A large villa was discovered in 1756 in Oberkulm, to the west of the Hallwilersee, at locality Murhübel. The finds were taken to a local clergyman. He reported the discovery to the authorities, who then initiated further excavations. In 1758 the work was led first by the scholar Albrecht von Haller, and then by Friedrich Samuel Schmidt. The latter published the excavations.
View of the excavation. Schmidt 1771, Pl. I.
Plan of the villa. Schmidt 1771, Pl. II,1.Parts of the walls had been used as building material in the village and part of the villa was used as a poor habitation, but much remained. The ancient inhabitants were obviously quite wealthy. In room 2 a water conduit was found. Room 3 had a mosaic floor. In room 17 was a floor of marble surrounded by mosaic, while the walls were decorated with marble. Rooms 4 and 19 were heated, witness hypocausts. In the former room was a mosaic floor, the latter room had a marble floor. There were remains of paintings on the walls of several rooms, some imitating marble. Von Schmidt says that the marble had been imported. He also reports porphyry. The latest coins were from the reign of Magnus Maximus (383-388 AD).
The mosaic from room 3. Schmidt 1771, Pl. II,2.
Literature
Schmidt 1771; Keller 1864(2), 128-131; Von Gonzenbach 1961, 160-166; Hartmann-Weber 1985, 190.
[12-Oct-2023]
