Between 1976 and 2001 the remains of a fortress were excavated in Pfyn, a small village six kilometers to the north-east of Frauenfeld, near the river Thur. The remains were found at the locality Städtli, around the church of St. Bartholomäus. The ancient name is found in the Itinerarium Antonini and on the Tabula Peutingeriana: Ad fines, which evolved into Pfyn. It means "At the border", apparently that of the provinces Raetia and Maxima Sequanorum, not of the Empire.
Plan of the fortress. Brem et al. 2008, Abb. 44.
The plan of the fortress projected on Pfyn. Photo: Amt für Archäologie Thurgau.The fortress was built during the reign of Diocletianus, around 294 AD, as can be deduced from coins. There was no earlier settlement here. The coin sequence ends in the early fifth century. The fortress measured 220 x 68 m. The walls were on average 2.25 m. thick. There were semicircular towers, 35 and 37 m. apart, made of walls that were 1.48 m. thick. At the locality Adelberg, 700 m. to the east of the fortress, nineteen burials from the fourth century were excavated.
Remains of the fortress. Photos: Amt für Archäologie Thurgau.Many objects were unearthed, partly made in the fortress itself. Waste from smithing and metal slag pointed to the existence of an iron-processing workshop. Bone objects, some half-finished, and waste must have come from an antler carving workshop.
Reconstruction drawing of the smithy. Brem et al. 2008, Abb. 66.
Two sides of an iron knife with gold and silver inlay. W. 0.078, h. 0.03. EROTI VIVAS, "Eros, may you live".
Found in 1987 in the fortress. EDCS-03000714; Kolb et a. 2022, nr. 424. Photo: Brem et al. 2008, Abb. 144.
Literature
Bürgi 1983; Drack-Fellmann 1988, 470-471; Drack-Fellmann 1991, 207-209; Brem et al. 2008; Brem et al. 2010.
[17-Jan-2024]
