Exactly at this point, there was a Roman camp about 2,000 years ago. Its discovery dates back to 1816, when three burial mounds with Roman artifacts were found at "St. Annenberg." Gradually, archaeologists uncovered fortifications and military installations, burial fields, and remains of ship houses in this area, hinting at the impressive overall size of the site. Only in 2021 did researchers find another camp with a total area of probably around 24 hectares – enough space for up to 20,000 people.
Notably: In addition to the expected structures such as the Principia (administrative seat), a Valetudinarium (hospital) or the Contubernium (barracks), there is an unusually high number of buildings of representative character. Scholars now suspect that the initially purely military facility also gained significance as an administrative center and trading place over time.
In connection with the famous Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, the fort "Aliso" is often mentioned in Roman historical writings. The local assignment is still not definitively clear, but it is suspected that this refers to the facility in present-day Haltern. Good reason for the museum to reconstruct parts of the Roman main camp in the outdoor area. And thus, the construction of wooden-earth walls and the western gate gives a spectacular impression of the impressive building style of the Romans – personal exploration is expressly allowed!
Inside the modern and light-filled museum, artifacts from days long past are displayed. A total of 2,500 original objects reflect the life of Roman soldiers, from the simple foot soldiers to the praetorium (the camp commander): eating utensils from their own pottery, weapons, or wax tablets. For a better understanding of the living conditions of legionaries, there is a reconstructed tent made of 70 goat skins in which up to 8 legionaries lived. A highlight is certainly the 15,000 Playmobil legionaries that wind through the entire museum as a procession.
