The Ancient Romans’ answer to barbed wire had been written about, but never seen by modern archaeologists. //

The sharp wooden spikes were very well preserved in the damp soil. //

An archaeological excavation in Germany has uncovered the first evidence of a Roman defensive technology described by Julius Caesar. The find was made at a site near the town of Bad Ems, where teams also found evidence of two military camps, challenging what we thought we knew about the history of this region. //

Acting like an Ancient Roman version of barbed wire, a structure of sharp wooden spikes like the ones found by Auth’s team would have likely extended around the perimeter of the camp, to deter attackers. In an incredible stroke of luck, this discovery was made on only the second-to-last day of the planned dig, when the excavation was winding down. The team also found a coin minted in 43 CE, helping them to date the structure with more accuracy.