Römisches Marschlager bei Hachelbich

The Roman marching camp near Hachelbich lies in gentle south-eastern slopes above the Wipper valley in the Kyffhäuser region of central Germany. It was built between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD, making it the first such camp discovered in this part of the country. Archaeologists first noticed its distinctive V-shaped ditch in 2009 while checking ground ahead of roadworks on the L2290. The site matters because it shows how far Roman armies pushed into Germania. Excavations uncovered eight field ovens and metal fittings from cavalry gear, suggesting the camp housed thousands of soldiers for more than a few days. Experts estimate it held a legion of about 5 000 men plus auxiliaries, perhaps 8 000 to 9 000 troops in total. Visitors walk over farmland where the ditch still stands up to a metre deep. The visible trench runs in two right-angled sections for nearly 460 metres on the south side and a similar length on the east. A narrow entrance on the east was protected by an outer earthwork. The surrounding valley links the Thuringian basin with the Werra and Weser rivers, the same corridor used by ancient roads.