Archaeologists working in the heart of Cologne have uncovered spectacular Roman-era remains directly beneath the city’s town hall square.
The discoveries were made during construction of the underground exhibition spaces at the MiQua – LVR Jewish Museum and are already being described as among the most significant archaeological finds in the region in decades.
Among the most striking discoveries is the foundation of a monumental apse – a semicircular architectural extension typically associated with basilicas. In Roman Cologne, the structure formed part of a large administrative basilica used for official functions and judicial proceedings.
The apse foundation measures up to four meters in thickness. Contrary to initial assumptions, it was not built with Roman concrete but with carefully layered tuff, basalt, and limestone bonded by exceptionally durable mortar.
The survival of these structures is considered extraordinary. Located on the ancient Rhine slope, parts of the Roman buildings were already covered with earth in antiquity. Subsequent construction never reached these depths, preserving walls, staircases, and even fragments of wall paintings. In most urban excavations, only foundations remain; here, entire structural elements have endured.
Another exceptional find is a Roman staircase dating to the late 1st century AD. The staircase once led from a lower-lying district up toward the Rhine and the Praetorium, the governor’s palace. Such staircases are rarely preserved in Cologne, making this discovery particularly valuable for understanding the city’s Roman topography.
Perhaps the most remarkable discovery is a lararium, a household shrine from the 2nd century located within the Praetorium complex. These small altars, otherwise best known from sites such as Pompeii, were dedicated to the Lares, guardian deities of the home. The Cologne example is unique north of the Alps.
Archaeologists identified nail holes for garlands, traces of wall paintings, and evidence of offerings once placed in the niche. Together, the finds provide an unprecedented glimpse into both the public and private dimensions of Roman life in ancient Cologne—hidden for nearly two millennia beneath the modern city.
Sources : City of Cologne
