Archaeology
Late Roman watchtower discovered on Swiss border
A survey conducted in the Schaaren am Hochrhein, a nature reserve in Switzerland on the shores of the Rhine, has led to the discovery of a Roman watch tower from the 4th century AD.
The history of Switzerland under Roman rule dates from the Augustan period up until around AD 400. As the Empire’s frontiers receded to the Rhine, a chain of watchtowers was constructed from Lake Constance to Basel, with each tower no more than 2 kilometres apart.
The defensive line protected the border from the Alemanni, a confederation of Germanic tribes on the Upper Rhine River that raided the frontier and eventually conquered parts of northern Switzerland.
The reserve is already known for being rich in archaeological remains, including a Bronze Age settlement, fortifications from the Napoleonic Wars, WW2 bunkers, and a previously discovered Roman watch tower.
Outline of tower – Image Credit : Scharenwiese
A visual inspection showed no physical remains above the surface; however, excavations confirmed the foundations of a square building measuring 7×7 metres with walls around 1 metre thick.
Only the mortar and several stones indicating the outline of the building have remained, with the rest of the structure’s stones likely being removed and reused during later times. With the exception of large amounts of roofing tiles, finds within the building’s interior are limited to a military belt, a fibula, an amphora-shaped strap end, and a coin of Emperor Constantine I dated to after AD 311.
Excavations also revealed the traces of a V-shaped trench surrounding the watch tower, which was likely reinforced with a palisade or wooden fortification and supporting buildings for animals or storage.
Header Image Credit : Scharenwiese
According to an announcement by the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, archaeologists have discovered five Bronze Age axes in Starogard Forest District, located in Kociewie, Poland.
The initial discovery was made by history enthusiast, Denis Konkol, who notified local authorities from the Pomeranian provincial conservator of monuments. In Poland, it is forbidden to conduct an amateur search for artefacts using a metal detector, either for commercial or for personal use unless licensed by local authorities, requiring all finds to be reported which become the property of the state.
Upon inspection of the discovery site, archaeologists found five axes within a radius of several dozen metres at a depth of 20 to 30 centimetres beneath a layer of turf and humus.
Igor Strzok, Pomeranian provincial conservator of monuments, said: “The extraction of these finds took place under the archaeological supervision of our colleagues from the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments. This means that we prevented possible destruction of the site.”
The five axes date from between 1700 and 1300 BC and were likely a ritual deposit of a cult nature, however, the archaeologists haven’t ruled out that the axes could also be a deposit related to trade.
According to the announcement, the objects are tautušiai type axes associated with Baltic cultures from today’s Lithuania or north-eastern Poland. Defined by their considerable size, the axes feature a slim handle with raised edges and a wide blade.
Previous excavations of Bronze Age sites in the region generally find bracelets or breastplates, while the most recent unearthing of a weapon or Bronze Age tool dates back 20 years, highlighting the scarcity of such finds in the region.
The axes are scheduled to be transported to the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk, where experts will conduct a thorough examination.
Header Image Credit : Stargard Forest District
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
Archaeologists have uncovered a mosaic depicting lions during excavations at ancient Prusias ad Hypium, located in modern-day Konuralp, Turkey.
Prusias ad Hypium was a city in ancient Bithynia which was annexed by the Roman Republic in 74 BC. The city flourished as a significant trading hub, maintaining autonomy in its local governance and even issuing its own currency.
The city was rediscovered during the 19th century, with recent excavations being conducted by the archaeology department of Düzce University under the patronage of the Konuralp Museum, and supported by the Municipality of Düzce.
Excavations indicate that the city exhibits characteristics of a Hellenistic polis. Among the surviving remains are remnants of the city walls, a gate within the fortifications, an open-air theatre, an aqueduct, and a Roman bridge.
A recent archaeological study has focused on the theatre, known locally as the “The Forty Stairs”. The theatre was built during the Hellenistic period (300–30 BC) and was expanded in the Roman period.
The study has uncovered the remains of a mosaic depicting a pair of lions, which was found in a room of the portico in the middle of the theatre axis.
The room has a rectangular shape and is adorned with a mosaic covering the entire floor with a geometric floral pattern. At the centre is a mosaic frame depicting the pair of lions either side of a pine tree. Hanging from the tree is a tympanum (a drum or tambourine), and on the left branch is a pan flute.
According to the researchers, the room was dedicated to the cult of Dionysus. During Dionysian processions, it was common to observe Silenus and maenads participating by playing musical instruments such as the tympanum and pan flute.
Header Image Credit : Konuralp Museum
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
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