Roman Tomb of Cologne-Zollstock
An underground Roman burial chamber from the 3rd–4th century, set into the bank of the Kalscheurer Weiher and uncovered in 1928 during groundwork for the Green Belt.
Roman estate owners had burial chambers like this built near their country estates for themselves and their families. Here, the residents of a nearby villa rustica laid their dead to rest.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Underground burial chamber (hypogeum), preserved in part
- Dating
- 3rd–4th century
- Location
- Southern bank of the Kalscheurer Weiher in the Outer Green Belt, Zollstock district, Rodenkirchen borough
- Discovery
- 1928
- Dimensions
- 3.92 × 3.02 m (upper interior width)
- Building material
- Tuff, laid without mortar or clamps
- Current condition
- Conserved in situ, weatherproofed and fenced off
The burial chamber in Cologne's Green Belt was discovered in 1928 during earthworks for a pond; only a jet hairpin, probably belonging to a woman, remained inside, as the chamber had likely been looted.
Discovered During Construction of the Green Belt
After the Rayon Law was repealed in 1919, the former fortification grounds were assigned to the Zollstock district. At the instigation of Lord Mayor Konrad Adenauer, earthworks for an outer green belt began in the 1920s under garden director Theodor Nußbaum. The archaeologist Waldemar Haberey was responsible for the protection of archaeological monuments. In 1928, an ancient burial chamber made of large stone blocks came to light, possibly while soil was being excavated for a pond.
A Tomb for Multiple Burials
The choice of a burial chamber over a simple urn, ash chest or sarcophagus shows that several burials were planned. This form had a long tradition among the Romans and is especially well documented in the Trier and Cologne regions. The form and size of such a structure reflected the family's social standing. The underground construction probably also served to protect against destruction and looting.
Construction
The floor of the rectangular chamber was originally covered with a screed of crushed brick. The joints now visible in the tuff masonry date from conservation work. Unevenly cut blocks and irregularly placed lifting holes suggest that spolia were partly used. Since neither a door nor a stone staircase can be demonstrated, access is assumed to have been from above by a wooden ladder or steps.
Finds and Surroundings
Because only a few grave goods were found, the chamber is considered to have been looted. Surviving items included small pottery shards, bronze fittings from a small box, and a jet hairpin that probably belonged to a deceased woman. Sparse remains of the associated estate were located roughly 200 to 300 m northeast of the tomb. The Roman city wall of the Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium was about 4.5 km away.
Timeline
- 3.–4. JahrhundertPeriod of the underground Roman burial chamber (hypogeum)
- 1919Site assigned to the Zollstock district following the Treaty of Versailles
- 1920erEarthworks for the Outer Green Belt under Nußbaum
- 1928Burial chamber of large stone blocks discovered
Map
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Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-10-21
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