Augsburg and Kempten are the two oldest cities in Bavaria, founded by the Romans. The centers were called Cambodunum and Augusta Vindelicum, and to this day the two cities are proud of their more than 2,000-year-old tradition. Despite all the similarities, there are fundamental differences: Augsburg was the military focal point and was settled by the Romans for significantly longer, while Kempten is considered the first fortified city in Bavaria. While archaeologists in Kempten can completely recreate the layout of what was then Cambodunum, the people of Augsburg have the more significant finds – not long ago they dug up more than 5,500 silver coins, the “largest silver treasure” ever found in Bavaria from the Roman period. Augsburg’s city archaeologist Sebastian Gairhos says: “In Kempten you can experience the life of the Romans, in Augsburg you can experience the history of the empire.”
The two Swabian Roman sites complement each other perfectly, and they want to make greater use of this trump card in the future. Anyone who wants to find out more about the Romans in southern Germany should travel to Augsburg and Kempten, that is the plan. The basis for this in-depth cooperation is an “interpretation framework” that both cities commissioned in Great Britain. The outside perspective should work out similarities and differences and make clear what cooperation could look like – also with a view to the 2028 state exhibition on Bavaria’s Roman heritage announced by the state government, which is to take place in Augsburg and Kempten, among other places. And which should help Augsburg to finally reopen a Roman museum.
Augsburg and Kempten, as archaeologists describe it, are on a par with Roman cities in the north such as Cologne, Mainz, Trier and Xanten in terms of their importance as ancient sites. Kempten is well positioned when it comes to communicating its heritage: no other Roman city north of the Alps has such a complete floor plan. Visitors to the Archaeological Park can walk where the Romans walked 2,000 years ago. They can then even use an app to see what their immediate surroundings looked like back then. Augsburg is a long way from being able to communicate this: an app is currently being developed, but a museum is urgently needed.
The study recommends that Kempten expand its adventure site and market it even better as the only place in Bavaria where it is possible to get a complete picture of the structure and functioning of a Roman city and immerse yourself in everyday life with its buildings and streets. The number of visitors has risen rapidly in recent years.
In Augsburg, on the other hand, the British researchers recommend a Roman museum that, through its high-quality archaeological finds with numerous inscriptions, sculptures and monumental architecture, adequately presents the history and function of a Roman provincial capital and its hinterland – with multimedia stations in the urban space and participatory communication concepts.
Kempten’s mayor Thomas Kiechle (CSU) and Augsburg’s mayor Eva Weber (CSU) want, as they say, to convey Roman history to citizens as their own history again and to raise awareness of the Roman past. “A first step has been taken, but more must follow. The first milestone is in sight with the 2028 state exhibition in Kempten and Augsburg, which is why close cooperation is now necessary,” says Weber.
The announced state exhibition is not only intended to be temporary, but to leave behind lasting structures: In Kempten, according to the ideas of the head of the cultural office, Martin Fink, a protective structure is to be built over the Insula 1 excavation site, where archaeologists have uncovered a representative Roman house with a private thermal bath. Augsburg has commissioned a feasibility study for a Roman museum. Up to now, new buildings have always failed due to financial and political will. The latter has been increasingly evident for some time, including in the state government. As far as money is concerned, the Free State is now to help.
The Romans lived in Augsburg for more than 400 years, and archaeologists are constantly uncovering spectacular finds during new construction projects. City archaeologist Gairhos can sometimes even trace the biographies and migration history of individual residents of Augusta Vindelicum. “We get a sensational find every few years, so you need a place to play, space and flexibility in the museum to convey the story behind it.” Because so much Roman heritage is still intact deep in the ground, it would be easy to keep a museum alive in Augsburg and to redesign it again and again. In this way, says Gairhos, visitors could be attracted a second time because the permanent exhibition remains interesting over the years.