ABSTRACT
One of the most striking puzzles of Visigothic archeology is the fact that, apart from a handful of fibulas, combs, and a few other artifacts, practically no material remains attest the Visigothic presence in Gaul in the first half of the fifth century, whereas there is abundant evidence in Spain and Septimania from the late fifth century onward. As the basis of his chronological structure, Hydatius primarily used imperial regnal years and Olympiads. Like Eusebius and Jerome, he attempted to give the names of the bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, and other important Christian sees, but this information is often faulty and has great gaps. Now that the date of the Visigothic settlement has been more securely established, one can consider its nature, and, in particular, what sort of material culture the Visigoths might have had. In this regard, one must bear in mind that the Visigoths were an army on the move with very mixed antecedents.
