Scientists Are Analyzing 4,000 Bricks To Unravel Secrets of an Ancient Roman Metropolis [Trier]

SciTechDaily ^ | April 9, 2025 | Goethe University Frankfurt

[SunkenCiv]

Researchers are analyzing 4,000 Roman stamped bricks from Trier to uncover insights into ancient construction, economy, and urban development using both archaeological and scientific techniques...

Trier reached its peak in the 4th century AD, when it served as a residence for Roman emperors. Monumental structures like the Imperial Baths and the Basilica of Constantine still stand as evidence of this prosperous period. These buildings were constructed using fired bricks in various formats, which were employed in walls, roofing, and heating systems...

A key project focus is the spatial distribution of the bricks, which will help researchers trace the architectural development of Augusta Treverorum, the Roman Trier, which became known as Treveris in Late Antiquity. The study may reveal previously unknown state and public construction projects...

For the first time, archaeometric analyses will be conducted on Trier's bricks, examining their material composition – specifically, the chemical composition of the clay – to determine the raw materials used. This will allow researchers to identify or confirm the existence of specific workshops.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

The rest of a couple of Roman keywords, sorted:

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• 1,700-Year-Old Grave Uncovered in Germany [09/10/2024]
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• Two Iron Age Sites Discovered in Finland [09/03/2012]
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• Students find rare Roman temple on practice dig [Poppelsdorf, Germany] [05/15/2012]
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• 2,000-year-old statue of Emperor Augustus on horseback found in stream [08/27/2009]
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[Verginius Rufus]

Augustus gave up on the idea of making the Elbe River the boundary. Later in the first century the Romans expanded to the east of the Rhine in what is now Bavaria, crating the “Agri Decumates” which gave them a shorter frontier to defend. The local Germans in that area were the Alamanni (or Alemanni). The modern French word for Germany comes from the Alemanni.

[Bob434]

lol- glad it brought soem cheer

[thesearethetimes...]

Thank you!
For the link and the brain calisthenics 🙃

Tatt

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks. The Romans cleared forest in Jutland (the trees grew back over the next few centuries for use for shipbuilding) and were at least for a time in control of what is now Copenhagen. In recent years northern and eastern battle sites have been discovered and excavated, at least one large one dating from the Crisis of the 3rd C, a Roman victory, during the short reign of Maximinus Thrax, who somehow doesn't strike me as a great administrator. The written record is bound to be fragmentary, but the archaeology is there.

[sit-rep]

[Verginius Rufus]

I’ve been to Jutland, a long time ago, and don’t remember if the trees looked like old growth or ones that grew back after the Romans deforested the peninsula.

[SunkenCiv]

There's little sign of occupation until the Middle Ages, and of course the Vikings, they loved them some ships. Sveyn Forkbeard spent the better part of twenty years building barracks and ships, and training an army, starting well before the supposed triggering event, which was the killing of his sister in 1002.

[Bob434]

Lol you’re welcome . I have a brain full of scattered zemi-interesting facts and stories, glad to share em.

[Verginius Rufus]

So all the Jutes left Jutland and went to Britain with the Angles and Saxons?

[SunkenCiv]

Yup. The name stayed behind. Saxony stayed behind as well. The River Lipping is in both the place they left and in Britain. Beowulf is set in “the old country”. :^)

[WoofDog123]

was it set in the time/place of the court of Hrolf Kraki? I seem to remember this was where the archtype for beowulf was.

[SunkenCiv]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hr%C3%B3lfr_Kraki#Beowulf