Abstract
Roman Nijmegen is the largest archaeological site/micro region (ca. 3 km2 ) in the Netherlands and is composed of two areas with military forts and surrounding semi-civilian occupation, two areas with urban character and six military and civilian cemeteries dating from the 1st - 5th century AD. It is certainly one of the most extensively excavated sites of its kind north of the Alps. Its surface area and the large scale field work carried out since World War II illustrate the importance of Roman Nijmegen as central place in the military and civilian organisation established to integrate the Batavian region in the northern frontier zone of the Roman empire. The aim of the proposed research programme is to exploit this extremely rich source of data for the study of the development of Roman Nijmegen as a central place in this part of the Lower Rhine basin and its relation to the Batavian region. By comparing the results with the rest of the northern frontier zone the programme will throw light on this earliest phase of urbanisation in Northwest-Europe and the regional conditions and modifications of its development. Four aspects are considered to be characteristic for Roman Nijmegen as a central place and its relation to the Batavian rural area: the topography and monumentality of Roman Nijmegen, Roman Nijmegen and the monetization of the Batavian region, man and animal in Roman Nijmegen and the Batavian region, and the intermediary role of specific socio-economic and ethnic groups. The first three aspects will be subject of two theses and Post-doc research, the last one of the research of the first applicant.