Another myth busted?
"A newly published study suggests that the siege laid by the Roman army to the Judean desert fortress of Masada in 73 CE lasted no more than a few weeks, contrary to the long-held belief that the siege against a band of Jewish rebels lasted three years.
The Tel Aviv University (TAU) study utilized a range of modern technologies, including drones with remote sensors and 3D digital modeling to generate the first objective, quantified analysis of the elements involved in the siege.
The technology allowed the researchers to generate high-resolution measurements of the height, width, and length of all features of the Roman army’s siege system, which included eight camps and a stone wall surrounding most of the site.
The scientists then built an accurate 3D model based on the data, enabling them to generate an exact calculation of the structures’ volume and how long it took to build them. ..."
"... "Reliable estimates are available of the quantity of earth and stones a Roman soldier was able to move in one day. We also know that approximately 6,000-8,000 soldiers participated in the siege of Masada. Thus, we were able to objectively calculate how long it took them to build the entire siege system – eight camps and a stone wall surrounding most of the site. We found that construction took merely about two weeks. Based on the ancient historical testimony it is clear that once the assault ramp was completed, the Romans launched a brutal attack, ultimately capturing the fortress within a few weeks, at the most. This leads us to the conclusion that the entire siege of Masada lasted no more than several weeks". ..."
From the abstract:
"The 1st-c. CE Roman siege system of Masada exhibits a high degree of preservation due to its remote location and the arid climate. However, unlike the thoroughly excavated Masada fortress, the siege system has not received due attention. This article is part of a research project aimed at advancing our understanding of the conflict landscape around Masada using contemporary archaeological methods. Following a comprehensive surface survey and photogrammetric 3D modelling, we show that the circumvallation wall stood to a height of 2–2.5 m and served several functions – as an obstacle, a means of psychological warfare, and a platform from which to mount counterattacks. Based on our measurements and workload estimations, we argue that the construction of the siege wall and the camps around Masada occurred fairly quickly."
The Roman Siege of Masada May Have Lasted Weeks, Not Years "New research suggests that the Romans defeated the Jewish rebels at Masada much more quickly than scholars previously assumed"
Crushing the Longtime Myth of Masada (original news release) "TAU archaeologists reveal the Roman siege of Masada likely lasted weeks, not years, according to new research findings."
Fig. 1 Masada circumvallation wall and its sections.
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