Roman Watchtower 9/116

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 watchtower, built directly on the road, is located on the Lias edge. After the tower foundation was first identified in 1814, the first excavations at this site took place in 1896. The State Office for Monument Preservation Baden-Württemberg carried out further excavations in 1977. The 6 x 6 m stone tower had two construction phases. The structure was founded on solid masonry on a 1.3 to 1.4 m wide ring ditch, which was up to 0.5 m deep and was interrupted on the east, towards the enemy side, by a crossing. However, the wooden palisade belonging to this oldest phase of expansion could not yet be identified. The tower was destroyed with or shortly after the first Alamannic invasion in 233. Its reconstruction was no longer of the old solid quality. With the fall of the Limes around 260, the site was abandoned by the Romans. Research assumes that this tower, the highest on the entire Vorderer Limes, was a main survey point on this section. Fire signals could reach the tower near Kastell Hönehaus, about 75 km away. From here, one of the best-preserved sections of the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes begins over a length of 1.5 km. The small fort of Ebnisee is located near Wp 9/116.