In Germany, a fortified settlement from the Roman Empire period has been discovered.

A team of led by researchers from Kiel University has uncovered a dating back around 2,000 years near the port city of Lübeck, located in the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, close to the mouth of the Trave River. For centuries, this river has served as a vital artery connecting the interior of Northern Germany to the Baltic Sea.
This site played a significant role during the late Iron Age (approximately 1–400 A.D.), when the economic and cultural influence of Rome extended far into Northern Europe. Archaeological evidence indicates that during this historical period, the region was not only fortified but also part of an extensive network of trade routes.
Findings at the excavation site suggest that the settlement may have simultaneously served as a trade center and a military outpost. It likely ensured the safety of transport and maintained control over goods moving between Baltic and inland markets.
According to Dr. Felix Resch, an underwater archaeologist and the head of the , these discoveries “shed entirely new light on the history of settlements in the Lübeck area.”
Although Lübeck was not part of the Roman Empire (the border lay further south along the Rhine and Danube rivers), its trade and cultural influences penetrated deep into Germany.
For many years, Roman pottery, glass, and coins have been found throughout the region. This evidence points to both active commercial exchange and the local elite’s desire to possess prestigious Mediterranean items.

Ruins of a Forgotten Settlement

During the excavations, the team employed several methods to investigate the area: drilling, surface surveying, and underwater archaeology. As a result, researchers discovered a whole field of wooden piles in the shallow waters of the Trave River, as well as the ruins of fortification walls, as reported by Arkeonews.
The pottery found during the excavations primarily dates back to the 1st to 4th centuries A.D., while the number of medieval artifacts was very limited. According to project leader Dr. Tilo Kühl, this indicates that there was no medieval castle at this site, which archaeologists had hoped to uncover.
These hopes may have stemmed from previous research in the region, where researchers discovered a medieval treasure of metal. In 2023, a sunken Hanseatic ship from the 17th century was found nearby the new excavation site. These and other discoveries highlight the enduring significance of the Trave River as an important trade route.