Evidence of late antique defense against the Germans: archaeologists have discovered the remains of a Roman watchtower from the 4th century AD between the Rhine Falls and Lake Constance. It thus joins the other well-known military installations on the High Rhine, which were there to protect the Roman Empire from incursions from the north.
The history of discovery in the “Scharen” nature reserve near the municipality of Schlatt in the canton of Thurgau goes back to finds around 20 years ago: At that time, Roman coins were discovered at an initially inconspicuous spot not far from the Rhine. New clues were then added last winter: During forest work, objects and clues were found in the area that suggested that a Roman building once stood there. This eventually led to a more detailed investigation.
From hint to proof
As the Office for Archeology Thurgau now reports, it became increasingly clear that a late antique watchtower stood at the site. This is documented by discoveries of typical building elements and pieces of equipment used by Roman soldiers. A coin with the image of Emperor Constantine I also enabled a rough classification of the complex to the period after 300 AD.
Finally, the contours in the terrain provided clues about the appearance of the building: The foundations of a square building with dimensions of around seven by seven meters and walls around one meter thick are emerging. Only remains of mortar, roof tiles and some stones remain of the building itself. As the experts explain, the building material was apparently removed and reused in later times.
The tower was also surrounded by a ditch at a distance of about five meters, which shows further traces of the system in the terrain profile. It can be assumed that this depression was additionally equipped with palisades or other wooden fastening elements. Comparisons of the discovered structures with other known military installations along the Rhine also confirm that these are the remains of a tower-like fortification, writes the Office for Archeology Thurgau.
Protection from incursions from the north
The new discovery was therefore one of the weir systems that are already known on the route from Basel to Stein am Rhein. They apparently represented links between the larger late antique fortresses in the border region. The closest was the Stein am Rhein fort, which had been built around AD 300. Emperor Valentinian tried one last time around 370 AD to fortify the Rhine border and the hinterland in the region. Against whom, it seems clear: from the region north of the Rhine, invasions and raids by Germanic tribes into the weakened Western Roman Empire were threatening. It is possible, however, that the Germans themselves kept watch in the towers: there are indications from comparable facilities that Germanic auxiliary troops were in the service of the Romans at the time.
The traces of the newly discovered facility are now to be made visible and explained to the public as part of the “teaching trail in the Schaarenwald”, writes the Thurgau Archeology Office in conclusion. Because it is “evidence of an eventful time in a historically significant environment”.
Source: Canton of Thurgau