Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Lost Roman City Discovered in Austria

Archaeologists in Austria have uncovered the remains of a large, meticulously planned Roman city near St. Pantaleon-Erla, which had been hidden for nearly 2,000 years. The settlement's size and organization are considered unprecedented.

Geophysical surveys revealed an urban area covering 62 to 75 acres with gridded streets and an amphitheater for 8,000 people. A large cemetery with numerous graves, some belonging to wealthy individuals, was also found.

The city was strategically located near two Roman forts, likely controlling a Danube crossing point important for trade. Civilian settlements typically grew near forts, but this city's scale is exceptional.

Researchers suspect the city may be Claudivium, mentioned by Ptolemy, as its location and the disappearance of the name from records around 180 C.E. align with the findings.

The site, part of the Danube Limes UNESCO World Heritage Site, was likely founded around 80 C.E. and abandoned about a century later, possibly due to an "orderly, planned withdrawal."

The area's lack of later development makes it a unique "time capsule" for research. The abandonment may coincide with the end of the Marcomannic Wars under Emperor Commodus.

Evidence suggests some residents relocated to the nearby town of Lauriacum. Archaeologists are seeking funding for further investigation, noting that current findings have "only scratched the surface."

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.