A new story for an old site
For more than a hundred years, scholars thought the small Roman fort on Blöskopf ridge was a late second-century facility, but new discoveries have corrected the record. Archaeologists recently uncovered evidence that identified the site as a mid-first-century security outpost for the mine, housing between 12 and 40 men.
Outpost
Half-timbering
Terrain barrier
Stone wall
Entrance
Wooden spike
20-24 in
Fascines
Main gate
Pila fossata
Rampart
Inner ditch
Outer ditch
Ditches and spikes
Outpost
Two V-shaped defensive trenches protected the outpost. The inner, larger one, some 15 feet wide and six feet deep, was lined with sharp wooden spikes that archaeologists named pila fossata. Before their discovery at Blöskopf, none had ever been found in situ.
The Blöskopf fortlet featured sturdy stone walls and half-timber construction. Archaeologists today believe there were two or three levels, with the higher floor, and perhaps a balcony, used for observation.
Graphic: Monica Serrano and Amanda Hobbs, NGM staff. Art: Aria Safarzadegan. Sources: Frederic Auth and Markus Scholz, Goethe University; Peter Henrich, Rhineland State Museum, Trier; Markus Wittköpper, Leibniz Center for Archaeology
A new story for an old site
For more than a hundred years, scholars thought the small Roman fort on Blöskopf ridge was a late second-century facility, but new discoveries have corrected the record. Archaeologists recently uncovered evidence that identified the site as a mid-first-century security outpost for the mine, housing between 12 and 40 men.
Outpost
The Blöskopf fortlet featured sturdy stone walls and half-timber construction. Archaeologists today believe there were two or three levels, with the higher floor, and perhaps a balcony, used for observation.
Half-timbering
Terrain barrier
Stone wall
Entrance
Fascines
Main gate
Rampart
Inner ditch
Outer ditch
Wooden spike
20-24 in
Ditches and spikes
Two V-shaped defensive trenches protected the outpost. The inner, larger one, some 15 feet wide and six feet deep, was lined with sharp wooden spikes that archaeologists named pila fossata. Before their discovery at Blöskopf, none had ever been found in situ.
Pila fossata
Graphic: Monica Serrano and Amanda Hobbs, NGM staff. Art: Aria Safarzadegan. Sources: Frederic Auth and Markus Scholz, Goethe University; Peter Henrich, Rhineland State Museum, Trier; Markus Wittköpper, Leibniz Center for Archaeology
A new story
for an old site
For more than a hundred years, scholars thought the small Roman fort on Blöskopf ridge was a late second-century facility, but new discoveries have corrected the record. Archaeologists recently uncovered evidence that identified the site as a mid-first-century security outpost for the mine, housing between 12 and 40 men.
Outpost
Stone wall
Fascines
Main gate
Rampart
Inner ditch
Outer ditch
Wooden spike
20-24 in
Pila fossata
Ditches and spikes
Two V-shaped defensive trenches protected the outpost. The inner, larger one, some 15 feet wide and six feet deep, was lined with sharp wooden spikes that archaeologists named pila fossata. Before their discovery at Blöskopf, none had ever been found in situ.
Graphic: Monica Serrano and Amanda Hobbs, NGM staff. Art: Aria Safarzadegan. Sources: Frederic Auth and Markus Scholz, Goethe University; Peter Henrich, Rhineland State Museum, Trier; Markus Wittköpper, Leibniz Center for Archaeology