Page - 197 - in Ein Brandhorizont aus der Zeit der Markomannenkriege im südostnorischen Munizipium Flavia Solva

197 nection, the possibility of interactions between the workshops and the possible functionally differenti- ated usage of rooms by both sexes is discussed. Besides the reconstruction of activities in the area of Insula XLI until the time of the fire, evidence of hu- man intervention immediately after the fire – such as cleanup efforts – could be defined in the framework of taphonomic processes. Apart from this compilation, evaluation and interpre- tation of archaeological data which primarily con- tribute to the cultural history, a central topic of the study is the discussion of the connection of the burnt feature in Insula XLI with the historic tradition of the Marcomannic Wars. The existing remains of mate- rial culture, the relevant ancient written sources, the research history and the current state of research were examined with regard to the possibility of this connection. It is clear that the problems of the sub- ject are primarily in the handing-down of obsolete research results and the absence of a willingness to discuss the historic interpretation of archaeological findings in a dialectic way. In addition, there is an excessive and hasty use of passages from ancient literature for the interpretation of archaeological features and findings and a lack of archaeological source criticism. After the author’s detailed examination of the men- tioned data basis and taking into consideration the current state of research and discussion, the as- sumption that this burnt feature in Insula XLI consti- tutes the consequences of a locally limited destruc- tive fire must be preferred over the assumption that the fire broke out in connection with a pillage during the documented invasions of the Germanic tribes. In this connection, this case study showed that such statements must first of all be oriented to the data basis; secondly, can only be made tendentially in this concrete case1167; thirdly, can only be judged as provisional since, according to the current data basis neither a destructive fire nor an enemy assault can be strictly confirmed or excluded as an interpretation approach.