Roman Watchtower 10/11

The Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, with a length of 550 km, from Eining near Regensburg to Rheinbrohl on the Rhine, is the largest archaeological monument in Germany and has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Limes (Latin: border path/wall) refers to the border fortifications of the Roman Empire, which were erected towards the end of the 1st century AD.

This border was monitored by more than 900 towers, which were built in timber construction during the initial phase, starting around 80 AD. Stone towers followed, which were plastered from 150 AD onwards. Excavations have shown that the white plaster often had incised joints, which were painted in terracotta. This created the impression of beautiful ashlar masonry.

The square stone tower, conserved today, had a side length of 5.10 meters, and the foundations projected 30 cm. The unexcavated wooden tower mound immediately south of the stone tower has a diameter of 18 meters. The stone tower was re-excavated in 1986, and its foundations were conserved and reconstructed.