Frontiers of the Roman Empire: The Lower German Limes

Professor David. J. Breeze is Chairman of the International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies and has published extensively on Roman frontiers. ; Dr Sonja Jilek has acted since 2005 as coordinator of three multinational EU projects regarding the development of the UNESCO "Frontiers of the Roman Empire" World Heritage Site. ; Erik P. Graafstal M.A. is municipal archaeologist of Utrecht and research associate at Leiden University with a specialization in Roman frontier research. ; Professor Dr Willem J.H. Willems held the Chair for provincial-Roman archaeology at Leiden University and was specialized in regional research of Roman frontier areas. ; Steve Bödecker M.A. is the Limes coordinator for North Rhine-Westphalia and member of the team preparing the world heritage application for the Lower German Limes.

Frontiers of the Roman Empire ;


Common cultural heritage of the Roman Empire ;


The Roman Empire ;


Frontiers and trade ;


The “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” World Heritage Site ;


The definition of a World Heritage Site ;


The task ahead ;


History and extent of frontiers ;


Rome´s foreign policy ;


The location of frontiers ;


The army and frontiers ;


The purpose of frontiers ;


Soldiers and civilians ;


Military administration ;


Research on Roman frontiers ;


Inscriptions and documents ;


Survey and excavation ;


Aerial survey and remote sensing ;


Protection and presentation of frontiers ;


Future perspectives ;



The Lower German Limes ;


The river frontier that saw it all ;


The setting of the Lower Rhine limes ;


Landscape ;


Historical background and development ;


The classic frontier system (late 1st – late 3rd century) ;


The Roman army ;


Accommodation ;


The Lower German deployment ;


Outstanding values of the Lower German limes ;


Chronological span ;


The development of military architecture ;


A complete system ;


A ‘military-industrial complex’ ;


Riverfronts and harbours ;


Water management and shipping infrastructure ;


Spectacular finds: ships and votive offerings ;


The true treasure: sewage and waste ;


Information stored in leather and timber ;


The sealing properties of later townscapes ;


Archaeological research and heritage management ;


What to see? ;


Museums and permanent exhibitions ;


Visible remains and modern references ;


Further reading ;


Illustration acknowledgements