Although almost eight years have passed since the last archaeological excavations in the La Carisa area, the Roman camps found between the municipalities of Aller and Lena continue to be fundamental enclaves for unearthing history and shedding light on the conquest of the lands of the Asturians and the Cantabrians, the last to be occupied by the troops of Emperor Augustus to subdue the north of the peninsula and definitively take over Hispania. A report recently published by archaeologist Esperanza Martín, one of the experts with the most hours of work in La Carisa, reveals the discovery of more than 200 pieces belonging to the Roman armies only in the camps of L.lagüezos and Cuaña (there is a third in Curriel.los). Among these objects are all types of weapons, tools, pieces of uniforms and elements of military equipment. “In all these years we have made many publications, but until now there was no monographic study on all this material,” explains Martín.
The arsenal that emerged from La Carisa
Esperanza Martín’s report, entitled “Military in the Cantabrian Wars. La Carisa, axis of operations”, shows that the Romans had to fight tooth and nail to subdue the ferocious Asturian-Cantabrian people. Among the objects found in the L.lagüezos and Cuaña camps, axes, swords, arrows, pilae (javelins), artillery projectiles (catapult pile) or darts have been catalogued. Among all these weapons, a “pugio” stands out, a reinforced dagger that could even pierce enemy chain mail and is the jewel in the crown. “It is a spectacular find because we found it still inside the sheath, which is padded with wood inside. We are waiting for it to be restored to be able to do a comprehensive study of the piece, because the external decoration is very deteriorated and cannot be found. can appreciate,” explains Esperanza Martín.
The arsenal that emerged from La Carisa
The “pugio” measures about 25 centimeters long and has a width of 5.5. “The iron handle has a curved section and is two millimeters thick, maintaining a thin layer of red organic material on the hilt, which may correspond to red leather,” says Esperanza Martín’s report on the dagger, which It was found just two centimeters from the surface and has silver rivets.
Among the finds recorded by the archaeologist’s team there are curved knives, straight knives, knives with quadrangular handles, round tangs, and even a possible pocketknife. Esperanza Martín’s report also includes a hoe, chisels, hooks, chains and even a very small portable anvil that could have been used to repair weapons outside the camps. During the excavation campaigns in La Carisa, only one defensive weapon was found. “It is an ‘umbo’, a metal piece that was placed in the center of the shields. It was located in one of the areas where the legionaries carried out control rounds, in the western part of the L.laguezos camp, the only point by where it could be attacked,” explains the archaeologist.
But in La Carisa not only weapons were found. Among the findings compiled in the report are also pegs that were used to set up the tents in which the Roman soldiers slept, guy ropes and pegs in their original position. “All this has allowed us to calculate the diameter of the tents, which were between 2.5 and 2.7 meters, measurements very similar to those documented in Vindolanda, one of the forts that guarded Hadrian’s Wall in Great Britain,” he points out. Martin. “The pegs, furthermore, do not all have the same weight and length, which allows us to think about different manufacturing hands,” adds the archaeologist.
Esperanza Martín’s study sheds even more light on the Roman camps established along the Via Carisa, the connection of the plateau with the Asturian coast. It is known that these mountain settlements were used in summer, but the archaeologist’s conclusions allow us to go one step further. Esperanza Martín is sure that these camps were not only used during the Cantabrian wars and considers it proven that they continued to be used “during the subsequent revolts.” What’s more, the discovery of a large key indicates the presence of a large door. It has dimensions of 55 centimeters and has two teeth on the drill bit and a hinge in the center of its articulated handle. “It may be of special interest because it may be linked to an entrance door to the large buildings of the principia (headquarters), which means a certain stability of the facilities, even if they were summer.” Excavations in the upper area of the camp have shown the replacement of tents by stone barracks
Lack of financing
Archaeologist Esperanza Martín believes that in La Carisa there is still much to discover and misses “more involvement” from the Asturian administrations to continue exploring the secrets of an enclave that, in addition to being a mine to reveal history, could become a tourist attraction for the councils of Aller and Lena, and for the rest of Asturias. “Since Ramón Argüelles stopped being mayor of Lena, the financing ran out. It is a shame because in the Leonese part they are moving to value these locations,” explains Esperanza Martín.
The first excavations took place in 2005, with Jorge Camino, Rogelio Estrada and Yolanda Viniegra at the helm. The road of the Via Carisa was already known, but then the first large camp came to light: the Curriel.los site. For years, this enclave was the highest Roman rest in all of Europe. Located at 1,700 meters, its fortification was expanded up to five times. Afterwards there was a pause in the excavations, which were not resumed until 2010. It was then that a group of archaeologists, who were flying over the area to create a map of Hispania, discovered another possible site. This time, in Picu L.lagüezos, between the municipalities of Villamanín (León) and Lena. Esperanza Martín directed the campaign, always under the coordination of expert Jorge Camino.
The Picu L.lagüezos keeps underground what was the first Roman site built in the territory currently occupied by Asturias. It has an area of at least six hectares (about six football fields) and was forcibly home to a large military formation. This first campaign in L.lagüezos was programmed with financing from the town councils of Lena, Aller and Villamanín (León). The last campaign in Asturias took place in the autumn of 2017. During this work, the archaeologists recorded a new discovery: they located a legionnaire surveillance post to prevent the entry of enemies into already conquered territory. This enclave is located in Carraceo, in the mountains of the council of Aller. “Since then, the administrations have not shown sufficient interest in this enclave and it is a real shame,” emphasizes Esperanza Martín.
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What role did La Carisa play in the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and how does this influence our understanding of Roman military strategy?
Today we have the pleasure of speaking with two distinguished guests, Dr. Esperanza Martín, an archaeologist who has extensively worked on the Roman camps in La Carisa, and Mr. Ramón Argüelles, a former mayor of Lena. Thank you both for taking the time to join us today.
Dr. Martín, can you tell us about the significance of La Carisa and its military camps in the context of the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula?
Mr. Argüelles, you have previously expressed concern about the lack of involvement from Asturian authorities in promoting and preserving these archaeological sites. Could you elaborate on that, and what steps do you think need to be taken to protect these valuable historical resources?”
Dr. Martín: “La Carisa was a strategic location for the Roman conquest of the Cantabrian territories. It provided a crucial vantage point for controlling the area and securing their supply lines. The discovery of this site and the excavation of the military camps have shed light on the tactics and equipment used by the Roman army during this brutal campaign. These findings not only give us a better understanding of Roman history but also contribute to the overall history of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe as a whole.”
Mr. Argüelles: “I believe that these archaeological sites have huge potential for tourism and education in our region. However, the lack of funding and support from the Asturian government has been disappointing. We need more collaboration between local, regional, and national authorities to ensure that these sites are properly preserved and promoted. It’s also important to involve the local communities in the preservation efforts, as they have a deep-rooted connection to these lands and their history.”
Dr. Martín: ”Absolutely, involving the local communities is essential for the long-term preservation of these sites. The excavations in La Carisa were not only about uncovering historical artifacts but also about giving back to the community and educating people about their heritage. We’ve seen great success in other parts of Spain where historical sites have been turned into tourist attractions, thus generating revenue for the region. With proper management and marketing, we can create a sustainable model for preserving these camps while also benefiting the local economy.
