Cities, villages, fortresses - Solothurn - Olten - The vicus

Introduction The vicus The castrum

The ruins of the settlement are buried below the modern city and therefore known only very fragmentarily. The vicus measured some 300 x 500 meters. Five rooms of baths were excavated, a few kilns of potteries, and some remains of houses, all from the first two centuries. In 2020 the rim was found of a terracotta vessel decorated with snakes. Such vessels were probably used during religious ceremonies.

Photo and plan of the kiln of a pottery excavated in 2015. Tortoli 2016, Abb. 6-7.

The rim of the terracotta vessel decorated with snakes. Tortoli-Stopp 2021, Abb. 16.

Burial places were located to the west and north of the settlement. In 1778 two funerary altars with inscriptions were found by the visiting Baron Zurlauben. They had been used as building material in the fortress. The two funerary altars were then cut into blocks. The second text contains some rather remarkable names.

	D(is) M(anibus) ET MEMORIAE CINNENI SECVN DI VIXIT ANNO[s] XXI M(enses) VIII CINNENIVS SECVNNVS P(ater) ET CINN(enius) SECVN DIN(us) FRATER FA CIEND(um) CVRAVE[r(unt)]
	To the spirits of the underworld and to the memory of Cinnenius Secundus, who lived years 21 months 8. Cinnenius Secunnus, father, and Cinnenius Secundinus, brother, had (this monument) built.
Funerary inscription of limestone. Historisches Museum Olten. W. 0.495, h. 0.615, d. 0.40. Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 367; EDCS-10800596. Photo: Meier 1990, 18.

	[D(is) M(anibus)] ET MEMORIAE R[o] GATINI ROMVLI FRATRIS SENATI ROMANI INTER CEPTVS VIXIT AN(nos) XXV SAF(inia) AVENTINA ET SAF(inia) SENATVS PA [t]RES POSVERVNT
	To the spirits of the underworld and to the memory of Rogatinius Romulus, brother of Senatius Romanus. He was snatched away. He lived years 25. Safinia Aventina and Safinius Senatus, the parents, placed (this monument).
Funerary inscription of limestone. Historisches Museum Olten. W. 0.49, h. 0.625, d. 0.37. Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 368; EDCS-10800597. Photo: Meier 1990, 17.

In 1935 a hoard of more than 1000 coins was discovered 1200 meters to the west of the settlement. The earliest coins were from the Severan period, the latest from the reign of Aurelianus (270-275 AD). The hoard must be linked to the Alemannic invasions of the later third century.

Introduction The vicus The castrum

[27-Dec-2023]