In 1928 a villa was investigated by Karl Keller-Tarnuzzer in Hüttwilen (seven kilometers to the north-west of Frauenfeld), at the locality Stutheien. The main house was excavated, plus some walls of secondary buildings.
View of the excavations of the main house in 1928, seen from the west. Photo: Roth-Rubi et al. 1986, Abb. 33.
The site as it appears today, seen from the north. Behind the house and the barn is the Hüttwilersee. Photo: Wikimedia, Lantus.
Reconstruction of the villa. Oil painting by Karl Peterli. Photo: Amt für Archäologie Thurgau.A cursory investigation had already taken place around 1855, when a sandstone female head was discovered, according to Ferdinand Keller of Isis. A drawing of the head was published, but it has apparently disappeared. The finds from 1928 werd published only in 1986. The main house was built in the last quarter of the second century and restored after a fire. It was abandoned already in the middle of the third century. A few finds suggest renewed use at a very limited scale and for a short period of time in the fourth century.
The female head of sandstone. ASGA 7,2 (1861), Taf. II,13.
Plan of the main house. Amt für Archäologie Thurgau..
The main house, measuring 42 x 28 m., had on the south side a porticus above a cellar that was illuminated by slit windows, two of which were partly preserved. The porticus was flanked by tower-like projections. In a central hall a hearth was found. It has been suggested that there were bathing rooms on the west side (one with an apse), but a hypocaust was only found in a small annex in the north-west corner. A few rooms were decorated with paintings. Those in the south-western room ("cold bathing room") had an imitation of marble, and vegetative motifs on a white background.
Remains of paintings in the south-western room. Photo: Roth-Rubi et al. 1986, Abb. 21.
Bronze and bone handle of an iron knife in the shape of a lion . Photo: Amt für Archäologie Thurgau.
Literature
Anzeiger für Schweizerische Geschichte und Altertumskunde 7,2 (1861), 32-34; Keller 1864, 76; Drack 1950, 86; Roth-Rubi 1986; Roth-Rubi et al. 1986; Drack-Fellmann 1988, 410-411; Drack-Fellmann 1991, 139.
[17-Jan-2024]
