Archaeologists in the Neckargartach district of Heilbronn, Germany, have uncovered a 500-meter stretch of an ancient Roman road, along with an ancient temple and statue of Mercury. Artifacts suggest the site was a bustling civilian settlement rather than a villa as previously believed.
The excavation, carried out before the construction of the International Artificial Intelligence Campus, revealed a long-lost road that once connected two Roman camps—Böckingen and Wimpfen—located roughly 10 kilometers apart along the ancient Neckar frontier.
Researchers say this is the first time such a significant section of Roman infrastructure and associated structures has been thoroughly studied in Baden-Württemberg.
From Roman villa to civilian settlement
The field’s name, ‘Steinäcker,’ hinted at Roman building remains, and the area was long believed to hold a Roman villa, explained Sybil Harding of ArchaeoConnect GmbH, the excavation firm leading the project.
However, the findings suggest the site was not a villa but a vicus, a civilian settlement that likely served as a marketplace, rest stop, and hub for craftsmen.
The Roman road, measuring 14 meters wide, runs north to south through the site. Distinctive drainage channels, a hallmark of Roman engineering, were found along its entire length.
Dr. Andrea Neth from the State Office for Monument Preservation confirmed the roadbed’s well-preserved structure beneath a modern path.
Timber-framed buildings and other structures
To the west of the road, archaeologists uncovered remains of timber-framed buildings, some on stone foundations. Over centuries of farming, only the basements—constructed from wood or stone—have survived.
The layout and arrangement of the buildings further support the idea that this was a settlement rather than a villa.
Researchers also found pits, a grain dryer, a kiln, and five deep wells that once provided water. The team also discovered three isolated burials near the road. The graves, not part of a formal cemetery, included two containing Roman shoe nails.
A potential Temple of Mercury
A particularly notable find is a stone building measuring 2.9 meters wide and at least 3.2 meters long. Archaeologists unearthed fragments of painted walls, two coins that might be offerings and parts of a sandstone statue.
The statue’s nearly life-sized relief head depicts Mercury, the Roman god of travel and commerce, recognizable by his winged helmet.
The site’s importance goes beyond the artifacts. It provides a rare opportunity to study a long stretch of Roman road alongside a civilian settlement in Germany. Neth notes this is the first time such a complete context has been examined in Baden-Württemberg.
The findings provide new insights into Roman lifestyle and travel within the region, emphasizing the strategic and social functions of settlements along major highways.
As construction on the AI Campus progresses, the discoveries in Neckargartach stand as a reminder of the deep history beneath modern landscapes.
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