Augusta Raurica

Augusta Raurica near modern Augst and Kaiseraugst is one of the most important Roman urban complexes on the Upper Rhine. It provides evidence for urban planning, theatre, temples, crafts, housing, late Roman fortification and the famous silver treasure.

Archaeological complex

The town was founded as a colony in the territory of the Raurici and developed as a regional centre between Gaul, Germany and the Alps. The theatre, forum area, sanctuaries, craft quarters, aqueduct, houses and late fort at Kaiseraugst are archaeologically important. Museum, park and excavations together show urban life in several phases.

Augusta Raurica is useful as a readable provincial town: theatre, forum area, houses, craft zones and museum finds stand in a clear landscape context. Views of the excavations help show how public buildings and residential quarters relate to roads and outskirts.

Finds and material setting

Finds include pottery, tools, craft debris, architectural decoration, coins, everyday objects and the late Roman silver treasure. For reconstructing provincial life, the site is especially useful because public buildings, workshops and houses can be compared rather than studied as isolated categories.

Visual and archaeological evidence is useful here as a check on the prose: it connects visible walls, layout, finds and museum objects with the historical setting. Main evidence groups:

• theatre, forum, houses, craft quarters and roads;
• domestic pottery, metalwork, glass, coins and architectural fittings;
• museum collection and experimental archaeology material;
• transition from city to Late Antique Castrum Rauracense.

Interpretation and limits

Augusta Raurica combines an early imperial town and a late Roman fortified phase. These layers must be separated: the silver treasure and late fort do not automatically describe the first- to second-century town, and the early urban plan does not fully explain late antique defence.

Related topics

• Roman Archaeological Sources
• Roman Empire
• Roman aqueduct
• Theatre
• Everyday utensils
• Roman temples

Literature

• Alex R. Furger. Augusta Raurica: A Guide to the Roman Town. Augst, 1997.
• Augusta Raurica Museum and Archaeological Park: official guide material.
• Kaiseraugst silver treasure catalogues.