Remains of a Roman military camp were discovered near Tel Megiddo/photo: Emil Eljem, Israel Antiquities Authority
Remains of the 1800-year-old Roman Legion camp - known as the "Iron Legion" (Prata) - were uncovered in an excavation conducted by the Antiquities Authority during the past few months at the foot of Tel Megiddo, near the site of the ancient Legion/Kfar Otanei.
The excavation, under the management of Dr. Yotam Teper and Barak Tzin, and funded by the Israel Routes Company, is part of a project to regularize Highway 66. The excavation revealed impressive architectural remains of the "Via Pretoria" - the main street of the camp, along with paved stone surfaces and a monumental podium in the shape of the Greek letter Sigma, which were part of a large public structure. The military camp of the Sixth Legion is the only military camp in the Land of Israel, on this scale and scope, whose location is known and which was revealed in archaeological excavations.
The camp has paved stone surfaces and a monumental podium in the shape of the Greek letter Sigma.
Excavation area in Megiddo/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
The length of the camp was about 550 m and its width about 350 m / Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
"Many stones were taken from the camp for use in other projects during the Byzantine period."
The camp at Tel Megiddo/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
The discovery of the center of the camp now is no accident
"The camp of the Roman legion in Belgio served as the permanent base for over 5,000 Roman soldiers for about 1,800 years - between the years 117-120 CE and approximately 300," says Dr. Yotam Teper, the director of the excavation on behalf of the Antiquities Authority. "It was about -550 m and its width is about 350 m.
Two main streets intersected in the center of the camp, and this is also where the courtyard of the camp headquarters was established.
This location in the camp was used as a central reference point, from which the road distances (which were marked with millstones) were measured along the Roman roads, which were paved from the military camp to the main cities all over the north of the Land of Israel.
The preservation of the remains at the site is not evident to a great extent, because many stones were taken from here over the years for use in other projects in settlements established in the area during the Byzantine period."
Dr. Teper emphasizes that the discovery of the center of the camp now is not accidental;
This excavation by the Antiquities Authority was preceded by surveys conducted as part of a geographic-historical study conducted by Dr. Teffer in an academic framework and six excavation seasons conducted in the last decade in partnership with Dr. Matthew G.
Adams, as part of the Jezreel Valley Research Project (JVRP) on behalf of the Albright Institute for Archeology in Jerusalem.
"During these excavation seasons, the camp's headquarters yard (the Principia) was uncovered in the upper part, southwest of Route 66, and in the current excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, we are discovering the remains of the camp extending to the northeast and along Route 66."
Preliminary scans of the camp area by JVRP, using ground-penetrating radar technology, show that below the surface, under the wheat fields of Kibbutz Megiddo, lies a complex of a Roman legion camp that has been preserved in all its components. "The research importance and uniqueness of this find is very great because The rarity of the archaeological find in the place," says Dr. Teper.
"It is true that Roman military camps are known in the Land of Israel, but they were temporary siege camps or small camps used by auxiliary units. Not a single one of them resembles a legion camp in complete formation, as documented in the archaeological excavations in Legia near the Megiddo junction."
Historical sources and additional partial information testify to the existence of a permanent Roman legion camp of the tenth legion (Partensis) in Jerusalem, but it has not yet been located.
The excavation revealed architectural remains of the "Via Pretoria" - the main street of the camp/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
Not a single one of them resembles a legion camp in a complete formation, as documented in the archaeological excavations in Legio near the Megiddo junction."/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
Tile fragments found in the excavation/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
"The importance of the find is very great due to the rarity of the archaeological find in the place."
Dr. Yotam Teper/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
"Imperial Roman-Military Fingerprint"
Coins, parts of weapons, fragments of pottery and glass were also discovered in the excavation, but the most prominent find at the site are the tiles, which were discovered in very large quantities.
"The tiles, on which the imprints of the Sixth Legion were sometimes stamped, were used for a large variety of purposes - for roofing, for coating floors and walls. "The technology, knowledge, construction methods and weapons that the legion brought with it are unique to the Roman army.
The legion brought with it from the country of origin a large variety of items, which constitute a military-imperial Roman fingerprint."
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Megiddo
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