at the point in which the landscape softens after we go the mountainous areas of León and Gaicia. Is it’s a reliable possibility that this place acted as a logistic axis or a regrouping point.

The three Roman camps of A Chá de Santa Marta (USAF, 1956)

Facing the crossing of the river Miño

The camp of Monte dos Trollos (0 Páramo. Lugo) is placed at a very strategic position, over a hill and closet o a natural ford of the river Miño. It is only 16 km away from A Chá de Santa Marta, a distance which can be covered in just a single day of marching.

One Comment to “A Roman Army way of entrance to the Galician territory”

  1. Sempre pensei que a tradicional historia que deixaba a conquista de Galicia para Xulio Cesar no 60 ac. non tiña muito sentido. A intención histórico politica de asturianos e cantabros en apropiarse eles sos do “mérito” da derradeira defensa contra a invasión romana esta, agora, a ser reconsiderada grazas aos esforzos de Mgago e outros estudosos. Campamentos da època da conquista xa estan aparecendo, agora falta intentar o esclarecemento do mito do monte Medulio que agora rexurde das suas cinzas e merece novos esforzos e investimentos.
    Obrigado a todolos investigadores polo seu esforzo e xenerosidade.

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