Augusta Raurica

Augusta Raurica is a site archeology Suisse and the oldest Roman city in the Vallée of the higher Rhine between Mainz and Basle.

Geographical location

The site of Augusta Raurica extends on the territory from the communes from Augst, Kaiseraugst and Pratteln, in the south-east of the agglomeration baloise, on southern bank of the the Rhine. It is located at the edge of an axis of North-South communication connecting Rome to the Germanie by the Col of the Large-Saint-Bernard. In addition, the the Rhine with also supporting the trade all along the valley. Lastly, the site of Augusta Raurica is undulating. This is why the city was always divided into 3 parts:

On bank, the shopping area, artisanal and harbor.
On the terrace, the residential district, political and religious
On the top of a hill, the military camp.

History of Augusta Raurica

General context

Augusta Raurica is the first Roman city to be born after the first Roman invasion of the Germanie by Jules César, at the request of the inhabitants of the area. At that time, current the Alsace was occupied in its northern part by the Médiomatriques and in its southern part by the Sénaques which also populated the the Jura, the plain of the the Saone and the valley of the Doubs.

Towards 60 before J. - C., Arioviste, originating in the valley of the Hand and the Neckar, comes to occupy with its troops all the area. At the request of the populations autochtones, Jules César with the head of six Legion S, thirty thousand infantrymen, eight thousand riders, meets the army of Arioviste in 58 before J. - C., between Cernay and Vittelsheim and inflicts a demolished cuisante to him, finally rejecting it with its soldiers on Right Bank of the the Rhine.

Thereafter, César supports the installation of new allied colonists of Rome, the Triboques around Brumath and the Rauraques in the south of the Alsace until Augst from where the name of Augusta Raurica (Rauraques were tribes Germanic originating in the the Ruhr) which will be founded in 43 after J. - C.

Drusus then establishes throughout the the Rhine military camps connected to each other by roads southern north, on two banks of the the Rhine whose Argentoratum and Augusta Raurica is among most important. This Roman conquest of Rhenish space was also accompanied by an administrative organization whose consequences are still perceptible today in Alsace. Into 297, the emperor Dioclétien divides the area into two parts which correspond almost to the the Low-Rhine and with the Haut-Rhin.

the Low-Alsace with Triboques will be attached to the Germania Prima (capital Mainz)
the High-Alsace (with Augusta Raurica) with the Maxima Sequanerum (capital Besancon).

This administrative cutting is later taken again on a religious level until the French revolution, since the Haut-Rhin will belong to évêché of Basle, which will concern the archbishop's palace of Besancon.

This first Roman foundation thus lies within the scope of the conquest of part of the Germanie by Jules César towards 43-44 before J. - C. the assassination of Jules César generates one period of political instability from which certain Germanic tribes profit which destroy partially the town of Augst.

It is under the emperor Auguste towards 10 before J. - C., that she knows a new rebuilding and expansion and then becomes the Roman city of Augusta Raurica.

History of the construction of the city

The building work starts in Augusta Raurica between 15 and 10 before Jesus-Christ. Woodens building, characterize this first real inflation.

Under the reign of the emperor Auguste, between 27 before J. - C. and 14 after J. - C., takes place a new foundation which takes of this fact the known name of Augusta Raurica. The Forum which was out of wood, is born towards 20 after J. - C.

Between 20 and 50, troops of infantries are confined in the fort him also out of wood, of the low city and it is between 40 and 70, that the dwellings are rebuilt out of stones (the second real inflation).

The first theater, the temple of Mercury and the stone forum are built between 60 and 70. A surface of economic prosperity, end of at the end of the 3rd century, allows the installation of the thermal baths, then towards 200, of the third theater, the amphitheater, and luxurious deprived buildings with mosaics (the 3rd real inflation).

Description of the city

The first archaeological excavations start at the 16th century, great period of Humanism with Basle. It is at the 19th century that the ancient city is put gradually up to date. This work carried out by the historical and archaeological Company of Basle, continues still nowadays.

More than one score of monuments already could be updated, among which:

the Forum: In the east of the theater, is the remainders of an administrative and commercial center with a Jupiter temple, a kind of administrative market and justice, a basilica and a curia. The great place bordered by these public edifices and the many shops constituted the forum. It is there that was held also the markets and certain official demonstrations. It was built in the middle of the apr. J. - C.
the Theater: The theater located in the middle of the antique quoted was rebuilt several times. During its history, it was used alternatively of scenic theater and arena of combat. It could contain 8000 spectators. It is only towards 200 apr. J. - C. that the inhabitants could offer the luxury of two buildings: the scenic theater here in the center and the amphitheater in south-western edge of the city. More important Roman ruin of N Swiss, it was entirely restored in 2007.
the Temple with podium: Since the theater, one leads by a monumental staircase to the podium of a formerly imposing temple.

The temple with podium was built according to Mediterranean models on the site of antiques Gallo-Roman square temples whose foundations of three of them are still visible. It was built towards 50-60 apr. J. - C. at the same time as the theater which faces him.

the Dwellings ( insulae ): Districts of the city, built towards 15 av. J. - C. formed urban small islands ( insula ). They still surround the Roman theater and are now bordered by the highway. As far as possible, the streets connecting the current houses were traced in the prolongation of the Roman streets.
aqueducts: They remain about it no, but the rare found vestiges reveal a system of routing of remarkable water ensuring the needs for water of the inhabitants.
workshops: Very close to the cantonal road of Basle to Rheinfelden, are under a common roof, an inn with gravers ( caupona ) and a fulling mill ( fullonica ). These buildings several times refitted burned at the 3rd century apr. J. - C., perhaps following an earthquake. One found many calcined pieces of wood testifying to the rebuildings.
the amphitheater: In complement with the scenic theater of the center town, the inhabitants were offered the luxury of a large oval arena to the south of the city. It was built at the time flourishing 3rd century and could accommodate close to 6 000 spectators. Combat of animals and gladiators were held here. The notable ones and their hosts followed the spectacle since the grandstand reconstituted today. The carcer sheltered the animals and accessories formerly.
the basilica: The basilica was located at the north-eastern wing of the forum, perpendicular to the place. The ruins of the retaining walls testify to its old width. Contrary to the usual direction that one gives him, the basilica with three naves was not a religious building. It was an administrative building and of jurisdiction.
the baptistry: On the site of Castrum Rauracense, at the edge of the the Rhine, one discovered the vestiges of a church paléochrétienne, i.e. dating from the beginning of the Christianisme, with baptismal font and a drying oven. At the 4th century apr. J. - C., a bishop resided at Kaiseraugst. Documents quote even a bishop of “Kaiseraugst and Basle”, about the 7th century. As from the 7th century, the seat of the bishop was installed in Basle then in full expansion, while Kaiseraugst lost its width of ancient city and became a less important city.
the bakery and the guardroom: At the time Roman, a line of narrow houses extended to the foot from a powerful retaining wall, bellow of the hill. The ground floor of some of them was built in stone walls whereas the upper floor was in cob. These buildings knew various uses during the years. From 250 to 275 afterwards. J. - C., of the baker's ovens as that which one can see still today, existed in several houses. Part of the bread of these bakeries was undoubtedly intended to the legionaries. Because a garrison stationed at that time in Augusta Raurica. Its task was to intervene at the time of bloody battles. After 275 afterwards. J. - C., the legion strengthened finally the spur of Kastelen which dominates bakery. Towards 275 afterwards. J. - C., a vast fire destroyed the building. At the time of the excavations, one found in the debris, not only of the ceramics crockery, but also of the bronze figurines representing the gods honoured in a family sanctuary. One does not know where this sanctuary in the beginning was exactly. It is reconstituted today in bakery. One also released from many pieces of weapons, not the complete armor of a legionary, but various parts like swords, pieces of sleeves or points of lance. This is why it is supposed that the stage above bakery was to be used as and deposit guardroom of weapons for a small unit of the garrison.
the Rauracense fortress: The village of Kaiseraugst is on the site of Castrum Rauracense. Towards 260-280 apr. J. - C., the fall of the Files , border of the Empire in north, in Germanic higher and Rhétie, gave again in Augusta Raurica its importance of city-border. The construction of Castrum Rauracense was a consequence.
a cellar: The cellar preserved exceptionally well is connected to the principal sewer and is accessible thanks to the same staircase.

This cellar was in the beginning the reserve of a rich person house patrician. She was filled during the construction of the central thermal baths at the end of the apr. J. - C., and practically intact discovery during work of release in 1943.

sewers: The cesspool or channel of the sewers, initially with breast height, descended waste water from the central thermal baths towards the brook Violenbach. Other channels of arrival show that the channel also collected private sewages. The channel of the sewers is visible on meadows of 100 meters.
ramparts: The remainders of ramparts still visible in various places in Kaiseraugst testify that Castrum Rauracense was well defended. The ramparts surrounded the military fortification and the head of bridge of all shares. Today still, the southern part, most exposed, is thick of 4 m and high 4,5 m by places! The castrum was destroyed towards 350 apr. J. - C. It is about this time that a treasure, including/understanding more than 60 parts of silverwares, was hidden with the foot of the ramparts. This treasure is now exposed in the Roman museum.
the Temple of the Forum: With the south-western wing of the forum rose a temple majestic, dedicated to the worship of the Auguste emperor and devoted to the goddess Roma. A white timber construction delimits the frontage of it, indicating original dimensions.

One discovered the foundations of a furnace bridge to the foot of the vast staircase of the temple. They is here that the crowned place called was umbilicus , giving the point of origin of the land register of the city. The principal axes of coordinates of this land register, decumanus and cardo , are recut here.

a monumental tomb: Close to the door is, in front of the walls of the city, one recognizes the foundations of a remarkable cylindrical monument 15 m in diameter. This monumental tomb was built towards the end of after J. - C. At the same time, one started to brick up the walls of the city. This monument reproduces a Mediterranean model. It was close to the place of cremation. It was certainly built for a very high-ranking person of the city.
thermal baths of the female gente: Not far from the theater rose with the S of the public baths now disappeared. In the channel of waste water, one found many hairpins and pearls, from where the name given to these thermal baths.
Underfloor heating: One can admire an example of the Roman heating by the ground. It is under shelter, close to the forum, with the Schneckenberg. The Hypocauste was used to heat the marble ground of the dining room of a luxurious private house.
a sanctuary of Roman and Celtic gods: In a small valley close to the center town a temple difficult is to interpret. It seems today that it is about a Gallo-Roman double temple or of a sanctuary dedicated to a source. Various objects testify not only to the veneration for Esculape, god of medicine and for Apollon, his father, but evoke also the worship of Hercules, Sucellus and the seven day old divinities of the week.
Thermal baths at the edge of the Rhine: These thermal baths located at the edge of the the Rhine were used by the inhabitants of the districts craftsmen and merchants of the low city, starting from second half of the 3rd century. About the 4th century, the baths were refitted and integrated into Castrum.

Economy and company

The craft industry and the trade are then pillars of the urban economy. The houses, initially of wood, then out of stone, as of 40-70, increased with the liking of the needs, are used at the same time of residences and work places. One found butcheries and smoking-rooms, buildings having been used for bronziers, founders of ornaments metal, blacksmiths, scrap merchants, turners, glass-blowers, Tisserand, fullers, mosaïstes, painters, tailors of objects in bone, manufacturers of adhesive, doctors, commercial stockbreeder of smaller live-stocks or landlords (taverns), commercial firms, hotel trades (inns), and manufacturers of potteries relegated to the periphery of the city to avoid the fire hazards.

The growing importance of the port and the lack of space in the high city call the development, at the 2nd century, of the low city, with its warehouses, its workshops and its stores. The intense marketing activity of Augusta Raurica, is attested by an inscription coming from the basilica, an allusion of Pline Old the to cherries of banks of the the Rhine and by a precision of Varron relating to the Gallic bacon and sausage, ham importation.

The comfort of the dwellings goes from the narrow housing of craftsmen and sinks provided with a very primitive hearth opened to the luxurious urban villa, offering a peristyle, baths private, decorated parts of mosaics and heated by means of an underfloor heating. The districts not served by a public fountain, such as the southern suburb, and certain parts of the low city must be fed out of water by wells.

The prosperity of Augusta Raurica, rests on its site privileged at the edge of a navigable river and with the crossing of important roads, on its exchanges with its immediate agricultural environment and on the export of its artisanal specialities (articles out of metal, canned meat, possibly fruits). Its river port, probably located at the mouth of the Ergolz, which was not excavated yet, and its bridges on the the Rhine, represent its principal assets transport exchanges.

Archaeological and topographic studies, leave think that at the first century already, there was a primitive bridge, in the prolongation of the North-South axis, with the site of the future bridge connecting to the 4th century Castrum Rauracense with a strengthened work on other side of the river. A work allows in all the cases, 3rd century to reach Right Bank of the the Rhine.

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