Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a 2,000-year-old palace underground near the former Roman camp at Xanten in North Rhine-Westphalia. The approximately 100 by 100 meter building was found during the evaluation of ground measurements with a so-called georadar.
The floor plan would resemble the homes of Roman governors, according to the Office for Archaeological Monuments Conservation in the Rhineland. The new discovery confirms the assumption that the civilian settlement at the gates of the Roman legionary camp Vetera Castra, with up to 10,000 soldiers, was considerably larger than previously thought and had an urban character, a spokesperson said.
Roman bath complex discovered in the spring
Already in the spring, excavations on the Fürstenberg south of Xanten exposed the foundations of a building complex measuring approximately 60 by 20 meters. This turned out to be a Roman bath complex. Together with the palace remains that have now been found, experts say it is not unlikely that a civilian district with several thousand people – possibly members of the soldiers, craftsmen and traders – actually stood in front of the soldiers’ camp.
Different ownership relationships
Further research should provide more details, the agency emphasizes. The alleged palace is located on the uneven terrain, sometimes only 30 centimeters and sometimes up to two meters below the earth’s surface. The area is partly privately owned and used for agricultural purposes, and partly belongs to the state office.
The Romans themselves destroyed the civilian city
According to the Roman historian Tacitus (58 to about 120 AD), there was actually a civil town near the legionary camp, which the Romans are said to have destroyed during the revolt of the West Germanic Batavians in the years 68 to 70. so that they would not fall into the enemy. Hands fell. As part of the Lower Germanic Limes, the former Roman military camp near Xanten has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2021.
Source: Krone
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