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.
Location map: Augusta Raurica. The marker shows the ancient site or main archaeological complex.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.
Augusta Raurica: Augusta Raurica - Theater2; general view or excavated sector, Roman period, archaeological site or museum context.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.
- 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
Literature and sources
- 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.
Augusta Raurica: Kaiseraugst AG 2012-09-09 Mattes Batch (14); visual evidence for the site, Roman period, archaeological site or museum context.
Augusta Raurica: AugustaRaurica 1; visual evidence for the site, Roman period, archaeological site or museum context.
Augusta Raurica: Silver Treasure - Roman Museum - Augusta Raurica - August 2013; visual evidence for the site, Roman period, archaeological site or museum context.
Augusta Raurica: Augustaraurica temple1; visual evidence for the site, Roman period, archaeological site or museum context.
Augusta Raurica: Map of Augusta Raurica 240 AD - Augusta Raurica - August 2013; visual evidence for the site, Roman period, archaeological site or museum context.
Augusta Raurica: 2014-Augst-Augusta-Raurica-Museum; archaeological view, find or museum context connected with the site, Roman period or local archaeological context.
Augusta Raurica: Picswiss BL-44-03; archaeological view, find or museum context connected with the site, Roman period or local archaeological context.
Augusta Raurica: Theater Kaiseraugst; archaeological view, find or museum context connected with the site, Roman period or local archaeological context.
Augusta Raurica: Picswiss BL-44-17; visual evidence for the site, Roman period, archaeological site or museum context.
Augusta Raurica: Lapidarium at Augusta Raurica - August 2013; visual evidence for the site, Roman period, archaeological site or museum context.
Augusta Raurica: Picswiss BL-44-09; archaeological view, find or museum context connected with the site, Roman period or local archaeological context.
Augusta Raurica: Stone mill Augusta raurica4; archaeological view, find or museum context connected with the site, Roman period or local archaeological context.Interested in Ancient Rome beyond reading? Join Legio X Fretensis or explore our reenactment directions.
