The key to antiquity - archaeological research in Carnuntum

Archaeological research opens up new ways of expanding and preserving knowledge about our past. It can deepen our understanding of past cultures, reconstruct their ways of life and safeguard their heritage for future generations.

The research and excavation history of Carnuntum not only offers valuable insights into the study of this former metropolis, but also reflects the development of archaeology itself. It shows how interest in the ancient world has changed over the centuries and which methods and technologies are used today to research the Roman heritage. The continuous examination of the finds and the historical contexts makes it possible to discover ever new facets of this important site and to keep the Roman heritage alive.

Colored copperplate engraving of Petronell and surroundings after Matthäus Merian 1656 - © Land NÖ, APC Archiv

The imposing ruins of Carnuntum, which were already known in the Middle Ages, captured the imagination of many scholars. In the 16th century, the humanist Wolfgang Lazius devoted himself for the first time to a detailed description of these still visible remains of the walls. This was followed in the 18th century by English travelers such as Richard Pococke and Jeremias Milles, who not only documented the ruins but also collected finds and inscriptions. However, it was not until the 19th century, when the ruins were increasingly threatened by enormous stone theft, that interest in structured and scientifically sound research grew.

In the beginning, it was mainly private collectors and idealists from the up-and-coming middle classes who financed the first excavations in Carnuntum. Among these sponsors were the brewer Anton Widter and the landowner Otto Graf Abensperg-Traun. Despite the efforts of prominent scholars such as Theodor Mommsen and Eduard von Sacken, who attempted to institutionalize research and carry out larger excavation projects, their efforts initially remained without significant support.

Archaeological excavations in the civil city of Carnuntum 1892 - © Land NÖ, APC Archiv

With the founding of the Carnuntum Association (now the Society of Friends of Carnuntum) in 1884, archaeological research finally took shape and systematic investigations of the site began, which continue to this day. Under the direction of Alois Hauser, Josef Dell and Carl Tragau, the first large-scale excavations began in the legionary camp and the civilian town. Thanks to generous donations and public subsidies, the association was able to carry out significant excavation projects, which brought to light the amphitheatre, the burial street and several sanctuaries in the civilian city. Particularly noteworthy was the work in the area of the legionary camp and the camp suburb, where numerous important finds were documented which can be admired today in the current exhibition in the Carnuntinum Museum.

Opening of the Carnuntinum Museum in 1904 by Emperor Franz Joseph I - © Land NÖ, APC Archiv

The first scientific articles about the excavations appeared in the “Reports of the Carnuntum Association” and made the archaeological discoveries accessible to a wide audience.  Since the founding of the association, the construction of a museum to preserve and present the archaeological finds has been a central project. This goal was realized with the construction of the Carnuntinum Museum: the building, designed by Friedrich Ohmann and August Kirstein, was ceremoniously opened by Emperor Franz Joseph I on 27 May 1904. However, despite these successes, the scientific efforts were repeatedly accompanied by financial bottlenecks and political hurdles.

The First World War marked a decisive turning point in the history of Carnuntum research. The political and social upheavals forced the association to severely restrict its activities. It was not until 1923 that excavations could be resumed under the direction of Franz Miltner and Rudolf Egger, with the focus on the amphitheater of the civil city. However, the subsequent global economic crisis and its consequences brought a temporary end to archaeological work in 1935 and plunged the project into a deep crisis.

After the annexation of Austria to the German Reich in 1938, research in Carnuntum received new financial impetus. Under the direction of Erich Swoboda, the “Führer excavations” began, the aim of which was to investigate the forum and the thermal baths of the civilian city with the aim of using their cultural significance for propaganda purposes. However, the outbreak of the Second World War interrupted this work. In the following years, the Carnuntum Association was dissolved due to the political situation and the scientific efforts came to a standstill.

Excavation in the civilian quarter 1938 - © Land NÖ, APC Archiv

After the end of the Second World War, archaeological research in Carnuntum was quickly resumed. As early as 1947, Erich Swoboda continued the excavations begun in the 1930s in the civilian town on behalf of the province of Lower Austria. In the 1950s, the uncovered ruins were restored and turned into an open-air museum. The early excavations, which were supported by the members of the association and later by state authorities, formed the basis for today's understanding of the Roman city structure and architecture of Carnuntum. Between 1970 and 2004, construction projects led to numerous investigations, for example by the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Austrian Archaeological Institute, the Federal Monuments Office and the province of Lower Austria - for example on the Pfaffenberg, in the sanctuary of Iuppiter Heliopolitanus or in the Auxiliary Fort.

Archaeological research at Carnuntum is a story of discovery, preservation and reconstruction of a unique cultural world heritage site: today, modern, non-invasive techniques such as geophysical prospection and aerial archaeology continue to explore Carnuntum, providing ever new insights into the hidden structures of the ancient city.

But what exactly does the current research in Carnuntum look like? This and much more is shown in Carnuntum in 3D: Archaeological research in the digital age!