Abstract
In the last decades, several remarkable discoveries which have considerably enriched our knowledge about the problems of Roman-Germanic coexistence and power-political processes during the reign of Emperor Augustus have been made. We can name, for example, the identification of the locality Kalkriese as a place of the Varus battle from the critical year 9 AD, or the discovery of the Roman town in Waldgirmes.
This settlement is very important for assessing the Augustan German policy, its set aims as well as the concrete realization. It gives evidence about regionally different steps during the organisation of Roman rule east of the Rhine.
The control of the Rhine-Main Region and Wetterau was probably not protected by a military presence as strong as in Westphalia and on Lippe, where it was manifested mainly in the legionary camps Haltern, Oberaden, Anreppen. Here we can also mention a newly discovered fortification near Olfen, serving probably as a supply base.
The camp in Marktbreit on Main is related to a possible realization of the campaign against Maroboduus in 6 AD. The centre of his empire was supposed to be situated in the territory of today's Bohemia.
This brings us to our country and to the role of the Elbe river within the concept of Roman interests. The development of aerial prospection together with the application of natural scientific methods means a cardinal shift also in the evaluation of Roman intervention.
In connection to this, I will sketch a current project (No. 623612) of The Charles University Grant Agency with the title ,,Roman military camps in the Central Bohemia?-verification of the hypothesis by the archaeological research".