Small fort Rheinbrohl
Small fort Rheinbrohl | |
---|---|
limes | ORL NN ( RLK ) |
Route (RLK) |
Upper German Limes , route 1 (Rhine-Lahn) |
Dating (occupancy) | around 180/190 to? |
Type | Small fort |
unit | unknown vexillatio |
size | 26 m × 26 m = 0.07 ha |
Construction | stone |
State of preservation | completely destroyed (gravel mining) |
place | Rheinbrohl / Bad Hönningen |
Geographical location | 50 ° 30 '12.7 " N , 7 ° 19' 9.5" E |
height | 63 m above sea level NHN |
Previous |
Fort Remagen / Rigomagus , → ( Lower Germanic Limes ) |
Subsequently | Small fort Am Forsthofweg (east- south- east) |
The Kleinastell Rheinbrohl was a Roman military camp of the Upper German Limes , which was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005 . The fortification was located in the area of the present-day Rhineland-Palatinate district of Neuwied nearby municipality Bad Hönningen , the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes in the area from the river border of the Rhine - the Lower Germanic Limes towards solving the east, between the local church - Rheinbrohl and City of Bad Hönningen began in the north.
location
The small fort Rheinbrohl was located on the northern edge of today's municipality of Rheinbrohl in the immediate vicinity of the Rhine. In ancient times it was located here directly on a now silted up Rhine bend, about 200 meters south of the "Caput Limitis" ( Latin for "head of the Limes"), the northern beginning of the Upper German Limes, which was monitored by the crew of the small fortification. The Limes began here on the right bank of the Rhine, opposite the mouth of the Vinxtbach (from Latin: Ad Fines = "At the borders") on the left bank of the Rhine , the border between the provinces of Germania inferior (Lower Germany) and Germania Superior (Upper Germany) formed.
Fort
The small fort Rheinbrohl was discovered and excavated in autumn 1899 . It was a square stone fort with a side length of around 26 meters, which corresponds to a total area of around 0.07 hectares. The interior of the camp was occupied by a single building with a fountain in the courtyard. The facility, with its only gate facing the Rhine, was surrounded by a 90 centimeter thick defensive wall, in front of which there were two pointed trenches, each about six meters wide and two meters deep, as an obstacle to approach.
The fort was built in the reign of Commodus (180-192) on the site of an older Roman building. However, the full extent and former function of these buildings could not be determined at the time of the excavations. At a time that cannot be dated, probably in the late phase of the Limes, it was destroyed by a fire of unknown cause. Nothing is known about the fort occupation; it was probably the vexillatio ( detachment ) of a larger auxiliary unit stationed nearby .
Nothing is left of the facility today, not even underground. The area was completely destroyed by modern gravel mining .
Limes course from "Caput Limitis" to the small fort "Am Forsthofweg"
The near beginning of the Limes itself is marked today by a privately initiated attempt to reconstruct a Roman tower, which is not listed at the historical site, which is about halfway between the actual former location of the watchtower and the small fort Rheinbrohl. Even when it was built in 1974, the design of this tower did not correspond to the scientific findings about the appearance of Limes watchtowers and has been criticized accordingly in the literature. In addition, when the reconstruction was built, the once well-preserved watchtower Wp 1/8 was exploited as a quarry, which severely destroyed the original findings there .
From here, the Limes leaves the Rhine first in an easterly direction, and after a good four kilometers as the crow flies, for example in the area of today's hunting lodge “Wilhelmsruh”, swings to the southeast. In its northern section it encloses the Neuwied Basin , an old settlement chamber that played a major role in the strategic deliberations of the Romans from an early stage. Already the two bridges that Julius Caesar in the years 55 and 53 v. BC over the Rhine, they were probably located in this area. Another Roman bridge was built in AD 49 between Confluentes , today's Koblenz, and Ehrenbreitstein . During the Chat Wars (83-85 AD) under Emperor Domitian (81-96), the Neuwied Basin served as a deployment base for military operations through the Lahn valley and probably after the end of the campaigns, towards the end of the first century AD started the expansion of the Limes in this region.
The northernmost section of the Upper German Limes, between its starting point and the Niederbieber fort , has been preserved in different states. Especially in the sparsely populated, wooded mountain ranges northeast of the Rhine, numerous traces of both the Limes ditch itself and its watchtowers can be seen in the area. Sometimes it runs directly parallel to the Rheinhöhenweg .
ORL | Name / place | Description / condition |
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Wp 1/1 | Unscientific, very free reconstruction, somewhat apart from the actual Wp 1/1. (See picture above). | |
KK | Small fort Rheinbrohl | see above |
Wp 1/2 to Wp 1/4 |
Only suspected but archaeologically unproven tower sites. The relevant layers of the investigation areas had already been removed by stream and rain washing away from the loess soil or by sand extraction. Only the course of the Limes line itself could still be proven in some places. In this section, the Limes, coming from the Rhine plain, gradually stretches over Arienheller to the ridges of the Rheinbrohler Forest. Nothing can be seen in the terrain today. |
|
Wp 1/5 | "Am Berdelder" | Hardly perceptible traces of the ground of a former 4.20 x 4.30 m stone tower with 85 to 90 cm thick walls, 13 m behind the moat of the Limes, which begins to be visible here in the area. The tower was surrounded by a 1.35 m wide and 70 cm deep ring trench, which was probably used for drainage. Isolated ceramic finds allow the assumption of an older, archaeologically not proven wooden tower at this point. |
Wp 1/6 | Due to the distance between Wp 1/5 and Wp 1/7 assumed but archaeologically not proven tower site. | |
Wp 1/7 | "On the Steinbrink" |
Visible rubble mound of a rectangular stone tower, around 20 m from the palisade ditch of the Limes. The side lengths were 4.20 mx 4.30 m, the wall reached a thickness of 97 cm. The finding of a post hole can be interpreted as a probable indication of an older predecessor tower.
From the gallery of this tower, the entire Limes stretch back to Wp 1/1, forward to Wp 1/10, as well as the left bank of the Rhine could be overlooked. |
Wp 1/8 | "On Hottels Buchen" |
Preserved place of two stone towers and one wooden tower. The tower site was discovered in 1894 by the Reich Limes Commission and excavated under the direction of the route commissioner Georg Loeschcke . Over a century later, in 2005 and 2006, the General Directorate for Cultural Heritage Rhineland-Palatinate carried out an archaeological follow-up examination and subsequent conservation of the site in a total of three campaigns. This had become necessary because the excavation sections had not been backfilled with the findings from the early excavators, so that they were severely attacked by the erosion that followed, which lasted for 110 years. To make matters worse, repeated improper exposures since the early 1970s and, in particular, massive destruction through the overexploitation of stone material, which was used in 1974 for the pseudo-reconstruction of the tower site Wp 1/1.
Wooden tower Western, older stone tower Eastern, younger stone tower Limes passage Finds and inscriptions
On the basis of analogies to an inscription find from the Saalburg fort , the archaeologist Thomas Becker interpreted the find as a possible consecration stone for the goddess Fortuna and suggested the following, heavily supplemented reading:
Translated: "The goddess Fortuna (has) Marcus Ulpius (..) sius, prefect of the seventh cohort of Rhaetians ., His vow gladly, joyfully met and for a fee" The Cohors VII Raetorum (equitata) was at that time in the southeast,, round Fort Niederberg stationed nine kilometers as the crow flies . Conservation |
Wp 1/9 | "Am Beulenberg" | Barely noticeable traces of a stone tower at the site of an older wooden tower, which was surrounded by a ring moat about two meters wide. The stone tower stood 29.5 m from the center of the moat. The square tower had a side length of 4.10 m with a wall thickness of almost 80 cm.
A reconstruction proposal for the wooden tower was erected at a non-historical location, around 300 m southeast of Wp 1/8 and around 150 m northwest of Wp 1/9 as a viewing tower. |
Wp 1/10 | "On the Martian" |
About 100 m northwest of the Wilhelmsruh hunting lodge is the clearly visible rubble hill of a square stone tower 20 m from the center of the moat. The tower had a side length of almost 4.40 m and a wall thickness of 90 to 95 cm. A relatively thick layer of culture was found around the tower. A place in the Limeswall that contained a thick layer of fire was interpreted as the place of the wooden previous tower.
The Limes reaches the watershed between the Rhine and Wied here . |
Wp 1/11 | "On the Freßhelder" |
A little more than 50 m away from the moat is a visible hill that contains the foundations of a stone tower with a side length of 4.30 m and a wall thickness of around 75 cm. What was noticeable in this tower was the brickwork , which was not conventionally in horizontal layers, but rather at an angle in the form of Opus spicatum .
Traces of an older wooden tower with a side length of 4.75 x 4.35 m, which was generously surrounded by a 19 m diameter trench, could be detected. |
Wp 1/12 | "At the Weierhof" | On agricultural land 39 m behind the moat, between two groups of trees, recognizable and designated rubble mound of a former stone tower 4.80 x 4.80 m in size with 65 to 75 cm thick walls. Like the Wp 1/11, this tower also had construction features of the Opus spicatum . Another stone tower recorded in the literature has come off, a wooden tower could not be detected. |
Wp 1/13 | "On the Rennweg" | Noticeable remains of a 5.30 x 5.30 m large stone tower with 90 cm thick walls about 52 m from the moat. A wooden tower was proven on the basis of the ceramic finds. |
Wp 1 / 13a | Presumed, but archaeologically not proven tower site. Between this and Wp 1/13 there was an interruption of the Limeswall and the large moat, while the palisade moat had no interruption features. | |
Wp 1/14 | "On the Forsthofweg" |
Faintly perceptible soil deformations due to the rubble mound of a former stone tower with a floor plan of 4.30 x 4.50 m and a wall thickness of 75 cm. Inside the tower, a layer of fire with shards as well as iron and bronze fragments was detected. Traces of a wooden tower are not documented in the literature.
The tower is only a good 20 m away from the northwest corner of the small fort on Forsthofweg. |
KK | Small fort on the Forsthofweg | see main article Small fort Am Forsthofweg |
Monument protection
The small fort Rheinbrohl and the mentioned ground monuments have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage as a section of the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes since 2005 . In addition, the facilities are cultural monuments according to the Monument Protection Act of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate (DSchG) . Research and targeted collection of finds are subject to approval. Incidental finds are to be reported to the monument authorities.
Limes information and adventure center Rheinbrohl
The official Limes visitor center for the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, RömerWelt, is located in the Arienheller district of Rheinbrohl at Caput Limitis . The center opened in late 2008. The “Caput Limitis” Rheinbrohl Foundation is responsible for the conception of the content, and the Rhineland-Palatinate General Directorate for Cultural Heritage is responsible.
See also
literature
- Dietwulf Baatz : The Roman Limes. Archaeological excursions between the Rhine and the Danube. 4th edition. Gebr. Mann, Berlin 2000, ISBN 3-7861-2347-0 , pp. 91-93.
- Thomas Becker: A fragment of an inscription from the watchtower 1/8 near Rheinbrohl. To the "inscription equipment" of the watchtowers on the Upper German-Raetian Limes . In: Andreas Thiel (ed.): New research on the Limes. 4th specialist colloquium of the German Limes Commission 27./28. February 2007 in Osterburken . Theiss, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8062-2251-7 , (= contributions to the Limes World Heritage Site, 3), pp. 43–57.
- Ernst Fabricius , Felix Hettner , Oscar von Sarwey (ed.): The Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes of the Roemerreich . Dept. A, Vol. 1: Lines 1 and 2. Petters; Heidelberg, Berlin, Leipzig 1936.
- Christian Fleer: Typification and function of the small buildings on the Limes. In: Egon Schallmayer (Ed.): Limes Imperii Romani. Contributions to the specialist colloquium “Limes World Heritage Site” in November 2001 in Lich-Arnsburg. (Saalburg writings 6), Bad Homburg v. d. H. 2004, ISBN 3-931267-05-9 , pp. 75-92.
- Cliff Alexander Jost: Subsequent excavation and conservation of the towers on the Limes. Guard post 1/8 in the Rheinbrohler Wald. In: Andreas Thiel (ed.): New research on the Limes. 4th specialist colloquium of the German Limes Commission 27./28. February 2007 in Osterburken . Theiss, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8062-2251-7 , (= contributions to the Limes World Heritage Site, 3), pp. 31–41.
- Cliff Alexander Jost: The Roman Limes in Rhineland-Palatinate . (Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle, Vol. 14), State Office for Monument Preservation Rhineland-Palatinate, Koblenz 2003, ISBN 3-929645-07-6 , pp. 27–43.
- Margot Klee : Limes. Course 1, SS 1 / 1–1 / 93 . In: Heinz Cüppers : The Romans in Rhineland-Palatinate. Licensed edition of the 1990 edition, Nikol, Hamburg 2002, ISBN 3-933203-60-0 , pp. 442–443.
- Margot Klee: The Limes between Rhine and Main. Theiss, Stuttgart 1989. ISBN 3-8062-0276-1 , pp. 33-37.
Web links
- Limes Info Center Rheinbrohl on the website of the Ministry of Education, Science, Youth and Culture Rhineland-Palatinate
- Limes Info Center Rheinbrohl on the website of the “Caput Limitis” Rheinbrohl Foundation
Remarks
- ↑ To the beginning of the Limes and the watchtower reconstruction on the private website Limeseiten by Claus te Vehne.
- ↑ See Baatz, p. 92. Since the ground floors of the Limes watchtowers mostly had no external entrances, the entrance must have been located significantly higher. A half-timbered construction on a stone tower is also highly unlikely and the tower was certainly plastered and covered with a roof made of bricks, shingles or reeds / straw. The modern inscription on the tower, dating from the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117) and affixed by the tower builders, is false and misleading, since no stone towers were built on the Upper German Limes under Trajan.
- ^ Brigitta Rabold, Egon Schallmayer , Andreas Thiel : Der Limes , Theiss, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-8062-1461-1 , p. 26; Hartwig Schmidt : Archaeological Monuments in Germany - Reconstructed and rebuilt , Theiss, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-8062-1395-X , p. 98; Cliff Alexander Jost: Subsequent excavation and conservation of the towers on the Limes. Guard post 1 (8 in the Rheinbrohler Wald. In: Andreas Thiel (Hrsg.): Neue Forschungen am Limes . 4th specialist colloquium of the German Limes Commission February 27/28, 2007 in Osterburken. Theiss, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8062- 2251-7 , (= Contributions to the Limes World Heritage, 3), pp. 31–41; here: p. 31.
- ↑ ORL = numbering of the Limes structures according to the publication of the Reich Limes Commission on the O bergermanisch- R ätischen- L imes
- ↑ Wp = W oh p east, watch tower. The number before the slash denotes the Limes section, the number after the slash denotes the respective watchtower.
- ↑ Unsuccessful reconstruction attempt at 50 ° 30 ′ 12.99 ″ N , 7 ° 19 ′ 4.34 ″ E
- ↑ Tower position Wp 1/1 at 50 ° 30 '17 " N , 7 ° 19' 2.63" E
- ↑ KK = unnumbered K linseed K astell
- ↑ Tower location Wp 1/2 assumed at 50 ° 30 ′ 32.26 ″ N , 7 ° 19 ′ 23.76 ″ E , tower location Wp 1/3 assumed at 50 ° 30 ′ 37.86 ″ N , 7 ° 19 ′ 53 , 26 " O and tower position Wp 1/4 suspected at 50 ° 30 '46.56" N , 7 ° 20' 13.2 " O .
- ↑ Tower position Wp 1/5 at 50 ° 30 ′ 47.66 ″ N , 7 ° 20 ′ 33.72 ″ E
- ↑ tower point Wp 1/6 suspected at 50 ° 30 '48.61 " N , 7 ° 20' 57.54" O
- ↑ Tower position Wp 1/7 at 50 ° 30 ′ 49.74 ″ N , 7 ° 21 ′ 22.27 ″ E
- ↑ a b c d e f g Cliff Alexander Jost: Subsequent excavation and conservation of the towers on the Limes. Guard post 1 (8 in the Rheinbrohler Wald. In: Andreas Thiel (Hrsg.): Neue Forschungen am Limes . 4th specialist colloquium of the German Limes Commission February 27/28, 2007 in Osterburken. Theiss, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8062- 2251-7 , (= contributions to the Limes World Heritage Site , 3), pp. 31–41.
- ↑ Western post hole: 0.50 m diameter with post stand track of 0.30 / 0.35 m. South post hole: 0.60 m without shoulder lane.
- ↑ Wooden tower of the tower location Wp 1/8 at 50 ° 30 ′ 47.43 ″ N , 7 ° 21 ′ 56.06 ″ E
- ↑ Older stone tower of the tower site Wp 1/8 at 50 ° 30 ′ 47.43 ″ N , 7 ° 21 ′ 56.06 ″ E
- ↑ younger stone tower, the tower location Wp 1/8 at 50 ° 30 '47.18 " N , 7 ° 21' 56.62" O
- ↑ CIL 13, 7445
- ↑ Thomas Becker: A fragment of the inscription from the watchtower 1/8 near Rheinbrohl. To the "inscription equipment" of the watchtowers on the Upper German-Raetian Limes . In: Andreas Thiel (ed.): New research on the Limes . 4th specialist colloquium of the German Limes Commission 27./28. February 2007 in Osterburken. Theiss, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8062-2251-7 , (= contributions to the Limes World Heritage Site, 3), pp. 43–57.
- ↑ Tower position Wp 1/9 at 50 ° 30 ′ 41.43 ″ N , 7 ° 22 ′ 17.89 ″ E
- ↑ Reconstruction proposal for the wooden tower at the tower site Wp 1/9 at 50 ° 30 ′ 41.43 ″ N , 7 ° 22 ′ 17.89 ″ E
- ↑ Cliff Alexande Jost: Tower No. 1/9 in Rheinbrohl ( Memento from December 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) on the website Der Limes in Rhineland-Palatinate of the Secretariat for World Heritage in Rhineland-Palatinate, accessed on February 6, 2015.
- ↑ Stone tower of the tower point Wp 1/10 at approximately 50 ° 30 ′ 37.1 ″ N , 7 ° 22 ′ 32.6 ″ E
- ↑ stone tower, the tower location Wp 1/11 at 50 ° 30 '14.63 " N , 7 ° 22' 36.62" O
- ↑ Stone tower of the tower site Wp 1/11 at 50 ° 30 ′ 14.3 ″ N , 7 ° 22 ′ 35.92 ″ E
- ↑ Tower position Wp 1/12 at 50 ° 29 ′ 59.54 ″ N , 7 ° 22 ′ 47.69 ″ E
- ↑ stone tower, the tower location Wp 1/13 at 50 ° 29 '41 " N , 7 ° 23' 11.46" O
- ↑ wood tower, the tower location Wp 1/13 at 50 ° 29 '40.96 " N , 7 ° 23' 10.71" O
- ↑ Tower location Wp 1 / 13a suspected at around 50 ° 29 '39.98 " N , 7 ° 23" 24.13 " E
- ↑ Tower position Wp 1/14 at 50 ° 29 ′ 39.83 ″ N , 7 ° 23 ′ 34.23 ″ E