A villa in Pratteln at location Kästeli has been investigated on many occasions, over a long period of time. In the 1840's Wilhelm Vischer-Bilfinger found rooms with hypocausts, mosaics, and columns with Doric capitals. A long stretch of the outer enclosure wall (8) was excavated by Karl Stehlin in 1914-1915. More work took place in the late 1950's. In 1971 a large water basin (2; 11.50 x 20 m.), possibly a fish pond, was found. An emergency excavation took place in 2009.
Plan of the villa. Fischer 2009, 37 and Marti-Fischer 2011, Abb. 9.
1: main house; 2: water basin; 3: well; 4: small temple (?); 5: inner enclosure wall; 6: gate; 7: secondary buildings; 8: outer enclosure wall; 9: gate.The main house (1) had a porticus and a tower-like projection. In front of the main house was a garden. It had its own enclosure wall (5) and a gate on the east side (6). Here a well (3) was fed by groundwater and rainwater. Next to it a large sandstone block was found. A nearby small building (4; 3.5 x 3.5 m.) may have been a shrine. The outer enclosure wall (8) also had a gate on the east side (9). Within the larger enclosure secondary buildings were found (7), one in the north part measuring 50 x 10 m. The villa was used from the first to the fourth century.
View of the well and the sandstone block. Photo: Archäologie Baselland.
View of secondary buildings in the south-west part of the complex. Photo: Archäologie Baselland.In 2009 a gold plated ring was found near the water basin. It holds a stone of glass paste with a depiction of Jupiter, holding a sceptre and bolt of lightning. A solid gold ring was found in Pratteln in the 18th century, this one with a red stone with a depiction of a female figure holding a branch (Nemesis?). And as to gold: in 2003 a gold solidus from the years 367-375 AD was found in the area. It has the mintmark of Trier (Germany) and depictions of Valentinianus I and Valens holding a globe in front of Victoria.
The ring found in 2009. Photo: Archäologie Baselland.
The ring found in the 18th century. Archäologie Baselland.
The solidus of Valentinianus and Valens found in 2003. Photo: Archäologie Baselland.
D(ominus) N(oster) VALENTINIANVS P(ius) F(elix) AVG; VICTORIA AVGG, TR(eviris) OB(ryza) S(ecunda) (obryza = "pure gold").
Literature
Bruckner 1763, 2994, Tab. 16,1; Fischer 2009; Tännler 2011; Marti-Fischer 2011; Von Wartburg 2016; Gebhard 2016.
[18-Oct-2023]
