Vicus of Eriskirch

The vicus of Eriskirch was a Roman settlement ( vicus ) on the site of today's Eriskirch , a municipality in Baden-Württemberg near the mouth of the Schussen river in Lake Constance .

Research history

The remains of a multi-phase Roman bridge were found there, showing that the Roman Bodenseegürtelstraße crossed the Schussen here. Remains of a Roman settlement were discovered near the bridge by the archaeologist Eric Breuer and presented in a monograph in a book in 2001 by the Eriskirch cultural association.

Site and most important finds

The Roman structures uncovered in Eriskirch are typical of settlements from the Roman Empire : Cellar pits of long rectangular strip houses , clay and post pits with partially preserved Roman-era wooden posts, as well as wood-lined wells and latrine shafts west of the Schussen in alignment with the bridge system indicate a wooden structure along a west-east traffic route. Several three to five meters wide, aligned, sandy-gravel gravel gravel points to the associated road body. Roman finds and building remains have been found immediately to the south and north of this sandy gravel band. Evidence of Roman metalworking was also found in Eriskirch.

At the western end of the settlement, about 300 to 400 meters from the bridge, the remains of several Roman pottery kilns were found. Such ovens could also be detected on the eastern edge of the settlement, already on the eastern Schussenufer (cf. field name Maurenried), so that the ancient settlement was delimited by two pottery areas. Due to the traces of settlement on both sides of the bridge, one can speak of a double settlement and subdivide the settlement into a west and east vicus.

Dating and ancient name

The previous research and E. Breuer, based on the finds, assume an origin in the Claudian period (41 - 54 AD), while the Freiburg archaeologist M. Meyer a date in the Flavian period (69 - 96 AD). thinks possible. How long the place existed has not yet been researched.

Due to the lack of inscriptions and other ancient sources, the Roman name of the settlement is unknown. However, if one assumes that the name Eris-kirch does not contain the name of an early medieval church founder in the genitive, but an ancient place name, then, taking into account late ancient-early medieval sound shifts, one would arrive at * <ari -... , which is possibly due * <Ad Risam or * <Ad Riusiava (after the river to be crossed) or * <Arisiacum can be added.

The meaning of the vicus of Eriskirch

The importance of the Vicus of Eriskirch is that this is the first known such settlement is north of Lake Constance, by the local very early early imperial coins and brooches , as well as the very rare preservation of wood in the Roman fountain in Eriskirch what even chronological dendro delivered .

In terms of topography and finds, the vicus of Eriskirch is similar to that of Eschenz . The origin and development of the settlement can be explained by its location on important waterways and traffic routes. In addition to the Bodenseegürtelstraße, goods traffic on Lake Constance in a west-east direction can also be expected. In addition, the water connection from Arbon to Eriskirch, via the Schussen to the Riß to its confluence with the Danube at the Roman fort Riississen and the associated vicus Riississen, formed a traffic artery that was apparently underestimated until the discovery of this vicus.

literature

• Eric Breuer: Romans on the northern part of Lake Constance. Eriskirch and the surrounding area in Roman times. Heimatkundliche Schriften des Kulturverein Eriskirch eV Vol. 3. Tettnang 2001. ISBN 3-8881-2190-6
• Marcus Meyer: Eriskirch. Roman bridge and settlement. In: Dieter Planck (Ed.): The Romans in Baden-Württemberg. Roman sites and museums from Aalen to Zwiefalten. Theiss, Stuttgart 2005, pp. 79-80. ISBN 3-8062-1555-3

Coordinates: 47 ° 37'43.9 "  N , 9 ° 31'53.4"  E