Settling in dynamic spaces: Neuenstadt on the Kocher ant the Cicitas Aurelia G(...) as a model for urbanization processes in Roman border zones of the 2nd century AD

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Michaela Konrad; Dr. Klaus Kortüm
• Subject Area: Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology ; Ancient History
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 459770224

The remains of a Roman town covering an area of at least 25 acres, are situated near Neuenstadt am Kocher (Lkr. Heilbronn, state of Baden-Württemberg). The foundation of the Roman town is the result of targeted infrastructural measures that took place simultaneously with the forwarding of the Roman limes in Upper Germany ca. 160 AD. The systematic analysis of aerial photographs since the 1990s revealed the complete extension of the Roman site and even parts of its specific architecture. These discoveries enabled the correlation between the architectural remains with well-known inscriptions, documenting the existence of a Civitas Aurealia G(---) and its principal central place. The following investigations including geophysical prospection, several test excavations and systematic excavation of the sanctuary of Apollo Grannus, gave rise to the important question of the processes of urbanization in the 2nd century AD. The outstanding archaeological state of preservation makes Neuenstadt a research site of primary importance and national interest with high paradigmatic potential. The proposed interdisciplinary project deals with the main questions of Roman urbanization processes in dynamic spaces of the later Middle Roman Empire. The teams, bringing together archaeologists and scholars of Ancient History will deliver considerable results to the following questions: to what extent proven models of city planning were applied to directed urbanization measures in the frontier zone on the fringe of the Empire? Did the measures take into account specific local conditions and time specific demands? If so, how are they represented in the urban topography? How was the dynamic of the urban development in regard to the history of the province and the general political history? In how far the army and the garrisons at the limes were involved or responsible for the foundation of the city and the installation of central representative buildings? Can the „city project“ Neuenstadt be connected with a late urbanization program that exceeded provincial borders and possibly spread over the whole Roman Empire and especially its border zones? What was the deeper meaning of the monumental sanctuary of Apollo Grannus, not only in the foundation period but especially in late Severan times and how far could it have been the result of an imperial promotion or even initiative?The project in this application aims to answer central questions referring to urbanization processes in the Antonine and Severan period in an interdisciplinary approach. It paradigmatically connects field archaeology and Ancient History Studies in the provinces of the Roman Empire with a focus on dynamic spaces in the border zones.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Dirk Lutz Krausse