Roman Castle Ruffenhofen

The first archaeological investigations of Ruffenhofen fort took place as early as 1868, followed by more extensive excavations by the Imperial Limes Commission in 1892. Despite these early researches and further soundings in 2005, the first in over a century, many details regarding the exact dating and the troops stationed here remain speculative. Modern methods such as aerial surveys and geophysical measurements since the late 1970s have provided insights. It is presumed that an earlier timber-and-earth fort already existed under Emperor Trajan in the early 2nd century. The stone fort, covering an area of 3.7 hectares, was strategically positioned between the Ala forts of Aalen and Weißenburg.