Roman residential building discovered in Cologne

During construction work for the new Domhotel in Cologne, Germany, construction workers found the remains of a residential building from Roman times. The foundations and various objects probably date from the 3rd or 4th century.

Excavation work in the area of the Domhotel [Credit: Report-K]

"We were prepared", said a happy but not particularly surprised Marcus Trier, head of the archaeological monument Archaologische Bodendenkmalpflege. In Cologne one must always anticipate this when building.

The construction workers found the building a good four metres below today's street level. Discolourations in the floor indicate that wooden door thresholds had once stood here - something that was common in Roman half-timbered houses dating back to the period. Pile holes are also a good indication of this. Later, a narrow two-storey stone residential and commercial building was built above it - the floor plan is clearly visible.

Discolourations in the floor indicate a weathered wooden threshold. Behind it on the left
pile holes can be seen in the ground [Credit: Report-K]

A sewer and a cellar were also excavated which were filled in over the centuries. The fill material contained cattle bones and the skeleton of a dog. The age of the respective layers can be determined from ceramic fragments. The square was covered by a modern concrete pavement.

Dog skeleton found in the fill material [Credit: Report-K]

Archaeology students are helping with the excavation and documentation of the finds. About 14 weeks are left to complete this work. Only when the results have been completed and everything has been digitized will it be decided whether the site will be filled in, built over or preserved.

Source: Koeln [trsl. TANN, September 12, 2019]