Text, graphic and photo: Heinz Birkenheuer

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1. The Defensive Walls

1. 1 The wall of the Military Camp

The most voluminous building during the second stonework phase was the new defensive wall. A new wall was erected within the exterior wall, in order to avoid jeopardizing the defensive capabilities of the camp. After completion, the outer wall, which was not needed anymore, had been demolished.*11).

The new wall had significant advantages and provided facilities of the latest defensive techniques. In spite of the removal towards the inner circle, additional free space was created, because the new defensive wall did no longer consist of a turf-rampart, but a timber gallery. The defensive towers remained unchanged, so that they were towering off the new walls.
Exceeding soil of the former defensive wall construction was probably filled into the trench that surrounded the camp. After the first stone-wall was demolished the waste material was reused as an inlay for the inner wall fundaments. The defensive towers remained unchanged and were towering off the new wall.
Cross-section trough the defensive wall of the newest construction phase around 80 AD.

Graphic: Heinz Birkenheuer


We can only make assumptions about the final height of the defensive wall. For reconstruction an overturned wall of the Roman Citadel in Wörth/Main has been used.*12).
Reverse side of the defenive wall in the joungest construction phase

Modell and photo: Heinz Birkenheuer




* 11) Michael Gechter - Ausgrabungen im Bereich des Neusser Legionslagers in den Jahren 1983/84 /
S 117-118
* 12) Anne Johnson - Römische Kastelle-Wehrmauer aus Stein / S 85