Archaeology students at work: The excavation team of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich uncovers a private bathing complex. © APC

In Kempten, archaeologists excavated an impressive residential house with intact screed floors, private thermal baths, and mural paintings, evidence of Cambodunum’s significance as a Roman civil settlement in Bavaria.

Together with the School of Archaeology of the Roman Provinces at LMU Munich and the Bavarian Office for the Conservation of Historical Monuments, we have been working since 2019 at the site known as “Insula 1” in the Archaeological Park Cambodunum, where we have succeeded in excavating and scientifically examining two buildings belonging to a central block of houses in the Roman town.

Excavation director Prof. Dr. Salvatore Ortisi of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, © APC

As Prof. Ortisi from the LMU Munich says, “Cambodunum-Kempten represents a first-class research location of particular importance for the archaeology of the Roman provinces and for the LMU Munich, because research can be combined here in optimal fashion with the communication and permanent presentation of the results of this research.”

The city of Kempten is fortunate that the core area associated with its Roman past was not destroyed by modern development but has been preserved as an archaeological monument directly beneath the turf. According to Dr Maike Sieler, urban archaeologist and director of the Archaeological Park Cambodunum, “Cooperation with the LMU Munich enables us to press forward with the scientific examination of the Roman town of Cambodunum and, in the future, present the findings in situ as new museum highlights in the Archaeological Park.”

Dr Maike Sieler, urban archaeologist and director of the Archaeological Park Cambodunum, © APC

What is remarkable is the good condition of the finds: in addition to intact screed floors and floor heating, we would like to emphasise the small private thermal baths and extant mural paintings. “We have come upon a key section of Roman Cambodunum’s main residential area  – well-preserved in its entirety – a one-of-a-kind find in southern Germany. It is impressive evidence of Cambodunum’s significance as a hub in the early phase of Raetia’s provincialisation and at the beginning of Bavaria’s Roman era,” says Dr Sieler.

The residential blocks located directly opposite the large public buildings, such as the forum with basilica and governor’s palace, are known as “insulae”. These were home to the Roman town’s most important families. It is evident that over time the prestigious residential buildings that have now been excavated in “Insula 1” were, in various cases, remodelled or modified for different uses. These changes reflect how living, working, and dwelling blended and mixed in one of the most thriving towns north of the Alps.

As Prof. Ortisi puts it: “Cambodunum-Kempten is an outstanding example of a planned Roman town. Here we have a first-rate opportunity to reconstruct Rome’s development and urbanisation of areas north of the Alps. These Celtic Roman beginnings represent the origins of many of our modern cities and had a vital influence on the cultural development of southern Germany.”