Saturday, 03.04.2004 - Turicum (Zurich), Zurich

Since the end of the 1980ies the first archaeological traces from the presumed Celtic origin of this settlement are known. These go back to the year 60 BC.

In the middle of the 2nd decade BC was built a timber earth fort on the Lindenhof. A military presence is presumed at least still to the 1st century AD. In the 1st century AD were also built the first buildings of the vicus. At this place was also a - unimportant - customs stop between the provinces Germania Superior and Raetia. Although the province boundary was at the Walensee, the customs stop was constructed presumably because of the lake transshipping at this place.

Around the years AD 70/80 where built thermal springs near the port. In the middle of the 2nd century these were pulled down and recreated with a greater ground plan. In the 3rd century they were enlarged again.

Under Flavius Valentinianus (364 - 375 AD) a stone fort was built on the Lindenhof. New datings of other forts (for example Oberwinterthur, Stein am Rhein, ...) let rise the question, whether this fort was built under Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus (284 - 305 AD) or under Flavius Valerius Constantinus (306 - 337 AD). It had ten towers from which two served as gate towers. The ground plan was adapted on the process of the hill.

Today are still to see rests of the thermal springs, a copy of a tombstone and rests of the fort.