THE BATTLE OF LUTZEN 1632: A Reassessment

1-237600

New interpretation discusses the reliability of eyewitnesses and secondary sources, the potential and limits of battlefield archaeology, and assessing weapon efficiency, troop speed, tactics, line of sight, and topographic features. Historical sources, written and pictorial, were reviewed, and the locations of eyewitnesses pinpointed to assess their credibility and accuracy. Their accounts were compared to the archaeological results, then introduced into a landscape analysis to highlight topographic features affecting tactical movements of the battle between Gustavus Adolphus and Generalleutnant Wallenstein.

Includes the results of a systematic four-year metal detector survey conducted on the Lutzen Battlefield during a research project, which set out to create a new data source by mapping several thousand battle related artifacts and archaeological excavations to shed light on Wallenstein's 'trenches'. Work on late 16th and early 17th Century firearms was conducted to evaluate the lead bullets from the battlefield and create artifact distribution maps. Includes 49 b/w illustrations, 13 b/w photos, 26 color illustrations, 13 maps, 4 diagrams, and 23 tables.