Pompeii-Like Roman Shrine Unearthed in Cologne, Germany

Cologne, Germany – Archaeologists in Cologne have unearthed a remarkable discovery during construction work in the city’s Altstadt (Old Town): a remarkably well-preserved Roman-era house altar, known as a lararium, unlike any found before north of the Alps. The find, announced Monday, is being hailed as a significant addition to the city’s rich historical tapestry.

The discovery was made on the MiQua construction site, a location already proving to be a treasure trove of archaeological finds. Alongside the lararium, workers uncovered a staircase dating back to the first century AD, and the substantial foundations of an apse belonging to a basilica, estimated to be from the fourth century. The apse foundation, constructed from layers of tuff, basalt, and limestone bound with a particularly strong mortar, measures up to four meters in thickness.

The newly discovered staircase is believed to have connected a lower level towards the Rhine with a higher area of the early Praetorium, the Roman governor’s palace. However, it is the lararium that has generated the most excitement among archaeologists.

These house altars were central to Roman domestic life, serving as a place to offer sacrifices to the lares, the household gods. The Cologne lararium is particularly noteworthy due to its exceptional preservation and unique features. Nagellöcher, or nail holes, suggest that garlands were once affixed to the altar, while a clear break indicates where the altar’s original plate once stood – a plate that was also recovered during the excavation and is slated for restoration and return to its original position.

Comparable examples of such well-preserved lararia are typically found in areas around the Bay of Naples, such as the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Finding one so far north is considered exceptional.

The city of Cologne has a long and layered history, with human settlement dating back to before the birth of Christ. In 50 AD, the Ubian settlement of Oppidum Ubiorum received official city rights within the Roman Empire.

The ongoing excavations at the MiQua site have consistently yielded new discoveries in areas previously unexplored archaeologically. “We have made many new discoveries in areas that have never been archaeologically investigated before,” a statement from the city of Cologne noted. The construction project is being carefully adapted to accommodate the finds, with efforts focused on preserving as much as possible for future generations.

The planned route for an exhibition showcasing the discoveries has already been revised multiple times to account for the ongoing finds. Currently, structural supports are being installed amongst the numerous Roman, Christian, and Jewish relics. Archaeologists and construction workers are meticulously excavating, layer by layer, several meters beneath the historic city walls, carefully securing each artifact by hand.

The discoveries underscore Cologne’s enduring significance as a crossroads of cultures and a repository of European history. The finds from the MiQua site promise to offer invaluable insights into the lives of those who inhabited the city centuries ago, and will undoubtedly become a focal point for historical research and public engagement for years to come.