Oberleiserberg - a late antique hilltop settlement

The Oberleiserberg is an example of the fortified, late antique hilltop settlements which have been occupied for some time. The settlement was located in a naturally defensive position. It is placed on a plateau which is shaped like an irregular oval, 6.5 hectares (about 360 by 250m) in size. The plateau drops steeply westwards, northwards, and eastwards. In the south-western part the initially steep slope flattens gradually and a somewhat deeper terrain stretches to the south. So far, a multi-phased fortification including a rampart have been found. In the north-western area, several buildings such as two stone structures (Steinbau I and II), a wall surrounding Steinbau I, wooden structures supported by posts and beams (Holzbau A-F), a structure by posts with a heating duct have been excavated. The two stone structures and the building consisting of posts have a similar layout and architecture as the villas of the Roman provinces. Between the second half of the 4th century and the second half of the 5th century AD there are four layers of late antique settlement horizons. Objectives of the project: 1. Character and function of the late antique settlement of the Oberleiserberg: a) Is it a military settlement, b) a reaction to a specific historic situation, c) a settlement of high-ranking ancient Germans, f. ex. a Fuerstensitz? 2. Structure of the inner development of the hilltop settlement of the Oberleiserberg: a) structure of the settlement and development plan, b) function of the farmsteads and their buildings, c) functional classification of the buildings. 3. Chronology of the hilltop settlement: a) chronology of the building features, b) typochronology of the finds based on the stratigraphy. 4. Acculturation- and Romanization processes 5. Economic basis of the hilltop settlements 6. Ethnic and social structures of the Oberleiserberg 7. Georadar prospecting on selected archaeological structures such as ditch and pithouse and magnetic prospecting in the contemporary settlement with roman buildings of Niederleis. In order to achieve these goals the following steps - based on current knowledge and the results of geomagnetic prospecting - have already been undertaken a) selective excavations, b) analysis of the finds, c) geophysical prospecting through georadar. By the end of the project a brochure entitled "Oberleiserberg - a late antique hilltop settlement" presenting the new results of this project will be published.

Due to the excavations performed on Roman stone buildings already at the beginning of the 20th century - first works were conducted between 1925 and 1931 - for a long time the Oberleiserberg was considered as a Roman military base dating back to the time of Marcomannian Wars (166 - 180 AD). New researches since 1976 and especially the results of the project P13052-SPR financed by the FWF, support the view that the Oberleiserberg as a Late Antique hilltop settlement with representative buildings was during the Migration Period an important ruling center in the Middle Danube area. The Oberleiserberg belongs to large group of the Late Antique fortified hilltop settlements dated back to the 4th and 5th centuries AD. The Late Antique settlement on the Oberleiserberg begins in the second half of the 4th century AD, probably in post-Valentinian times, and ends in the second half of the 5th century. During the three years long research project a comprehensive insight about the kind and function as well as the inner structure of the manor house could be gained. The palace-like shaped manor house was constructed after Roman models and formed a center of the Late Antique settlement on the Oberleiserberg. The appropriate trapezoid, two-storied main building (stone building 1) consisted originally of two large rooms. During a second phase of construction the building received a new facade with projecting rooms (Risaliten) and a corridor. During this time, a courtyard wall made of broken stones and clay surrounded the construction. Around mid 5th century, the manor house was converted after models of the Late Antique representation and palace architecture and the court wall was replaced with wooden structures. The courtyard was bordered than to the east by a monumental gate with adjacent hall-like frame buildings, located opposite to the main building, and to the north and south by rectangular frame buildings. They correspond axially to the main building and possess open column halls (Portiken). The main building (stone building 1) is reconstructed now to a 35m long and 17m wide Roman representative house (porticoes villa) with stone foundations, timbered walls and a splendor facade. The building consisted of seven or eight housekeeping and living rooms as well as a representative room for public receptions and festive banquets. The risen walls were done in timber-frame technique. The roof was covered with burned Roman clay bricks (tegulae, imbrices) which were probably locally manufactured. The representation room and a second room were equipped with under-floor heating system. Within the building a cellar was constructed. Rests of entrances were found in the Risaliten. The exceptional architectural creation of the whole complex and the artifacts funded suggest a local Germanic center within the old settlement area of Marcomanni and Quadi tribes which was shaped by strong Late Roman cultural influences. The hypothesis about a seat of Germanic rulers and kings during the Migration Period might therefore be quite probable.