The remains of a well, pearls and hairpins are evidence that around 1,900 years ago, local residents founded a settlement on the site of a Roman fort. The site is located in what is now Gernsheim, a German city on the Rhine about 50 km south of Frankfurt.
The Roman army left the fort around 120 CE. The military camp existed from 50 CE and was the base for about 500 soldiers. Archaeologists knew about the place already in the 19th century, but only the latest discoveries allow scientists to understand what really happened to this place after the legionaries left. After archaeological works were carried out in the fort a year ago, it was decided again this summer to find evidence of the existence of the settlement. The excavations are expected to last until October, but the team of archaeologists can already boast of many interesting finds that clearly confirm the existence of the settlement. For example, rare clothes buckles, a few pearls and dice for a board game were found.
The inhabitants were most likely of Gallic-Germanic origin, but certainly also a typically Roman population lived in the settlement.
