In the late 1980's, archaeological finds started to change our view of the battle in the Teutoburg Forest. Yet, they were not the first known material remains of the battle. The most impressive archaeological discovery is much older: the cenotaph of an officer named Marcus Caelius and two of his freedman, which was found at Xanten and is now in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn. This monument has been known since 1630, and has been damaged (the lower part is broken off) but the relief and inscription are intact. The epitaph (CIL 13.8648):
Marco CAELIO Titi Filio LEMonia tribv BONonia
I Ordinis LEGionis XIIX ANNorvm LIIIS
OCCIDIT BELLO VARIANO OSSA
INFERRE LICEBIT Pvblivs CAELIVS Titi Filivs
LEMonia tribv FRATER FECIT To Marcus Caelius, son of Titus, of the Lemonian district, from
Bologna, first centurion of the eighteenth legion. 53½ years old.
He fell in the Varian War. His bones
may be interred here. Publius Caelius, son of Titus,
of the Lemonian district, his brother, erected (this monument).
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