Deutsche-Limeskommission: Outstanding Doctoral Scholarships

The Vicus of Weißenburg in Bavaria

Outstanding Doctoral Scholarship from the German Limes Commission in conjunction with the Sparkasse Foundation and the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation:

The Vicus of Weißenburg in Bavaria

Editor: Frederik-Sebastian Kirch M.A.
Contact: Frederik.Kirch(et)gmx.de

Duration: March 2013 - February 2016

The Alae fort Weißenberg-Biriciana is located a few kilometres south of the Raetian Limes on a hill east of the Swabian Rezat River. The associated civilian settlement emerged in the immediate vicinity. The fort was built around 90 AD and probably came to an end during a fire in 254 AD resulting from a military conflict.

Large areas of the vicus have been archaeologically investigated, particularly the areas to the west of the fort. The excavations were carried out in 1987/88 and 1997, in parallel with the already published excavations on the northern front of the fort. The excavations results have so far been presented in annual reports in the Archaeological Year in Bavaria, but have not been thoroughly analysed. The goal of the doctoral scholarship is to undertake this analysis and present all features and finds from the vicus excavations of 1987/88.

The individual construction phases will be analysed on the basis of the observed features of stone and timber buildings while the corresponding settlement phases along with the development history of the civilian settlement will be compared with previous findings pertaining to the fort. The buildings will be compared with other fort vici in Raetia and neighbouring provinces in order to identify structural differences and similarities. A primary focus will be the re-examination of the initial dating of the fort, which has thus far been discussed in research on the basis of new Dendro data and conceptual considerations relating to the development of the Limes. Whether settlement activity in the vicus ended at the same time as the fort, as previously assumed, will be determined through an analysis of the most recent finds.

Outstanding Scholarship from the German Limes Commission and the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation:

The Roman pottery of Straubing/Sorviodurum

Editor: Georg Greven M.A.
Contact: georggreven90(et)gmx.de

Duration: December 2021 - December 2023

Until now, the scientific study of pottery in the area of auxiliary forts within the province of Raetia has not been a focus of research. During the course of many years of excavations by the Gäubodenmuseum in the area of the ancient vicus of Sorviodurum (Straubing), several pottery districts were largely excavated in their entirety. This provides an ideal opportunity for a detailed study of pottery craftsmanship in the region of north-east Raetia within a military context. To better understand military responsibilities and civilian life outside the camp gates, the study of pottery production can also contribute to our understanding of the ancient border system. As already shown by pottery used for grinding (Riebschalen), likely manufactured in Straubing and stamped with Centuria signs (>) (Arch. Korrbl. 50/3, 2020, 355–362), we must also consider the presence of active soldiers in these workshops.

In ancient Straubing, there were at times approximately 1500 soldiers stationed in the two forts (Miliara: Cohors I Flavia Canathenorum and Cohors II Reatorum). This central location in the fertile Gäuboden region, connected to important transportation routes (the beginning of a route through the Bavarian Forest to the Bohemian Basin; linked to the Roman trade network through a Danube port), must be attributed regional significance.

The aim of this study is to address the research gap regarding the lack of examination of pottery production in the settlement villages surrounding the frontier forts of the Raetia province through a detailed investigation. In addition to establishing a chronology, the study seeks to better understand the craft and economic processes within Raetia and its neighbouring provinces. The research will also investigate the distribution of Straubing products in Raetia and the adjacent provinces through RFA (X-ray fluorescence analysis). The study reveals that exceptionally high-quality pottery was produced even in a fort settlement. Items such as Terra Nigra, Terra Sigillata imitations, Green-glazed Ware, Raetian Glossy Ware (RGW), and Model Ware were manufactured alongside simple everyday pottery. Particularly noteworthy results are expected regarding RGW, which has been relatively underexplored at its production sites, and the culturally significant hunting beakers depicting venatio (man versus beast combat in the arena). Additionally, evidence of magical rituals practiced using clay magic dolls attests to ancient pottery traditions, shedding light on the diverse life at the frontier. More information about the project can also be found on the website of the Institute for Provincial Roman Archaeology at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.

Illustrations: Photo 1 & 2 © Georg Greven

The Middle Roman Imperial Period Alae military camp of Dormagen

Outstanding doctoral scholarship from the German Limes Commission, the LVR Office for the Preservation of Archaeological Monuments in the Rhineland and the Ernte-Dank-Foundation:

The Middle Roman Imperial Period Alae military camp of Dormagen

Editor: Paul Marco Hardy M.A.
Contact: MarcoHardy(et)gmx.de

Duration: The scholarship was terminated early at the request of the scholarship holder.

During the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD), the mounted Roman auxiliary unit Ala Noricorum occupied a wood-and-earth camp near Durnomagus measuring around 3 hectares. This military camp was replaced in the middle of the 2nd century by a stone camp, which probably fell victim to a destructive fire around 160 AD and was not rebuilt thereafter.
The remains of the Alae camp are located in what is now the city centre of the North Rhine-Wesphalian town of Dormagen and are almost completely covered by modern buildings. The last extensive submission of features and material was carried out by Gustav Müller in 1979. Since 1987, excavation measures have been necessarily implemented by the Office for the Preservation of Archaeological Monuments almost every year in order to document archaeological structures and finds in advance of construction activities. As a result, the Dormagen camp can be regarded as the best excavated example on the Limes in North Rhine-Westphalia. However, the excavation results have so far only been publicised in short articles and still requires a comprehensive evaluation.
As part of an outstanding grant awarded by the German Limes Commission together with the Ernte-und-Dank-Foundation, the LVR Office for the Preservation of Archaeological Monuments in the Rhineland and in cooperation with the Rhineland Association for Monument Preservation and Landscape Protection e.V., the archaeological documentation on the Alae camp of Dormagen is to be processed as part of this dissertation project. The aim of the work is to compile a complete catalogue of the features and finds that have been documented since the last publication in 1979. The main objective is to analyse the building structures to allow for deductions to be made regarding the construction periods and developments of the camp. The camp will be contextualised in its surroundings including a description of its function along the Lower German Limes. Craftworker activities in the military camp will also be analysed. Furthermore, the pottery from the Dormagen Alae camp will undergo archaeometric analysis. This is intended to create a geochemical reference group for the site, which can then be used for comparison with finds from other sites. Additionally, comparisons with the products of a nearby Roman brickworks will also be used to draw conclusions about the possible local production of pottery.

Outstanding Doctoral Scholarship from the German Limes Commission in conjunction with the city of Neustadt an der Donau and the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation:

The Thermal Baths of Bad Gögging

Editor: Yvonne Reichel M.A.
Contact: Yvonne.Reichel(et)campus.lmu.de

Duration: July 2019 - September 2023

Today, Bad Gögging is a district of the town of Neustadt an der Donau, which is located between Ingolstadt and Regensburg in the district of Kelheim. In Roman times, the town was located in the region of the Danube Limes in the province of Raetia. The auxiliary fort Abusina (Eining) and the legionary exile camp Eining-Unterfeld were just a few kilometres away, and the legionary camp Castra Regina (Regensburg) around 35 km away. To this day, the site is known for its sulphur springs.

Knowledge of a Roman past can be traced back to the 17th century. Between 1959 and 2007, excavation campaigns were carried out in the church of St Andrew and its immediate surroundings. As a result, the Roman thermal baths, which were re-used in early Christian times, along with neighbouring buildings were discovered in the area. This large bathing complex is the only known thermal bath complex in the province. The excavation findings were presented and discussed in several preliminary publications. However, a comprehensive evaluation and publication of the excavation results has not yet been published.

The aim of the doctoral project is therefore the scientific analysis and publication of the excavations. To this end, the relevant features and stratified finds will be documented and analysed through illustrated drawings. The building structures will be analysed on this basis in order to establish the chronology of the various construction phases as well as develop a more precise description and reconstruction of the thermal baths.

Another interesting question is whether Roman medicine, especially the curative use of sulphur water springs, had an influence on the design of the thermal baths. Furthermore, the relationship to the surrounding building structures will be also be analysed. It is conceivable that there was a spa/healing centre in Bad Gögging.

Based on the insights acquired, the question of the relationship between the construction history of the baths and the provincial history including the surrounding military locations, such as Eining and Regensburg will be pursued. Finds of stamped brick slabs suggest a connection to the production of the units stationed there and state brickworks. The event that led to the destruction of the baths will also be investigated in hopes of narrowing down the time at which it occurred and to answer the question of why a successor building from the 3rd century was never put into use. On this premise, and through the comparison with similar building complexes in other provinces, the work will contribute to the study of bath complexes in the Roman Empire.

The core area of the Roman thermal baths of Bad Gögging forms the westernmost part of the UNESCO World Heritage nomination “Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Danube Limes”. The comprehensive scientific analysis and interpretation of the excavation results is also of great interest in this respect, as it will form the basis for a new concept for the planned presentation and communication of the Roman heritage of Bad Gögging in the former St Andrew's Church.