The rapids at Laufenburg, which no longer exist today, were an obstacle to the transportation of goods on the river Rhine. This led to the founding of a settlement along a road. An important purpose of the settlement was the transshipment of goods. Remains were investigated several times, most recently in 2013-2014.
View of the rapids at Laufenburg in the 1830's. Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz.
Plan with indication of the remains (red) and the road (purple). Tortoli et al. 2015, Abb. 3.
The road was 7.50 m. wide. It was made of gravel. Wheel ruts had been preserved that were 0.95 m. apart. The main features of the settlement that have been excavated were cellars in strip houses and shafts with stone walls serving as cellars. They were used for storing perishable foodstuffs. The cellars measured on average 2.50 x 3.65 m, and were 1.50-1.70 m. deep. One shaft was rectangular, measuring 1.95 x 2.00, 1.60 m. deep. The others shafts were oval, with a maximum diameter of 1.20-2.00 m. and a depth of 1.20-2.50 m. The large number of cellars suggests that they were in some way related to the transshipment. They could have been used for goods in transit, but they may also have contained food for the merchants during their stopover.
View of shafts serving as cellars. Photo: Tortoli et al. 2015, Abb. 4.In the first half of the second century a potter's workshop with two kilns was located at the west end of the settlement. Around the middle of the third century the settlement was destroyed by one or more conflagrations.
View of the two potter's kilns. Photo: Tortoli et al. 2015, Abb. 21.
Literature
Tortoli et al. 2015.
[14-Apr-2024]
