Zottegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Archaeologists, led by Ingrid In ’t Ven, began excavating Velzeke, Zottegem, to uncover Belgium’s largest possible Roman army camp from Augustus’ era, revealing roads, palisades, and civilian-military links.
As VRT News reported, archaeologists have started a major excavation in Velzeke, a district of Zottegem, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, to search for a Roman army camp.
“This is the first time we’re digging, but the research into this army camp has been going on for years,”
says Ingrid In ‘t Ven, an archaeologist with the Agency for Immovable Heritage.
What is buried in Velzeke Zottegem’s largest Roman army camp?
Experts say it could be the largest Roman military camp ever discovered in Belgium. Velzeke was an important Roman settlement, located at the crossing of two main Roman roads.
“We did that using geophysical research,”
explains In ‘t Ven.
“Essentially, that just means we’re making scans of the ground. This way, we’re also learning a great deal about what’s hidden beneath all those layers of soil.”
Preliminary research has already revealed signs of Roman military structures. Archaeologists will dig deep trenches along Molenweg to uncover walls, gates, and post-holes.
“We can already see the outlines of that camp on the scans,”
says the archaeologist.
“But we won’t be truly certain until we see the remains in the ground.”
“Today and the coming days will be exciting,”
says In ‘t Ven.
“We hope to recover as many details as possible so we can accurately date the remains.”
Archaeologists say that if their findings are confirmed, a Roman army camp in Velzeke would be a major discovery for the period of Augustus, the first emperor of Rome.
“Not only would it be the largest camp in Belgium, but it would also confirm that Roman troops established camps here to recruit locals. They would then serve in the Roman army.”
The archaeologists are also studying how the military and civilian areas interacted. They want to see how the army influenced local settlements and everyday life. The research could reveal the earliest stages of Romanisation in the region. The team is examining the camp’s layout, structures, and links to nearby civilian settlements.
They hope to show how Roman customs, buildings, and social organisation spread in the area. Experts say the findings could provide new information about how Roman military presence shaped economic, social, and cultural life in early Roman Belgium.
Velzeke, now included in Zottegem, was a large Roman settlement beginning around the 1st Century BC (when Emperor Augustus was the first Emperor). The location was significant as it formed part of the intersection of 2 of the main Roman Roads.
Velzeke was used for both commercial and military enterprises; earlier excavation work at this site has uncovered ancient coins, pottery, figurines representing gods (including the famous Venus of Velzeke) and also evidence of housing, roads and wells.
