Villa Rustica from Goeblingen- "Miecher"
The remains of the Gallo-Roman villa rustica of Goeblingen- "Miecher" lie in the small forest "Miecher" in the west of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg between the villages of Goeblingen , Simmern and Nospelt on a gently sloping hill ridge to the south. The complex was discovered in 1964 by the Nospelter pastor Georges Kayser. At first he thought that the still visible elevation in the forest was a barrow that he began to dig with the help of some acolytes and other volunteers. It quickly became apparent that he had come across the main building of a Gallo-Roman villa rustica . With the necessary permits from the Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art, he was able to uncover two buildings. In order to continue the excavations after his death in 1988, the former helpers founded the association "d'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher". To this day, under the supervision of the Center National de Recherche Archéologique , the association carries out excavations at the manor on a voluntary basis, takes care of the maintenance of the facility and annually publishes an extensive membership newspaper to inform about the progress made.
So far, eight stone buildings belonging to the courtyard have been excavated.
Pre-Roman settlement
Long before the first Gallo-Roman stone buildings were erected, the place was already settled. The traces range from the Stone Age (tools made of flint , their splinters and stone axes) through the Bronze Age (grave and ceramic shards) to the Hallstatt Age .
The numerous coins from the Latène period , glass arm rings, ceramic shards, post holes, pits and the fencing wall possibly dating from this time allow the conclusion that at this point in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. Chr . a Celtic courtyard, a so-called Viereckschanze , stood. It is assumed that the rich Treverian aristocratic graves of Goeblingen-Nospelt , located about 500 m to the northeast, belonged to this homestead.
The Gallo-Roman villa rustica
The 1st century. The complex, built in AD, encompasses a walled area of five hectares with at least eight stone buildings, including two main buildings (one from the 1st and one from the 3rd century ), a small sanctuary and five other outbuildings. The homestead was on a small side road, approx. 3.5 kilometers from the large trunk road that led from Reims ( Durocortorum ) via Arlon ( Orolaunum ) and Metz ( Divodurum ) to Trier ( Augusta Treverorum ).
The villa rustica of Goeblingen- "Miecher" is a typical example of a larger Gallo-Roman litter farm in the province of Gallia Belgica . The economic basis of these operations was the surrounding, fertile farmland. In addition to agriculture, the residents also ran cattle. Remains of express cars and various weights show that at least some of the products were intended for sale. The villa may even have supplied the nearby vici von Mamer -Bertrange or Arlon.
Manual activities such as carpentry, blacksmithing, charcoal burning and the work of the shoemaker are evidenced by specific tools or structures. Oyster shells, pearls, snake-thread glass, window glass, the fragment of a silver spoon, fragments of terra sigillata vessels and Trier saying cups , amphorae with Spanish wine and wall paintings with floral patterns bear witness to the luxury that the landlords could afford.
At the end of the 4th century , in the turmoil of the great migration , the manor was abandoned and fell into disrepair.
Former main building - building 2
Building 2, the original main building, was built of stone in the 1st century. Due to the poorly preserved wall structures and the numerous renovations, the function of the fourteen rooms is not clearly recognizable. In the 2nd century , the northwest wing was converted into a bath complex with a caldarium (warm water basin), frigidarium (cold water basin) and sudatorium (sweat bath). When the new mansion was completed at the beginning of the 3rd century, the building was probably made available to the workers as a residence and was used until the 4th century .
A small bronze plaque with an inscription and the discovery of a stilus (writing pen) prove that the residents were able to read and write. A manufacturer's stamp on one of the roof tiles made it possible to determine that at least one tegula (roof tile) was manufactured in Corny near Metz. A bronze shield boss and a smaller hoard of six sesterces should also be mentioned .
New main building - Building 1
At the beginning of the 3rd century, the new main building, originally 700 square meters in size, was built. It had the typical shape of a Gallo-Roman portico villa with two protruding corner projections, a covered pillar terrace, a main room with a fireplace, a small bath complex, a cellar and a fountain. The ten-room building was oriented towards a circular tomb ( tumulus ) from the 1st century. The extremely spacious basement was accessible from the main room by stairs. The southeast cellar wall was broken through by three window openings. Shortly after the construction was completed, a large room was added to the west and a complete wing to the east.
In the second half of the 3rd century, in the course of the Germanic raids and the internal political revolts , the building was converted into a civil burgus (fortress). In one part of the manor house, the inner walls were strengthened in order to build a massive late Roman watchtower, which also took on the function of a granary. The building was also protected by a wooden palisade, earth walls and at least three defensive ditches. Similar burgi in the mansions of Gallo-Roman villas can be seen in Bodenbach- “Ober der Steinigen Heck” (Germany) and Mageroy- “sur Mageois” (Belgium) and Bartringen (Luxembourg).
After Constantine the Great heralded a period of relative security at the beginning of the 4th century, the burgus was dismantled and the palisade laid down. As a result, the residents seem to have renovated the residential building, which was severely impaired by the construction of the burgus . The resulting rubble, such as wall paintings, roof tiles, lime fragments and bricks, was disposed of in the defensive trenches. In the course of these renovations, the function of the cellar was also changed. The door and window openings were bricked up, the original basement room was divided into three rooms of different sizes and provided with waterproof mortar . From then on, it served as a cistern, with the smaller rooms serving as a sludge trap or settling basin, while the large room took on the function of a water reservoir. This water supply system was fed by a wooden, underground water pipe coming from the east, from which 70 meters could so far be exposed. Their starting point could not yet be determined. A late antique razor, a silver spoon with the inscription vtere felix as well as numerous statuette fragments of mother goddesses are among the most outstanding finds from this building.
Outbuilding - building 3
Building 3, built of stone at the beginning of the 2nd century, is a rectangular building to which two individual extensions were added later. The function of the adjoining building is uncertain due to less informative found objects and structures. It could be a warehouse, stable or barn. The gate opening in the southern wall of the main room would speak for this. Building 3 was connected to building 4 by an 80 m long wall made of solid sandstone blocks.
It is remarkable that the full dimensions of a wooden, early Roman predecessor building with 14 post positions could be excavated under the stone foundations. The later building 3 took on almost the same dimensions.
Butcher's shop - building 4
Building 4, like the other buildings, has several construction phases. The oldest part of the stone building was built in the late 1st century AD. In the southwest corner was a tub made of waterproof screed mortar with corners in a quarter round bar. This was probably used to store liquids. In the northeast corner were the remains of a large fireplace with burnt stone slabs, separated from the rest of the room, and a wind tunnel that supplied the fire with fresh air. While this part of the building was possibly used as a smoking oven, pieces of meat could be salted in the tub. Two rooms added later triple the floor area. A gate opening in the new north wall, an approach road and three charcoal mine piles in the northeastern outer area were found.
Similar to building 3, large post pits under the foundation occupy an early Roman timber structure. A well, which was later filled, and a pit with a hoard find consisting of seven iron tools and implements also belonged to this building.
Residential building - building 5
The stone residential building, divided into three rooms, has several construction phases, two entrance gates in the north and south walls, and a cellar. While this stone cellar already belongs to a wooden structure from the 1st century, the stone building dates to the 3rd to 4th centuries. The cellar was incorporated into the later stone construction phase. In the south-western corner of the wall, a walled-in ceramic vessel was recovered, the contents of which consisted of 2,772 coins (around 8 kg). The coins are antoninians from the late 3rd century. The coin hoard was probably hidden in the turmoil at the end of the 3rd century and, for unknown reasons, was no longer raised. The final coins date from the years 278 to 279.
In the middle of the 4th century the building fell victim to a fire. However, coins with a later mint date show that it was used after the stone building was destroyed.
Notable finds are fragments of a valuable ivory pyxis (this is one of the earliest and best-dated ivory work of late antiquity), fragments of a pentagon dodecahedron, and blacksmith's tongs. Under the foundations of building 5, traces of a timber construction from the Latène period can be seen.
Brewery - building 6
Massive post holes come from an early Roman timber construction, while the stone building has at least five construction phases. Coin finds from the 1st to the 4th century bear witness to a continuous period of use. The function of the building from the 1st to the 2nd century remains unclear. In the 3rd and 4th centuries, the building most likely served as a brewery. Two kilns, two watertight basins, remains of millstones and a few fireplaces bear witness to the process of brewing beer .
Sanctuary - Building 7
A rectangular wall structure with an area of eight square meters from the 3rd century could be identified as a smaller house shrine. Around 50 coins and some completely preserved vessels can be interpreted as offerings to the gods. Roughly processed boulders come from a previously undated building. Several pre-Roman shards could be assigned to him.
In the vicinity of the sanctuary, a single grave from the Urnfield period was uncovered. In addition to the urn, the corpse fire and a smaller vessel, five bronze additions stand out. It is the remains of bracelets and needles.
Outbuilding - building 8
Building 8, which is divided into two rooms, has two construction phases and dates to the 2nd to 4th centuries. Numerous slag and iron flakes speak for its use as a forge. Possibly the building fell victim to a fire and was then rebuilt. A wall leaning against the building runs in a southerly direction and could be detected by ground penetrating radar measurements at a distance of 100 m. Since the area was only excavated in 2018 and the foundation walls have not yet been reconstructed, it is not yet open to the public.
Excavation
Around 30 AD, a grave building was built based on the Roman model. For the accessible grave monument, a height of about five meters can be assumed. Inside there was probably a statue made of shell limestone, the hand of which has been preserved. The graves were laid in wall niches or in the ground. The grave building probably served as a family grave of the early imperial villa owner, who at that time still lived in building 2 or one of the numerous wooden predecessor buildings. The fact that they were buried in a stone monument as early as 30 AD according to Roman custom shows a very early break with the previous Latène Age traditions for the province of Gallia Belgica .
Since the adjoining stone residential building was not erected until the 3rd century AD, it can be assumed that the owners of the domain consciously aligned their new residence with the grave structure that had existed for several generations at that time. A short time later the rotunda was demolished and the limestone used and built elsewhere. The graves were probably reburied on the previously undiscovered, local Gallo-Roman burial ground. Only four pits were visible during the excavations, which may have contained graves.
More buildings
In the adjacent fields to the south, remains of other buildings have been discovered. However, one was almost completely destroyed by modern agriculture, so that the shape and use of the building must remain undetermined.
Stones and ceramic shards suggest other buildings, but no statements can be made about their dimensions and function at the moment.
literature
- D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher (Ed.): 15 Joer D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher: In the footsteps of the past 1989-2004. Ossa, Nospelt 2005.
- Jean Krier: A late antique ivory pyxis from the Roman villa of Goeblingen. In: The Ausgriewer. Newspaper vun den D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher. Volume 15, Number 15, 2005, pp. 14-17.
- Krier, Jean: A new grave building of the 1st century AD in Luxembourg. In: The Ausgriewer. Newspaper vun den D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher. Volume 16, Number 16, 2006, pp. 9-10.
- Lahur, Yves: A strange wall structure in Goeblingen-Miecher. In: The Ausgriewer. Newspaper vun den D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher. Volume 21, number 21, 2011, pp. 60–63.
- Lahur, Yves: “D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher asbl” and the villa rustica von Goeblingen- “Miecher”. In: Archeology in the Greater Region. Contributions to the International Symposium on Archeology in the Greater Region in the European Academy Otzenhausen from 7–9. March 2014. European Academy Otzenhausen, Nonnweiler 2015, pp. 211–222.
- Lahur, Yves: Goeblingen-Miecher's villa rustica. In: The Ausgriewer. Newspaper vun den D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher. Volume 25, Number 26, 2015, pp. 34–45.
- Lahur, Yves: Oldest beer brewery in Luxembourg at the villa rustica of Goeblingen-Miecher unearthed. In: The Ausgriewer. Newspaper vun den D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher. Volume 28, Number 29, 2018, pp. 38–39.
- Metzler, J., Thill, G., Weiller, R .: A walled Gallo-Roman estate in “Miécher” near Goeblingen. In: Hémecht. Born 1973, number 3, pp. 375–399.
- Paulke, Matthias: Archaeological tour through Luxembourg. Luxembourg 2019, pp. 68–69.
- Sand, Nena: water supply for Roman manors. In: The Ausgriewer. Newspaper vun den D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher. Volume 24, Number 24, 2014, pp. 50–57.
- Thill, Gérard: Excavations near Goeblingen-Nospelt. A. A Gallo-Roman villa on "Miecher". B. Four late Latène Age cremation graves on "Scheierheck". In: Hémecht. Volume 18, Issue 4, 1966, pp. 483-491.
- Lambot, Sébastien: Le géoradar révèle de nouvelles constructions dans le sous-sol gallo-romain de Goeblange-Miecher. In: The Ausgriewer. Newspaper vun den D'Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher. Volume 29, Number 30, 2019, pp. 45–47.
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Coordinates: 49 ° 40 ′ 40.6 " N , 5 ° 58 ′ 46.3" E