Ländliches Heiligtum, Versammlungsplatz oder Viehmarkt?

Eine rundovale römische Platzanlage am Oberen Neckar bei Empfingen – ein Vorbericht

Abstract

Rural Sanctuary, Meeting Place or Cattle Market? A Round-oval Roman Site on the Upper Neckar near Empfingen – a Preliminary Report

During excavations in 2022 near Empfingen (Lkr. Freudenstadt, Baden-Württemberg) in an area that was already known from Roman archaeological finds, an approximately 60 m × 55 m round-oval square was uncovered. In the centre of the structure, which was surrounded by a stone foundation as the base of a presumably wooden superstructure and had an entrance in the east, was a square stone foundation and three massive stone-framed post pits. In addition, a large number of small post pits were documented, which were arranged on the inside of the enclosure. To date, no corresponding comparisons to the structures documented in ­Empfingen are known that would allow an interpretation of the find. The finds from the late 1^st to the early 3^rd century, which show the typical spectrum of a provincial Roman settlement, also give no indication of the use of the enclosed site, for which mercantile, political and religious functions are discussed.