Germanic tribes had crossed the Rhine and devastated the Roman countryside in 233.

In 235, Maximinus Thrax had led the revenge campaign into Germania, which had been prepared by his predecessor Severus Alexander, defeating a Germanic tribe beyond the Weser in the Battle at the Harzhorn.

The archaeologists responsible for the excavation of the battle site believe that the roughly fifteen hundred artifacts found at the battle site are associated with Roman legionaries.

Since Germanic tribes of the time were also sometimes equipped with Roman weaponry, one early assumption was that this could have been an inter-Germanic battle.

Other Germanic excavations of the time reveal that many such conflicts were fought during the third century.

The finding of many bolts associated with the Scorpio or Cheiroballistra, which were exclusively used by Roman legions, prove, according to the scientists involved, that this battle involved a larger number of Roman troops.

The working hypothesis of the scientists is that the Roman troops were on their way back from the North German Plain.

They found the Harzhorn pass blocked by a large number of Germans, and had to fight their way through, using their superior Roman artillery.

The finds indicate a Roman success, due to their superior military technology.