Memories for the future: Carnuntum research in the postwar period

In 2025, key events in the post-war history of Lower Austria mark their anniversaries. These milestones not only concern politics and society but have also had a lasting impact on how cultural heritage is perceived and managed. A new online exhibition featuring exclusive, partly unpublished photographic material now makes these turning points accessible to a wider public.

Under the motto “Remembering for the Future,” the focus in Carnuntum is placed on archaeological research, museum mediation, and the role of the past in shaping a reflective future. The Roman town serves as an exemplary case for these developments. The years 1945, 1955, 1995, and 2005 mark key moments in its recent history – from the first post-war excavations and the establishment of an open-air museum to the development of a modern international centre for public engagement.

Excavations in the Forum Baths, 1938 – © Land NÖ

The first section focuses on the period around 1945: The Second World War marked a profound rupture for archaeology in Carnuntum as well. Although the scholarly exploration of the Roman town had been ongoing since 1877, the war years had brought nearly all research activities to a standstill. In 1946 and 1947, Hermann Vetters resumed investigations at the military amphitheatre. His aim was to reassess earlier findings and to address new questions concerning the settlement’s historical development.

Equally significant was the resumption of systematic excavations in the civilian town in 1948, led by Erich Swoboda on behalf of the Province of Lower Austria. The focus lay on monumental buildings—most notably the large bath complex (commonly referred to as the “palace ruin”) and the so-called Spaziergarten, the area that now forms the core of the open-air museum. In addition to scholarly objectives, increasing emphasis was placed on the protection and long-term accessibility of the exposed structures for the public. Even at this early stage, a new conceptual approach began to emerge: archaeology was no longer to be understood solely as a discipline of research, but also of preservation and public communication. In light of growing threats posed by infrastructure projects and modern land use, this marked a crucial step toward the long-term safeguarding of cultural heritage.

Uncovering of a mosaic in House 4 in the civilian town of Carnuntum, 1949 – © Land NÖ

The Austrian State Treaty of 1955 symbolises the beginning of a new era—also for heritage preservation in Lower Austria. This period is the focus of the exhibition’s second section. In Carnuntum, previously isolated excavations were now integrated into a comprehensive museum concept. The restoration of the large bath complex and its public opening in 1958 marked the creation of Austria’s first Roman urban quarter presented as a cohesive ensemble. For the first time, scholarship and public engagement were intended to go hand in hand.

Reopening of the Museum Carnuntinum in 1950 – © Land NÖ

At the same time, institutional structures were being reorganised: the Museum Carnuntinum was reopened in 1950 and transferred to the Province of Lower Austria in 1953. With the acquisition of the Ludwigstorff Collection—a substantial private collection that would come to form a core component of today’s holdings in Carnuntum—the museum’s inventory expanded significantly. In 1952, Eduard Vorbeck assumed leadership of the Carnuntum branch office and systematically advanced the scholarly processing of the site.

However, these developments took place under increasingly difficult conditions. The post-war economic upswing brought with it new threats: urban expansion, industrialisation, and the extraction of raw materials placed immense pressure on the archaeological fabric. As a result, rescue excavations under severe time constraints became an ever more common feature of archaeological practice.

Excavations in the baths of the auxiliary fort in the 1990s - © Land NÖ

Excavation activity remained intense throughout the following decades. Under Hermann Vetters, significant areas such as the bath complexes, the legionary fortress, and several temple complexes were investigated. The state exhibition The Romans on the Danube (1973) played a crucial role in embedding Carnuntum in the collective memory of the public. At the same time, the challenges facing archaeology intensified: large-scale construction projects, the absence of sufficient legal protection, and limited resources increasingly forced archaeologists into a reactive stance. Research excavations were gradually overshadowed by rescue operations conducted under pressure.

Only with the 1990 amendment of the Austrian Monument Protection Act—which introduced new restrictions on the handling of objects of historical, artistic, or cultural significance—and with growing media awareness could the illicit trade in antiquities and illegal excavations be effectively countered. The introduction of electronic data processing from the 1980s onwards enabled more efficient documentation and analysis. A decisive milestone was reached in 1988 with the founding of the Archaeological Park Carnuntum. For the first time, public presentation was placed on an equal footing with academic research.

Repositioning of the stone slabs of the Roman roads in the open-air area of the Roman city of Carnuntum in the late 1990s – © Land NÖ

The 1990s witnessed growing public interest in archaeology and a shift in awareness within politics and society. To meet this demand, the operating company Archäologischer Park Carnuntum Ges.m.b.H. was established in 1996. It assumed responsibility for visitor operations, while research and heritage protection remained under the purview of state institutions.

A forward-looking mediation concept was implemented from 2005 onwards, in preparation for the “2000 Years of Carnuntum” anniversary. The aim was not merely to present restored ruins, but to bring the Roman cityscape back to life through scientifically grounded reconstructions. With the House of Lucius, completed in 2006, a central Roman residential building was reconstructed for the first time using ancient construction techniques. This and subsequent reconstructions adhered strictly to the principles of modern conservation and were based on decades of archaeological research.

The open-air area of the Roman city of Carnuntum today - © A. Hofmarcher 

The history of Carnuntum after 1945 is one of reconstruction, transformation, and strategic reorientation. The current online exhibition “Between Ruins and Reconstruction – The Roman City in the Mirror of Lower Austria’s Post-War History” exemplifies how approaches to archaeological heritage have changed over time, shaped by the dynamic interplay of research, preservation, and public engagement.

Today, Carnuntum represents a successful and interdisciplinary approach to the past. It is not only one of the most important Roman archaeological sites, but also a place where cultural identity can be experienced and critically renegotiated. In the anniversary year 2025, Carnuntum invites us not only to remember the past, but to actively carry it forward into the future.

Former ticket for a guided tour in Carnuntum – © Land NÖ