Irgenhausen Castrum

The Irgenhausen fort is a rear Roman fort of the late antique Danube -Iller -Rhine limes, whose military structures have been created during the last phase of the Roman Empire in the form of border fortifications along the Rhine, Danube and Iller. The facility is located at Irgenhausen, a district of Pfäffikon in the Swiss canton of Zurich.

Location

The fort is located about 1.5 km southeast of the present church of Pfäffikon on the " Bourguillon », a drumlin, around 400 m from the east bank of the Pfäffikersee away on the old Roman road, which of Centum Prata ( Kempraten ) in Rapperswil -Jona in the Vicus Vitudurum (Upper Winterthur) led. Researchers believe that it served to protect the Rhine frontier. The name " Bourguillon " stems from the fact that it was thought an early medieval castle among the approximately 25 m high hill.

History of Research

In this district there were early stone finds, but it did not at that time on an early medieval castle ruins. 1897 should find stones of which the construction of a factory use, then what happened to some extent. 1898 was even worse by the Antiquarian Society Zurich be prevented, who bought the site. Between 1898 and 1908 she conducted archaeological investigations of the ruins and preserved them through the restoration of walls. In 1909 she was placed as a " Irgenhausen fort " under federal protection. In 1920 was made by Walter Mittelholzerstrasse an early aerial archaeological survey of the fort and the surrounding area. In the closer environment other Roman buildings ( Villae Rusticae ) were located and excavated. 1957 reached the fort in the possession of the municipality Pfäffikon.

Fort

For the dating of the fort there are two theories. The first assumes that the fort at the time of the Emperor Diocletian ( 284-305 ) was built around the year 294/295 AD, coinciding with other similar systems such as Tasgetium. The other is based on those found in the excavations hoard of Valentinian I ( 364-375 ) to 364-375 AD, which allows for a dating in Valentinian time, around the year 370 AD. The former theory can not be proven conclusively, since the castle was not located on a main Roman army road, but apparently served as a barrier fort on the road from Vitudurum (Upper Winterthur) by Kempraten on Lake Zurich. On the other hand, it is known that under Valentinian I not only built new forts, but also renews older buildings and have been reinforced, so the hoard not necessarily have to mark the beginning of the first phase. One thing is certain: It was soon after 400 AD, the fort was evacuated and later destroyed in Alamanni invasions.

The excavations brought to light a up to 1.40 m high foundation wall, which has an almost square outline of 60 × 61 meters side length and thus an area of ​​almost 0,366 hectares of days. Had the fort four corner towers (8 × 8 m), a gate tower on the southeast side and three middle towers on northern, western and southern fronts (6 × 6 m), and an approximately 1.90 m thick enclosure wall which, in with uncut fieldstone Opus was built spicatum ( fishbone ). The building material used in this case by the Romans derived from glacial deposits. Furthermore, there is a mixture of Sernifiten from the Glarus, limestones of the Helvetic ceilings, and Nagelfluhen. The walls of the towers are between 1.20 to 1.40 m thick. The main entrance to the castle was from the south through the gatehouse in the middle of the Eastern Front. The other three sides possessed side entrances.

In addition to the remains of the corner towers and the surrounding wall were found the remains of the internal buildings of stone. A dreiräumiger building was thereby interpreted as bathing facilities ( Castle Baths ). In addition to another building with three rooms, which was interpreted as Principia ( headquarters building ), found himself under the southern corner tower, the hypocaust system of an older villa rustica from the 1st to the 3rd century, which had been destroyed before the construction of the fort. The rest of the buildings were made ​​of wood and therefore can not be uniquely determined. However, it is considered by some troop barracks, a Horreum ( granary ) and a praetorium (commander residence ).

The walls of two rooms in the interior with semicircular apses probably belonging to an early medieval Christian Church, the Church of Benignus Pfäffikon, which was built in the ruins of the late antique fortress.

Conservation, finding and securing Fund whereabouts

The fort area is provided as an historical site within the meaning of the Swiss Federal Law on Natural and Cultural Heritage of 1 July 1966 under federal protection. Unauthorized investigations and purposeful gathering of findings constitute a criminal offense and may be punished under Article 24 by a custodial sentence of up to one year or a fine.

For the restoration of the walls of the castle Irgenhausen by the Antiquarian Society Pfäffikon the Roman original building materials were reused and made ​​the castle then to the public. Since the sale of the plant, the community Pfäffikon took over the nursing activities that can be visited all year round.

Finds of the excavation fort and the adjoining estates are housed at the Museum at the Pfäffikersee Pfäffikon and the local museum Wetzikon.

Gallery

View from the northwest

View from the south