Rare Roman bridgeheads found in Austria – History

The first Roman bridgehead fortress ever discovered in Austria has been identified near Stopfenreuth in the Danube floodplain in Lower Austria. The only bridgehead on the Danube (Limes) (Roman border) is in Isa-Lenaval Fort in Slovakia. The bridgeheads are not permanent bridges, but fortresses built on the river, and the troops are responsible for the actions of people, trade and goods on strategically important border lines. A ferry could transport people and goods from forts on the northern bank of the Danube to the south.

Some of the ruins of ancient walls are still visible, known since the 19th century as Ödes Schloss (barren castle), which historians assumed were medieval castles or fortresses in the 16th-century war with the Ottoman Empire. The 2024 excavations have found bricks of the more well-preserved walls and stamped Legio XIV and Legio XV Apollinaris, two legions garrisoned at the Carnuntum Fort 2.5 miles away.

Founded in the early 1st century, Carnuntum was a winter camp, but soon grew into a powerful military fortress, with a related city becoming the capital of the upper capital of Pannonia, the Roman province. It is the center of the fortress on the Danube, a fortress targeting the Germanic tribes that attacked Pannonia. Marcus Aurelius wrote the second book of his Meditations while headquartered at Carnuntum during the Marcomannic Wars (172-174 AD), and Septimius Severus was acclaimed master there after the death of Pertinax in 193 AD It was also an important stop on the Roman Amber Road that moved Primed Baltic amber from Northern Europe to Italy. On the main branch of the road, the amber trader crossed the Danube in Carnuntum, so the bridgeheads also guarded valuable goods as they crossed Roman territory.

Excavations in the Hainburger Au area reveal the well-preserved wall structure. Particularly impressive is the part of the fortress wall, which can reach up to 2.65 meters. Scientific research shows that the fortress is divided into two stages. The first phase dates back to around 170/180 AD, when Emperor Marcus Aurelius strengthened the Roman border against the Roman border during the Marcomanique War. During the second construction phase around 260 AD, the complex was renovated under the leadership of Emperor Galinos, but as the importance of Kanum gradually declined, the number of troops also decreased.

Archaeological discoveries include XIV and XV Legion units, coins, ceramics and some small bronze discoveries of stamped bricks. “They demonstrated the great strategic importance of Carnuntum in the Roman military system and provided new insights into military security connected north-south,” stressed Eduard Pollhammer, an archaeologist and director of science at Carnuntum.

Excavations at Dona State National Park have concluded, but the recovered archaeological materials are currently under conservation and research.