This study explores the long-term development of the rural community of the Cananefates, who lived in the most north-western, continental part of the Roman Empire. To study this community a wide range of archaeological data are used, which were collected during excavations in the research area that roughly corresponds to the civitas of the Cananefates. This civitas was located between the Lower Rhine and the river Meuse in the present day province of South-Holland, the Netherlands (fig. 1.1).

THE CANANEFATES

Several classical authors refer to Cananefates. In 28, an Ala Canninefas is mentioned by Tacitus. This cavalry unit (ala) was active at this time in an area north of the Rhine river, possibly in the vicinity of the Roman fort at Velsen. During the Batavian revolt in 69-70, the Cananefates are named as instigators of the rebellion and as one of the eight mutinous Batavian cohorts. If these references are interpreted literally, a Cananafatian group existed from the 1st century onwards: they were identified as such and described by Romans authors, and were incorporated in the Roman army. After 69-70, no literary sources refer to the Cananefates. However, it is clear that the Romans perceived there to be a distinct Cananefatian identity. Interestingly, there is an large time gap between when Roman authors wrote about the Cananafates (the 1st century) and when the Cananefates appear in epigraphic documents (from the 2nd century onwards). A military diploma discovered in 1970-1971 near The Hague, mentions a veteran, who was the son of the Cananefatian Amandus. The diploma can be dated to 164 (table 1.1). This might indicate that already around the middle of the 2nd century, the name Cananefates still existed and was used in the research area. Outside this area, thirteen inscriptions refer to the Cananefates (table 1.1). Most of these are inscriptions of (discharged) soldiers, indicating a strong link between the Cananefates and the Roman military. Some of the members of the imperial horse guard in 2nd century Rome identified themselves as natione Can(n) onefas. These soldiers clearly felt the need to refer to the group of people from which they originated. Apparently, the need to express one's origin was strong in the Roman military; for example almost all inscriptions referring to the Batavian community are set up by (former) soldiers as well.