Roman graves Wadern, Archaeological site in Wadern, Germany.
The Roman graves of Wadern consist of two Roman-era burial mounds near Oberlöstern, a district of Wadern in Saarland. Excavated between 1991 and 1995, each mound was enclosed by sandstone walls with sides of 16 and 18.50 metres, built from blocks up to 1.55 by 0.60 by 0.50 metres and topped with half-cylindrical cover stones. Inside were square burial chambers with three-metre walls, and each mound was crowned by a stone pine cone.
The two burial mounds were probably built in the 2nd century AD on an existing Roman cemetery with urn graves and ash pits, which belonged to a settlement about 400 metres to the north-east in the area now called "Honigsack". A rectangular ash pit in front of a monument between the mounds was dated by dendrochronology to 123 AD. The mounds were excavated between 1991 and 1995 and rebuilt in 2000 and 2001.
The two mounds were built on an older Roman cemetery with urn graves and ash pits, linked to a settlement about 400 metres to the north-east in the area now called "Honigsack". Between the mounds stood a monument, probably three life-sized god figures on an altar under a scaled roof whose corners carried heads with Phrygian caps. In front of it lay a rectangular ash pit dated by dendrochronology to 123 AD, holding fragments of burnt ceramic vessels.
The two reconstructed mounds lie freely accessible in hilly, wooded terrain south of the road between Oberlöstern and Gehweiler. Signposts and an information board explain the site; the ground is uneven, so sturdy footwear helps. The monument that once stood between the mounds was not rebuilt.
The two mounds were crowned with stone pine cones, and between them stood a monument thought to have held three life-size god figures under a scaled roof whose corners bore heads wearing Phrygian caps. A rectangular ash pit in front was dated by dendrochronology to 123 AD.
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