Roman Watchtower 1/54

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.

Approximately 37 m behind the Limes ditch lies the heavily eroded rubble mound of a stone tower, under which an older wooden tower has been proven. The square stone tower had sides 4.60 m long, and its walls were 80 cm thick. It was surrounded by a ring ditch 1.50 m wide and 55 cm deep. A partially faulty reconstruction, erected in 1912, is located approximately 10 m east of the tower site.