Roman Watchtower 14/5

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 cracked joints, which were painted in terracotta. This created the impression of beautiful ashlar masonry.

This 5.5 × 7.4 m tower was built only 65 m from Wp 14/4 and is located on the eastern slope of the ridge. In 1980, a follow-up investigation and subsequent partial reconstruction with conservation also took place here. During this process, an incorrect recording of the structure, first excavated by Eidam in 1887, was found in the ORL, as the tower was subsequently built into the existing Limes wall at a rather oblique angle, with parts of the border wall having to be removed. West of the tower, a passage was also found in the palisade, but not in the stone wall of the Limes. The foundation of a small, square building located to the west is no longer visible. In 2007, the tower foundation was completely renovated. Along the following approximately 500 m stretch, the wall is only visible in small remnants; only after that does it reappear more clearly as a rubble wall. 15 m south of the wall now lies the small fort of Hinterer Schloßbuck. To have a line of sight with Wp 14/4, this tower must have been at least five meters high.