Roman Villa in Germany.pdf

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résumé

Bettina Birkenhagenconservateur, Perl, Borg

La villa romaine de Borg est de tpe villa rustica, un ensemble agricole, comprenant un

secteur palatial ( pars urbana ) avec un manoir et un grand secteur économique ( pars rus-

tica ). Depuis l’époque romaine, il a eu très peu d’activités agricoles ou architecturales,

ce qui ait que les vestiges sont en très bon état de conservation.

La villa romaine de Borg comprend l’ensemble des ouilles de l’une des villae les plus

grandes de la région Saar Mosel ainsi que la reconstruction complète de la partie palatiale

de cette installation ( pars urbana ). Dans la mesure du possible, cette reconstitution seonde sur des découvertes locales ou sur des résultats de ouilles d’installations similaires

de la région (Echternach au Luembourg, par eemple). Lorsque cela s’avère nécessaire,

la littérature antique (Vitruve, par eemple) ou contemporaine est consultée (pour la re-

constitution des peintures murales, par eemple).

Aujourd’hui, les édices reconstruits se dressent sur les ondations des murs romains

(autant que possible) et restituent l’apparence que les édices étaient censés avoir à

l’époque, c’est à dire entre le iie et iii

e siècle après J.-C.

Les objectis de la reconstruction de la villa romaine de Borg sont essentiellement les sui-

vants : une place primordiale accordée à l’authenticité aussi bien qu’à la onctionnalité de

l’aménagement ; de manière tout aussi importante, la volonté de rendre accessible l’ap-

proche de l’archéologie, du monde de l’Antiquité et de ses ouilles de manière descriptivepour le plus grand nombre de visiteurs, de jeunes et d’enants. Avec les ouilles en cours,

nous espérons trouver de nouveau résultats intéressants qui viendront s’ajouter à nos

connaissances sur les colonies romaines.

L’accès au patrimoine gallo-romain est rendu possible par l’aménagement qui est propice

au visites amiliales, ainsi qu’à tout autre public, spécique ou non. Le nombre important

de visiteurs par an (50 000 env.), en provenance non seulement des pas voisins, mais du

monde entier, prouve que ce tpe de conservation du patrimoine culturel est bien accepté

et rencontre un intérêt très large.

Les expériences aLLemandes et La viLLa romaine de Borg (sarre, aLLemagne)

English abstract Sommaire >>

Les expériences aLLemandes et La viLLa romaine de Borg (sarre, aLLemagne)

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abstract

Bettina Birkenhagen Heritage Curator, Perl, Borg

The Roman Villa Borg is a so-called Villa Rustica, an agricultural acilit, with a palatial manorial

area (Pars Urbana) and a great economical area (Pars Rustica). Since Roman times there was

ver ew agricultural and architectural activit, so that the Roman remains and oundations are

still in ver good condition.

The Roman Villa Borg unites both the ecavation o one o the largest villa rustica in the Saar

Mosel area and the complete reconstruction o the manorial area (Pars Urbana) o such a aci-

lit. As ar as possible, this reconstruction is based on local ndings or on ecavation ndingso similar acilities o the region (e.g. Echternach in Luemburg). I necessar, either antique

literature (eg. Vitruve) or modern literature (eg. or the reconstruction o the wall paintings) was

consulted. Toda, the reconstructed buildings stand on the antique Roman oundation walls

again (as ar as possible) and show the assumed appearance o the acilit in the 2nd to 3rd

centur AD.

The objectives o the reconstruction o the Roman Villa Borg are mainl the ollowing: ecep-

tional importance is attached to the authenticit as well as to the operabilit o the acilit.

There is also the will o making the archaeolog and antiquit accessible in a descriptive wa

or the visitors and to acilitate or children and oung people the approach to antique histor,

nds and eatures. With the urther ecavations we epect new and interesting research re-

sults, which etend the knowledge over Roman settlement histor.

Target-group-specic the entrance to the Gallo-Roman inheritance is made possible b the

amil-riendl adjustment o the Villa or all subpopulations. The numerous visitors (annuall

appro. 50,000) - meanwhile not onl rom the neighbouring countries, but rom the whole

world - prove that this kind o preserving the cultural inheritance is accepted and encounters

a broad interest.

the german experiences and the roman viLLa of Borg (saar, germany)

Résumé françaisContents >>

The German experiences and

The roman villa of BorG (saar, Germany)



the german experiences and the roman viLLa of Borg(saar, germany)

Bettina Birkenhagen

Heritage Curator, Perl, Borg

the ro Vill bo i o-lled Vill ri, ill ili, wih p-lil oil e (P u) d e eooil e (P ri). the

ili i ied e o he ode o Le d Fe i he s moel e i wooded e ewee he ville bo d Oelee, o. Pel, dii mezi-Wde. sie ro ie hee w ve ew ill d hiel ivi,o h he ro ei d odio e ill i ve ood odiio.

the ro Vill bo ie oh he evio o oe o he le vill i i hes moel e d he oplee eoio o he oil e (P u) o

h ili. a poile, hi eoio i ed o lol fdi o oevio fdi o iil iliie o he eio (e.. Eheh i Le). Iee, eihe iqe liee (e.. Viv) o ode liee (e.. o he eo-io o he wll pii) w oled. tod, he eoed ildi do he iqe ro odio wll i ( poile) d how he -ed ppee o he ili i he 2d o 3d e aD. Eepiol ipoe ihed o he heii well o he opeili o he ili.

HIstOry OF rEsEarcH anD ExcaVatIOn

The histor o the ecavation alread began about 1900, when the teacher Johann Schneider

observed unnatural elevations in the terrain. He ound bricks and wall remainders besides

Roman ceramics. Because o the two World Wars the research o Schneider unortunatel ellinto oblivion, and more than hal a centur passed until this spot again drew the attention o

science. Epanded illicit ecavations threatened to destro the ground-monument to such an

etent, that the State Conservation Department o the Saarland in 1986 elt bound to establish

a sstematic ecavation.

As a bod responsible or this project, the district Merzig-Wadern respectivel the Cultural

Foundation o the district o Merzig-Wadern was ound. Since August 1986, an area o about

2 hectares was released on the spot, enced in and prepared or ecavation. In cooperation

with the communit Perl as propert owner and the emploment oce o Saarlouis and Me-

rzig the archaeological investigations began on April the 1st 1987. B establishing an inras-

tructure like an ecavation house with oce-rooms, lounges and storerooms, ideal working

conditions were created. Because o the large nd accumulation, rst o all ceramics and wall

paintings, an additional building was established in winter 1987/88, which is used as maga-zine and workshop. In summer 1989 a third house was built, which served the visitor support

and also cultural meetings. Interested groups, particularl grades, have been inormed about

the ecavation with modern media (slide show and video). These tasks have been taken over

b the new media house as well as b the large hall and the seminar room ater the completion

o the living and working quarters.

In 1994 the resolution was passed to reconstruct the acilit, respectivel the manorial area. In

1997, the rst comple o buildings (bath with Tavern) was nished, 2004 the last building so

ar, the gatehouse, was handed over to its regulation. Further ecavations and reconstructions

are in planning.

During the ecavations o the Pars Urbana, pre-Roman ndings could be proven as well.

Apart rom Iron-Age settlement structures (postholes, pits etc.), which appeared directl underthe Roman stone oundations, also graves rom the Urn eld culture as well as a uneral rom

the Bell beaker culture were proven. In addition, isolated nds o fint tools and -ragments

were made, which alread point to settlement activit in the Neolithic period. The level o

The German experiences and

The roman villa of BorG

(saar, Germany)

Sommaire >>

http://0_0_sommaire.pdf/



knowledge so ar points to a sporadic use o the residential area around the Villa Borg rom

the Neolithic period over the Bronze Age up to the earl Iron Age. From the late Iron Age intothe late Roman period, a continuous settlement o the place is clearl proven (rom the 1st

centur BC up to the end o the 4th centur AD).

The ecavation was highl revaluated in 1994 b its admission into the ke program «Kelten,

Germanen, Rˆmer im Mittelgebirgsraum zwischen Luemburg und Th¸ringen» o the German

research association (DFG), which contains the stud o «Romanisation». Parts o the re-

sults are issued in the publication o Dr. Martin Fre «Die Terra Sigillata der galloroemischen

Villa Borg, Kreis Merzig-Wadern» as well as in A. Haner/S. von Schnurbein (Hrsg.), «Kelten,

Germanen, Rˆmer im Mittelgebirgsraum zwischen Luemburg und Th¸ringen. Kolloquien zur

Vor- und Fr¸hgeschichte 5. Akten des Internationalen Kolloquiums zum DFG-Schwerpunkt-

programm «Romanisierung» in Trier vom 28. bis 30. September 1998 (Bonn 2000)».

The objective o all these eorts is to give visitors the possibilit to eperience antiquit in an

interesting wa. Three-dimensionalit obtain the space eeling; wall paintings, urniture as wellas the representation o unctional details illustrate the housing comort and the technical

achievements o that time.

HOW tO crEatE accEssIbILIty FOr a PubLIc

From the outset it was a request o the Cultural Foundation to make the results o the scientic

investigations accessible or a broad public. Alread soon ater opening the rst sketches, the

question about the securing o the archaeological ndings arose. For all involved partners it

was clear that, even with the most epensive preservation methods, the architectural ndings

in the area could onl be kept up medium-term. In order to secure the antique substance at

longer term, the partners in the decision-making bodies considered establishing a protective

building.

The spatial eect o the no longer eisting original is taken up b the appearance o the protec-

tive building, which - even with the biggest restraint - goes beond its actual unction. In order

to counteract that, a timber construction was planned, which should allusivel be an approach

o the original structure. Dierent criteria (purel unctional, modern arrangement, ollowing

the appearance o the buildings etc.) were discussed and calculated. Finall, the model o a

protective building turned out to be unsatisactor, since the substance, which was to be pro-

tected, would essentiall have consisted o oundations. Thereore another solution was sear-

ched or. Ater numerous discussions and several colloquia with specialists rom home and

abroad, the Culture Foundation o the district Merzig-Wadern (as the bod responsible o the

acilit) in agreement with the National Oce or Conservation came 1994 to the decision not

onl to ecavate the entire acilit, but also to reconstruct it scienticall. All involved partners

were conscious that this project was not an original and detailed reproduction, but a model

conception, in which also hpotheses and possibilities are to be pointed out and converted.

The modern buildings are established on the antique oundations, which has the consequence

that the manor house is not right-angled. This circumstance however is noticeable rather with

the view o the sketch plan than on the premises themselves. The building phase, in which the

mansion had its largest epansion (rom 2. to the 3. centur AD) is reconstructed.

Nevertheless ever inormation and nding won b the ecavation was to be integrated into

the reconstruction on the antique oundations. Also dierent sources (historical literar sour-

ces, research results o other ecavations etc.) were consulted. For these reasons, Borg is

rather a model on a scale 1:1 than a reconstruction. Still there are voices, which epress

themselves against such a reconstruction. Conserving the eisting ndings would surel have

been the archaeologicall correct method. However, do not the constantl high numbers o visitors in Borg and other acilities e.g. in Pompeii show that the visitors not onl want to see

oundation walls? That e.g. children and oung persons do not at all know what to do with

such «ruin elds»? It does surel not make sense to reconstruct each ecavated acilit again.

THE GERMAN ExPERIENCES AND

THE ROMAN VILLA OF BORG

(SAAR, GERMANy)Bettina Birkenhagen






But archaeologists as well can get important insights during the reconstruction o buildings,

which would not have been illustrated b simpl evaluating the results o the ecavation. TheRoman bath with Tavern - the rst section - was nished 1997. The director o the archaeo-

logical park in xanten, Dr. Gundol Precht, was ver helpul with the implementation o this

building as well as with the ollowing building projects.

tHE rEcOnstructIOn OF tHE buILDIngs

From the rst cut o the spade to the opening o the rst reconstructed building, 10 ears

passed b. In this time there was much discussed, planned, rejected, and planned again. The

scientic realizations and requirements aced the dierent desires o the owners, which had

to withdraw again behind certain construction specications. Altogether, ater ghting over a

decision or a long time, one agreed on a concept, which is continued until toda.

Wh did one decide or an in-situ-reconstruction? This had surel several reasons. First there

was a need to protect the walls against urther destruction b weather and environmental

conditions. Secondl, at the beginning o the ecavations it had been alread decided that

also the Pre-Roman ndings should be eamined. As the ecavation plans clearl indicate,

an Iron Age settlement with at least three buildings beneath the Roman stone oundations

could be proven. To accomplish an eact investigation here, the Roman oundations had to

be cleared awa to be able to eamine the wooden building preceding the manor house. A

majorit o the walls were not as well or onl partiall preserved beore the reconstruction.

Also the dierent Roman building phases made a partial dismantling o the brickwork around

the one o earlier building periods necessar to be able to document these earl phases. Also

considerations were made to establish the reconstruction in direct proimit o the ecavation.

This thought was however rejected again.

To let the plant rise at its original place also belonged to the concept o reconstructing the villa

as authenticall as possible and also as a scienticall ounded reconstruction o the buildings.

Since 1997 our sections were nished, as ollows:

the ro h wih tve.

From the beginning, it was planned to reconstruct that bath ull unctional. B the reconstruc-

tion o the Roman bath the visitor has the possibilit to eperience «Roman live» rst-hand.

While public hot springs and soldier baths ollowed onl a ew sketches and operation dia-

grammes and thereore were ver well to arrange and to classi. Private mansion baths are

characterised b an indeterminable number o variants. Here the taste o the client and not

least the size o his purse are refected. The bath did not onl serve or hgiene in the antiquit.It was rml merged into the dail routine (preerred bathing time: aternoon) and an inormal

event. One bathed with riends, acquaintance, business partners and the amil. Private and

business agreements were made or the current dail politics discussed. Since the dail bath

had such a high value, the actual bath areas are oten attached with a dwelling character,

which served the recover, relaation, communication in the broadest sense and were ur-

nished accordingl.

the ll ip e lfl he io o wid hield.

The dressing room (apodterium) ollows this concept. The shelves served or the le o the

dresses and bath implements. Wood-sandals were necessar, because the foors within the

warm bath range became ver hot b the under-foor heating. From the entrance area o thebath also the latrine is accessible. The water fushing took place via a channel, which ran un-

der the foor o the building. The water rom the roo was collected in eaves (Rigolen) along the

inner court and then passed through a pipe to the latrine.






the old h o iidi i h w peifed ollow he eee d he dei oo.

The unusuall large water basin with the narrow and uncomortable steps ollows the ar-

chaeological ndings. For the ceiling painting in the tunnel vault there are reerences in the nd

material: In the debris were ound curved ner remainders (reerence to tunnel vault) with blue

basic painting and the ragmentar representation o sh and sea animals. The soil consists o

«Roman screed», in the antiquit opus signinum mentioned. From here the bath user gets to

the hot bath or caldarium. The foor mat consists o marble. During the ecavation so man

marble ragments were ound that the plentiul use o marble is secured. Where the marble

or the equipment o the Roman Villa Borg was eploited is unortunatel not well known.

Investigations, which were accomplished at the marble o the Roman mansion in Echternach

(Luembourg) have however shown that this originated rom Carrara (Ital). The warm wateror the hot bath fows rom the muzzle o the lion head into the basin. The water is heated in

a boiler, which is beond the wall in the heating room. The well (labrum) delivered cool water

or rereshmentt into the stu atmosphere. The ollowing area is equipped as quiescent area.

Also or the painting in this area could be allen back to the nd material, since large connec-

ted suraces o painted ner remainders rom a nd laer under the screed o handling were

saved.

the l e i he epeed h o epidi.

The groined vault could be proven over the projections in the corners o the room. The sta-

tue represents Clio, the muse o histor. She was not ound here, but ts however ver well,

particularl since there are several Roman mosaic foors in the region, on which this muse isrepresented. In this area still ew connected parts o a mosaic foor in all situation could be

proven. In the adjacent eternal area and under the screed o pre-aged handling dierent mo-

saic stones were also ound in addition with wall paintings in the partiall pompeian stle.

The Roman bath is the most interesting part o the villa. In the beginnings conceived as a small

separate bathhouse, it developed itsel into an important solidium in the course o the time b

etension and structural alteration measures. This active change could be seen best b the

eample o the hot bath, where in the course o renovations the basins were renewed several

times and three basin soils la directl one above the other. In the cold bath, with certaint a-

ter the upgrading o the bath, a limekiln was built. The place was selected with consideration,

because straight in this building part ver much material e.g.

marble and stucco had been blocked, which was suitable or the lime burning ecellentl.

During a building phase o the bath the possibilit eists to enter the tempered bath rom the

toda’s Tavern trough a door. O course there never was a Tavern situated in a villa. Here one

took the needs o the visitors into consideration. Toda the bath can be used again as in the

antiquit. Groups can rent it and eperience the Roman bath pleasure rst hand. In addition,

the interior organization o the bath and the Tavern aected partl ater collected remains rom

pieces o nds in the Villa Borg, partl rom comparisons with other villas o the environment.

Fhe ddiio, iliie d vio opeio

Alread at the beginning o the ecavations beverages and snacks were sold to the visitors

on the acilit. The eperience showed that most visitors epect snacks, even when little, and

sta longer on the site when provided with these. Besides a normal menu, «Roman» dishes(according to Apicius) are also oered in the Tavern, again in the contet o the «histor e-

perience» concept. The heating plant room is directl attached at the bath. From here both

the under-foor heating was red, and the hot water or caldarium prepared. The heart o this






plant is a large boiler, in which the bath water was heated b an under-grate ring. The boiler

consists o riveted copper sheet and is encased to the lagging with stones (model: Findingsrom Boscoreale, Ital). From other discover sites is also well known that there were a line

sstem and «miing taps», with which the temperature o the bath water could be adjusted.

Into the net section, the manor house was reconstructed. The main building or manor house

surel accommodated the dwellings o the amil in Roman time. Beside the large entrance

hall, which served representative purposes, the sleep and dwellings o the amil were pro-

babl accommodated in the adjacent areas above it. The receipt hall o the villa was again

established like the remaining building accuratel on the antique oundation walls.

The plan design o the main wing leads to the assumption that the building was two-store.

For the development o the upper foors over the smaller secondar rooms thereore two stairs

were necessar, which were accommodated in the narrow passages to both sides o the

hall. From the equipment o the hall onl small remainders were kept due to the misuse and

destruction in Roman time. The foor was decorated with a mosaic, which according to themode o the buildings time o origin was black and white. Unortunatel onl little is received

connected. In addition, a large number o individual bricks were ound in the debris and laers

and in the mortar o later building phases. In the centre, a part o the mosaic is reconstructed

as verge o the water basin. Also the water basin is proven in the ecavation ndings clearl

b its oundation and is attached to water tubes and channels. A small remainder o a pilaster

(hal column) rom limestone is also proven and thereore one can epect an architectural

arrangement o the walls, like it is admit b other Roman luur villas o the Trier surrounding

countrside. The served as model or the reconstruction o the hall walls in Borg, however

with the modication that the architecture o the arrangement is limited to the upper wall zone.

The lower zone was arranged, ollowing Italian models and the nd material, onl pictorial.

Toda a museum is established in these rooms to be able to present the nds rom the e-

cavation in Borg and rom the district Merzig-Wadern to the visitors. The living and workingquarters with meeting hall and media house are the third section. Here again the needs o the

visitors were taken into consideration. The ecavation nds brought man small areas, which

probabl were used as living and working quarters or the slaves. Since such a room laout

would have been onl insucientl usable into toda’s time, one decided to design a large hall

in which dierent meetings can take place. On the upper foor is an additional small seminar

room or meetings with a small number o participants. In the Media house, which is attached

directl to the living and working quarters, a slide show in dierent languages (German/En-

glish/French) about the villa and the surroundings is shown.

The gatehouse is the so ar last section and handed over to the public in 2004. As it was

alread in Roman time, here is the central entrance to the manorial area with the admission

counter and the museum shop. The upper areas are used as administrative oces, without

which a acilit like the Villa Borg cannot be led. This building and the ollowing wall separate

the Pars Rustica rom the Pars Urbana. It stands on the determined original oundation walls.

Like the manor house it is a model on a scale 1:1, which shows onl one o the possible buil-

ding phases. The ecavation showed clearl a passage as well as two large areas, to which in

each case two urther, substantiall diminished areas are attached. It was stated b detailed

investigations o the brick-work and the teeth o the individual brick-work sections that the

building was not established all at once.

To a building o cores at rst developed, graduall urther building parts were cultivated and so

the plant was brought to the now eisting size. This process took at least our phases, during

which the building developed to a gate house, which in its size is to be regarded as rather

unusual or a villa. Towards the end o the villa the gatehouses use changed. Indications or

that process are the stove places and urnaces inserted later, which were discovered likewise

during the ecavation. Findings o cinder prove that metalworking took place here and o semi

nished bone articles reer to a bone carver.






The planned kitchen is to be reconstructed ull unctionall just like the bath, so that the visi-

tors again have the possibilit to eperience «Roman lie». The ecavations also urnished theragments o water pipelines (impact rings o wood water tubes) beside urnace remainders.

Besides, there was also nd material reerring clearl to the use o this area as a kitchen (boiler

pendant, store vessels, knives etc.). Apart rom cooking demonstrations, workshops or chil-

dren and adults are to take place here about Roman kitchen and cooking as well.

The entire ensemble is completed b the gardens. These were put on and cared or in co-

operation with the EU-project «Gardens without Limits». Also within this eld, one tried to

include available research results o the ecavations. To arrange the gardens as authenticall

as possible, partl in Borg accomplished pollen analses, partl literature was used again.

An herb garden belonged probabl to each mansion and thereore beside the mansion bath

such a garden was put on. Here grow spices and remedial plants, which were oten used in

Roman times. In the kitchen garden ruit and vegetables can be ound that alread in Roman

times belonged to the menu. Man o the plants disappeared rom toda’s gardens and theirappearance is unknown to man visitors. These plants were eplained b a signpost and

particularl oered garden guidance to the visitors. All sorts o ruit, vegetable and herbs are

used or the preparation o the Roman and regional dishes in the Tavern. Rose garden and

inner court garden are likewise conceived ater Roman model and are to give an idea o the

Roman garden architecture. Beside the plant o was and patches, tpical or Roman gar-

dens, importance was also attached to ountains, which were an important element o garden

architecture in Roman times.

tHE FInancIng scHEmE

70 % o the costs o the building reconstructions were taken over b subsidies o the Saarland

ederal state government. The remaining 30 % were gained b own contribution o the workers in

Borg. The Roman Villa Borg is part o the Cultural Foundation o the district Merzig-Wadern. This

is carried partl b the district Merzig-Wadern, partl b the Sparkasse Merzig-Wadern. Nine o

the workers emploed at the Villa Borg are emploees o the Cultural Foundation and paid b the

district Merzig-Wadern. Further personnel, especiall guides (5 persons) are paid on commission

rom the ees. The resulting rationing costs o the plant (repairs, river, water, heating etc.) must be

gained over the incomes (admission ees, guidance-repa, lettings etc.). Additional workers (cur-

rentl 10) are made available b the emploment oce in the ramework o so-called 1- Euro-jobs.

The are, just like the ABM (job-creating measures) orces emploed in the past, mainl active in

the ecavation area. Without these co-workers urther ecavations are not possible.

Altogether the project has a total volume o appro. 10 Mil l. Euro. Besides the Federal state

government also the emploment oce supported the project in the past b the provision o

job-creation scheme workers.

tEcHnIcaL PrObLEms OF tHE rEcOnstructIOn

Whenever modern construction specications, eperimental archaeolog and historic archi-

tectural core are to be interconnected, the limits o such a project were reached. An impor-

tant point here is the observance o construction specications and deaults o the building

authorities. Alread during the planning phase dierent hurdles had to be taken. Frequentl

it was ver dicult to eplain the responsible persons that Roman windows are not subject

to a German DIN regulation, or that the measures o doors in Roman time were not all the

same. Something similar applies to stairs. A urther problem developed with the heaters. The

question about an under-foor heating was unproblematic; the problem became more dicultor ehaust derivative. Naturall no chimnes can be attached on a Roman roo, as the are

perectl normal on toda’s roos. Thus a solution had to be ound here in tough negotiations,

which placed all parties contentl.



Also the question o the materials to be used is a requent point at issue, mostl in nancial

regard. The archaeologicall correct method would have been the use o antique buildingmaterials such as wood and loam. But completel apart rom the nancial aspect it would be

surel dicult to nd someone who can work with this material and provide large buildings.

Furthermore, larger problems with construction specications and editions had also to be sol-

ved again. In Borg one decided thereore or a compromise. Within those ranges the visitors

cannot recognize the material, modern building materials were used, e.g. the walls were made

o hollow bricks, cleaned and then painted. The roo however was covered with bricks, which

correspond to Roman models.

Further problems arising with reconstructions are the question about the validit o the nd

material respectivel its interpretation. Thus in Borg onl relativel ew architecturall usable

pieces were ound. The ew parts were strongl ragmented, so that onl a limited interpre-

tation was possible. In such cases one ell back on results o other ecavations (e.g. cover

organization in the hall o the manor-house ater research results o the Villa Echternach/ Luembourg). On the other hand we ound a lot o ragments rom the wall paintings as well

as parts rom the foors (marble, ragments rom tesselated pavement, Terrazzo). So we were

able to reconstruct these parts as authenticall as possible.

Naturall, or certain problems still no satising solution was ound. It also was clear that

areas have do be lit up. Electrical light is unavoidable. One however endeavoured to keep

the lighting as discretel and inconspicuousl as possible. In most areas an indirect lighting is

used, which probabl comes net to lighting with oil lamps or torches/fares. In the areas o the

museum emitters had to be attached, so that the ehibits or the visitor are also well visible.

It is similar with certain saet deaults o re brigade and guard. So it is naturall problematic

to attach rescue ladders on the second foor o a Roman building in order to provide a re

escape in case o a re. Also setting up re etinguishers visible or everone in a Roman bath

represents a problem, just as the dierent foor mats and stairwa step heights. The rules orthe prevention o accidents here also mean that these things are to be marked to the visitor

b clear warning reerences and sign-posts on the spot. In Borg one tries to inorm the visitor

beore entering the plant about these problems b boards, so that the plant can actuall re-

main ree o this inormation.

Likewise rom the beginning o the reconstruction, the question o the urther use o the acilit

respectivel individual rooms came up. Here also a temporar solution was ound in Borg that

pleased all parties. Apart rom the reconstructions on the basis o the nd material respecti-

vel the archaeological building ndings and the historical sources (bath, manor house), other

areas ollowed the antique outer appearance. the interior ttings however were implemented

according to modern conditions and requirements (living and working quarters, gate house).

Thereb a multiple use o the premises (conerence and meeting area, entertaining groups o

visitors etc.) should get easier.

The reconstruction can alwas just be a snapshot o the so ar eisting research results. B

urther investigations and ecavations, it is quite possible that the research comes to comple-

tel dierent results ater 10 or 20 ears than processed in the reconstruction.

HOW tO usE tHE rEcOnstructIOn

How can a reconstruction like the Villa Borg be used? However, b the conveance o histo-

rical acts a acilit like the Villa Borg can not work. Surel the museum character constitutes

a large part o the acilit, but the visitors would not onl like to be didacticall entertained but

also to tr out things themselves. Thus the «archaeolog or histor hands-on» takes a large

range in the total concept o the Villa Borg. According to this concept the bath building was re-constructed ull unctional and can be used again. In the manor house a museum is accom-

modated and in some o the rooms urniture like stools, tables, cupboards etc. ollowing the

Roman model were set up. In the living and working quarters requentl ehibitions or lectures









to archaeological topics take place. In addition the ehibition o a private collector is resident,

which opens to the visitor the possibilit to take the originals into the hand and to literall grasphistor at ed dates. It is also possible to participate in the archaeological ecavations. Spe-

cial programs or children and oung people are oered or in preparation. Since a ver mied

crowd visits the acilit, also the range o meetings and oers (e.g. concerts, airs, coneren-

ces, lectures etc.) has to var. Naturall also special meetings about archaeolog (including

the eperimental archaeolog) as well as the topic o Romans (e.g. Roman das) are oered.

In Jul an «archaeological weekend» takes place and inorms the visitor about all ranges o

the archaeolog - rom the ecavation to the museum. Dierent organizations and institutes

e.g. the National Oce or Conservation o the Saarland or the archaeological institutes o

the Universit o Saarbruecken participate in it. Apart rom the possibilit to take part at the

ecavation, the visitors are inormed about nd restoration, replica production and research

projects. At the Roman das the visitors have the possibilit to observe legions during militar

eercises and camp lie. In addition, cratsmen oer views o their art. Gladiators complete the

image with ghts. O course one can also enjo Roman meals and beverages.

Most projects are designed both or adults and or children or oung people. In addition lots

o inquiries rom companies and private people come to the premises or conerences or ce-

lebrations as well as reservations over Event agencies, which need a special surrounding or

their meetings.

OutLOOk

As alread mentioned at the beginning, the Villa Borg ranks among the largest properties in

the Saar Mosel area, with a total volume o appro. 7.5 hectares. It is divided into a manorial

area - Pars Domestica or Pars Urbana - and an economical area - Pars Rustica. The auiliar

buildings o the Pars Rustica, which are not ecavated appear clearl as over a dozen debrishills in the orest area ollowing northwest. About the unction o the auiliar buildings o such

large acilities relativel ew is known. Starting rom the net ear the ecavations within this

range o the acilit shall start. It is not impossible that also within this range one or two buil-

dings are reconstructed completel.

It is also a request to bring the topic o archaeolog with all its acets nearer to the visitors.

An «archaeological didactic ehibition» is planned in this range o the acilit, where the visitor

can see dierent areas and stages o an ecavation and in addition receives eplanations to

dierent topics concerning archaeolog. 2006 the reconstruction o the Roman kitchen is to

begin. Apart rom the possibilit to inorm the visitor about cooking and ood in Roman time

also a small showroom with nds rom this range is planned.

In addition in the ear 2002 nearb the acilit a new parking lot was laid out. Alread beore

commencement o construction, magnetometric investigations were accomplished, which

showed a multiplicit o buildings. Onl parts o this settlement were ecavated and eami-

ned. Besides some smaller building remainders (building 2 to 4) were also wall courses o a

larger plant (building 1). Also the remainders o two wells (one directl behind building 1, one

within the range o building 3) were ound here. In order to arrange a small impression rom

the buildings and the dimension or the visitors, the oundation walls o building 1 were partl

reestablished. Further wall courses, which point to urther building remainders outside o the

ecavation area, could not be eamined et. The so ar onl skeleton o the acilit is worth

mentioning in connection with building 3. However it does not concern here a regular uneral,

but the, as meanwhile is known, male person probabl was victim o a crime.

It is planned on a long-term basis to use the parking lot as starting point or a ootpath b the

economic sector over the ormer arter to the villa.Further investigations concern the burial grounds, o which the approimate position is known.

Interesting ndings are also epected here e.g. about the owner o the acilit or the number

o inhabitants.






Unortunatel it is not possible or the moment to show the ndings rom the Villa Borg in an

own museum. For this reason the manor-house serves as place o issue. Man visitors alreadepressed the desire that these areas are urnished again as dwellings and the showcases

are removed rom this range. For the uture there is planning that possibl one o the auiliar

buildings not ecavated et could serve as museum and the manor house can be used again

in accordance to its original use.

The objective o the reconstruction o the Roman Villa Borg is to make the archaeolog and

antiquit accessible in a descriptive wa or the visitors and to acilitate or children and oung

people the approach to antique histor, nds and eatures. With the urther ecavations we

epect new and interesting research results, which etend the knowledge over Roman sett-

lement histor. Target-group-specic the entrance to the Gallo-Roman inheritance is made

possible b the amil-riendl adjustment o the Villa or all subpopulations. The numerous

visitors (annuall appro. 50,000) - meanwhile not onl rom the neighbouring countries, but

rom the whole world - prove that this kind o preserving the cultural inheritance is acceptedand encounters a broad interest.






bIbLIOgraPHy

Birkenhagen, B., Die Römische Villa Borg – Ein Begleiter durch die Anlage (Merzig 2004).

Brûck, J., « Die Ausgrabung einer römischen Großvillenanlage bei Borg », Saarheimat , 33,

1989, 196-199.

Brûck, J., « Die Villa von Borg ». In: Lichardus, J./ Miron, A., Der Kreis Merzig-Wadern und die

Mosel zwischen Nennig und Metz , Führer zu archäologischen Denkmälern in Deutschland 24

(Stuttgart 1992).

Brûck, J., Das Projekt Römische Villa Borg - Entwicklung und Ergebnisse seit 1986, Hei-

matbuch Landkreis Merzig-Wadern 2000, 341-359.

Brûck, J./Fre, M., « Römische Villa und keltische Traditionen », in: Rieckho, S./Biel, J., Die

Kelten in Deutschland (Stuttgart 2001) 442-445.

Fre, M., « Die römische Villa von Borg. Ein reiches Landgut mit vorrömischer Tradition », in :Haner, A./von Schnurbein, S. (Hrsg.), Kelten, Germanen, Römer im Mittelgebirgsraum zwis-

chen Luxemburg und Thüringen: Akten des Internationalen Kolloquiums zum DFG- Schwerpu-

nktprogramm «Romanisierung», vom 28. bis 30. September 1998 in Trier (Bonn 2000) 41-50.

Fre, M., Die Terra Sigillata der gallorömischen Villenanlage bei Borg, Landkreis Merzig-

Wadern. Bericht der Staatlichen Denkmalpfege im Saarland, Beihet 5 (Saarbrûcken 2001).

Heck, L., « Blaue Pigmentkugeln aus der römischen Villa von Borg. Frûhe chemische Industrie

au der Basis des Azuritbergbaus zwischen Mosel und Saar », Metalla (Bochum) 6.1, 1999,

13-39.

Kell, J. H., Geschichte des Kreises Merzig (Saarbrücken 1925).

Miron, A. (Hrsg.), Das Badegebäude der römischen Villa von Borg. Mit Beiträgen von JoachimBrûck, Martin Fre, Kurt Kûhnen, Auguste V.B. Miron und Andrei Miron, (Merzig 1997).

Scholl, E., « Lag «CARANVSCA» zwischen Borg und Oberleuken », Saarheimat , 29, 1985,

117-120.

Scholl, E., Freilegung einer römischen Anlage zwischen Borg und Oberleuken, Heimatbuch

Landkreis Merzig-Wadern 1986, 294-298.

Wiethold, J., « Kontinuität und Wandel in der landwirtschatlichen Produktion und Nahrungs-

mittelversorgung zwischen Spätlatenezeit und gallo-römischer Epoche. Archäobotanische

Analsen in der römischen Großvillenanlage von Borg, Kr. Merzig-Wadern », in: Haner, A./von

Schnurbein, S. (Hrsg.), Kelten, Germanen, Römer im Mittelgebirgsraum zwischen Luxemburg

und Thüringen: Akten des Internationalen Kolloquiums zum DFG- Schwerpunktprogramm

«Romanisierung» vom 28. bis 30. September 1998 in Trier (Bonn 2000) 147-160 14Wustrow, Ch., « Die Tierreste der römischen Villa Borg, Kr. Merzig-Wadern », in: Haner, A./von

Schnurbein, S. (Hrsg.), Kelten, Germanen, Römer im Mittelgebirgsraum zwischen Luxemburg

und Thüringen: Akten des Internationalen Kolloquiums zum DFG- Schwerpunktprogramm

«Romanisierung» vom 28. bis 30. September 1998 in Trier (Bonn 2000) 160- 173.

Wustrow, Ch., Die Tierreste aus der römischen Villa von Borg, Kr. Merzig-Wadern (Bonn

2004).

All pictures are rom the photo-archives o the Roman Villa Borg.






Fi. 1. Roman Villa Borg: Manor house, bath and Taverne

(right); living andworking quarters (let).

Fi. 2. Ecavation o the Manor house (view rom east).

Fi. 3. Site plan Villa Borg - Pars Urbana.

Fie 1

Fie 3

Fie 2






Fi. 4. Cold bath (rigidarium)

at Roman bath Villa Borg.

Fi. 5. Hot bath (caldarium)at the Roman bath Villa Borg.

Fi. 6. Resting room at the

Roman bath Villa Borg.

Fie 4 Fie 5

Fie 6






Fi. 7. Tavern Villa Borg.

Fi. 8. Receipt hall in the Manor house Villa Borg.

Fie 7

Fie 8






Fi. 9. Finds (erotic scene – bronze;

jeweler – gold; plaque with rider – bronze)

at the museum Villa Borg.

Fi. 10. Gardens (rose garden, herb garden,kitchen garden, inner court ard garden)

Villa Borg.

Fie 9

Fie 10



Contents

Christophe Vallet, President,

Centre des Monuments Nationaux

Michel-Edouard Bellet, Heritage Curator,

former Manager of the Ensérune site,

and Claire-Anne de Chazelles,

Researcher, CNRS

Joan Santacana i Mestre,

Taller de Projectes - Universitat de Barcelona

and Maria Carme Belarte Franco,Institut Català d’Arqueologia Clàssica

Jean-Claude Golvin,

Senior Scholar, CNRS / Institut Ausonius,

University of Bordeaux III

Joan Santacana i Mestre,

Taller de Projectes, University of Barcelona,

and Maria Carme Belarte Franco,

Researcher, Institut Català d’Arqueologia Classica

Jean-Paul Petit and Jean-Pierre Braun,

Heritage Curators,

Service archéologique de Moselle

Pierre André, Architect,

Archeologist, ESAG, Lyon (France)

Maud Le Clainche,

General Manager

John H. Jameson jr,

Program Manager, ICOMOS

Florian Renucci,

Program Manager

Christian Olive, Researcher,

Service régional de l’Archéologie,

Languedoc-Roussillon

Michel-Edouard Bellet

Heritage Curator

Introduction

Which questions, or which conerence? The spirit. Presentation.

General problems about the restitution

1 QUESTIONS OF METHODOLOGY

I 1. Meaning and denition problems

Résumé Abstract

I 2. Archaeological restitution as model: the Spanish case

Résumé Abstract Texte en catalan

I 3. Development o a restitution area:

The European archaeological park o Bliesbruck-Reinheim

(Moselle, France/Sarre, Germany) Résumé Abstract

I 4. Architectural restitution at Eretria (Eubea, Greece)

Résumé Abstract

I 5. A reconstitution: The archaeological medieval arm o Melrand (Morbihan, France)

Résumé Abstract

I 6. The Reconstructed Past: Glories, Perils and Dilemmas

Résumé Abstract

I 7. Guédelon (Yonne, France):

building a thirteenth century castle, today

Résumé Abstract

I 8. Presenting a neighbourhood’s evolution over 2600 years:

the Saint-Jacques sector, Béziers (hérault, rance)

Résumé Abstract

I 9. The gallic oppidum o Ensérune: what uture?

Résumé Abstract

Contents Sommaire français



Michel Egloff, professor,

University of Neuchâtel

Philip E. Bennett, manager of Pembrokeshire

Coast National Park Authority

Giovanna Greco, professor,

University of Naples

Jean Chausserie-Laprée,

Heritage Curator

Donald F. Offers,

Chief Restorator

David Rousseau, former Professor,Researcher in Archaeology, UMR 7041,

Paris 1- Sorbonne – Nanterre

Bettina Birkenhagen,

Heritage Curator – Perl- Borg

Giovanna Battaglini, Professor,

University of Perugia

Vincent Guichard, General Manager,

and Claude Chazelle,

Architect, Landscape-Designer

Marie-Marie-Christine Bailly-Maître, Research

Directoer, CNRS, UMR 6572 LAMM, University

of Provence, and Alain Tillier, Head Architect,

Monuments historiques

Michel Colardelle

Jean-Paul Ciret

Contents2 FACING PROBLEMS IN SITU: SOME EXAMPLES

II 1. Lakeside Prehistory:

Fiteen millenaries o human presence at the Laténium (Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

Résumé Abstract

II 2. Learning rom the past: iron age ort,

Castell Henllys (Pembrokeshire, Wales)

Résumé Abstract Whole English text

II 3. Experimental archaeology in Serra Di Vaglio

(Potenza, Basilicate, Italy)

Résumé Abstract Testo italiano completo

II 4. Restitution and habitat enhancement:

the example o Martigues (Bouches-du-rhône, France)

Résumé Abstract

II 5. The Roman City o Augusta Raurica (canton o Basel-Landschat, Switzerland)


II 6. The roman villae:a presentation to the public


II 7. The German experiences and the Roman villa o Borg (Saar, Germany)


II 8. From research to enhancement:

The archaeological parc o Fregellae (Latium, Italy)

Résumé Abstract Testo italiano completo

II 9. Making visible the invisible:

Refexions on the archaeological site o Bibracte (Nièvre, France)

Résumé Abstract

II 10. Enhancement o a medieval village in altitude, constraints and choices:

Brandes-en-Oisans (Isère, France)

Résumé Abstract

CONCLUSIONS

Pour une éthique de la restitution sur les sites archéologiques ?

Et le Centre des monuments nationaux

Roman Villa in Germany.pdf

Documents

Transcript of Roman Villa in Germany.pdf