2.2 SOURCES: Excavation History of the Roman Castellum

Because written accounts of Maastricht only appear from the early Middle Ages, our understanding of the two Roman-era settlement phases relies almost entirely on archaeological evidence. Since 1910, numerous academic and state led excavations have taken place in and around the area of the Late Roman castellum. These investigations occurred in residential blocks, commercial properties and public spaces surrounding the modern square and the Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk) located on the western bank of the River Meuse. 

The discoveries form a century long timeline of archaeological work. In this digital experience they are also mapped spatially, allowing visitors to explore how each campaign contributed to our knowledge of the fort.

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS:

1. Sprenger 1902-1903

• western walls of Building J (double granary) (Sprenger, 1914) 

2. Sprenger 1910

• south-western wall tower (Sprenger, 1914) 

3. Goossens 1918 

• south walls of Building J (double granary) (Goossens, 1926) 

4. Goossens 1921

• south-western corner tower (Goossens, 1923) 

5. Goossens 1924-1926 

• eastern walls of Building J (double granary) (Goossens, 1926) 

6. Bogaers 1957

• northern wall tower

7. Bogaers 1959

• north wall of Building C

8. Bogaers 1963 

• Building C

9. RWS/ROB 1963–1964

• Roman bridge (Hidde, 1964)

10. Bogaers 1964–66

• raised floor of Building J (double granary) (Bogaers, 1964; 1966) 

11. Bogaers 1968

• north wall of Building J (double granary) (Bogaers, 1968) 

12. Bloemers 1974 

• Building A and other constructions (Bloemers, 1975b) 

13. Panhuysen 1980

• section of western wall and moat/ditch (Panhuysen, 1984)  

14. Panhuysen 1982

• north-eastern tower with wall sections (Panhuysen, 1984)

15. Panhuysen 1983

• south half of the western gate and adjoining walls (Panhuysen, 1984)

16. Panhuysen 1990

• road remains of the 4th century re-route (Panhuysen, 1991)

17. Panhuysen 1992

• north western section of the moat/ditch (Panhuysen, 1993)

18. Panhuysen 1993

• Building C (Panhuysen, 1993) 

19. ROB/NISA 1998–2000

• Roman Bridge (Souter, 2000; Vos, 2004)

20. Ground-Penetrating Radar Data 2010

• south-western corner tower