...so, going on a little bit further (although I'm still under kinda shock as I seemed to have mixed up the two last lectures [Planck/Schallmayer :oops: ], but we're not THAT far still :mrgreen: )
Next on the list was Dr. Britta Rabold, deputy chief-in-charge of the monuments preservation authorities at Karlsruhe (the chief of excavations in/around my area, that means). She was lecturing about new findings "from the middle part of the OL" , the vicus by the castellum Schlossau.("Neue Erkenntnisse zum mittleren Odenwaldlimes-- Der Kastellvicus in Schlossau").
The size of the vicus inevitably raised the question whether Schlossau was the center of gravity of the OL, the fact that the fort there was relatively small.
The vicus is sited south of the fort, which was already excavated by the RLK more than a century back. (Surveillance through the past years there had shown the fort to have less gates than stated by the RLK, -- surely no western gate, more close surveillance will show whether it actually had 3 gates or even less.)
As numerous stamped tiles show, the fort was built by a Vexillation by the LEG XXII pf from Mogontiacum, a dedication from the bath manes one Titus Maius Magnus in command.
The ongoing surveillances for 2010 are planned to give a better roundup/overview on the parts (of the vicus AND the fort, that means) which have not been scutinized/excavated yet.
It seems that the course of the limes is also not totally clear in that area, one or more kinks of this course seem to be possible, which should be cleared by the geomagnetic (and other) prospection of the OL that is already under ways and new assessment of the facts already known.
A further extension of the vicus towards north and east is to be expected, judging from the parts of a larger building channel heating(? =“Kanalheizung”) already excavated. A number of tile furnaces (?= “Ziegelöfen”) have also been found, too big for such a small (numerous) castellum.
This is also augmented by the finds west of the main road, where traces of buildings give a clue that they are rather belonging to bigger structures than the usual “stripe” houses (“Streifenhäuser”) to be expected near a military post at that time. This also shows in cellars deeper than usual and a flight of rooms connected by a wall of about 40m length. Since its presently impossible to explorate directly southward further recognition on this building will only come indirectly by further evaluation/new assessment of the older finds.
In general the excavations have show 3 different phases to exist in the vicus.
To further “round-up the picture”, the exploration of the graveyard (further) south of the vicus will be undertaken (in 2010).
In classifying the type of bath with his characteristic way of heating Dr. Dietwulf Baatz ( Dr. Schallmayer’s predecessor) could give a valuable hint by pointing out to similarities to the bath of the mansio by the Saalburg castellum(D) and the big bath of Biriciana (Weissenburg in Bayern, D).
(There will be further research on this.)
As to the watersupply – only one well has been found yet, so there are hopes for more in future surveillances.
As opposed to this a lot of fireplaces have been found, some (double-chambered) probably used for drying crop and later on for different purposes, some used for manufacturing pottery (4), belonging to the latest phase, containing footprints (Size 41) and 20 pieces of deficient pottery.
Also found were sling-stones and fragments of millstones used for fastening larger posts.
Strong Erosion in some parts of the area did seriously hamper exploration there.
The extension of the vicus as it has been excavated until now poses serious questions concerning the course of the limes (road and palisade) in this area, it might well have run under the main road or far more to the west.
The use of LIDAR (Laserscanning) of the area as planned should give more clues here. (As already stated.)
The following lecture of Renate Schiwall, M.A. (“Historische Konservierungsstrategien am Odenwaldlimes”) dealt with the historical efforts to preserve finds and findingplaces as compared with the way it was handled today.
-----End of Part III ----
As before: Take it with care .... I'm gettin' old . :wink:
Next part will be about the reconstruction of wooden watchtowers.
EDIT: to cite Dr. Rabold (from Dieter Planck, "Die Römer in Baden-Württemberg, 3er Ed. [? , they are not specific about this, here- 2005 was not a good year for publications from the Theiss.Verlag !!!], Stuttgart 2005]
"....... where the inhabitants of the castellum village at Schlossau were living during "Phase 3" , ...., is not clear yet, --maybe not "on location". There are several indications, however, that at Schlossau even after moving the Limes, even on a smaler scale, settling may have prevailed in the 2nd half of the 2nd centura AD. It also cannot be ruled out completely (yet), that the military from Schlossau was not moved along forward by mid 2nd century, but rather at a later time."
Not many news since 2005, as we may see here.