Roman-Era Staircase Discovered During Excavation in Cologne’s Historic Centre

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Archaeologists in Cologne have uncovered well-preserved Roman remains during excavations for a new underground visitor route at the MiQua LVR Jewish Museum. The findings include a lararium, a household shrine dedicated to the Lares, and the foundations of a large, multi-aisled Roman basilica dating from the 4th century. Additionally, a staircase from the late 1st century was discovered, connecting a low area near the Rhine to the praetorium.

Archaeologists in Cologne have uncovered a lararium, a household shrine dating from the 2nd century, which is the first of its kind found in Northern Europe. The City of Cologne reported that this significant discovery was made during preparations for a new subterranean visitor route at the MiQua LVR Jewish Museum. The excavations also revealed the foundations of a 4th-century Roman basilica and a late 1st-century staircase, both of which are expected to feature prominently in the upcoming exhibition when the museum opens to the public.

Excavations in Cologne have uncovered Roman remains, including a lararium and the foundation of a 4th-century basilica, during preparations for an underground visitor route at the MiQua LVR Jewish Museum. The finds, which will be accessible to the public for the first time, are expected to form a central part of the museum’s upcoming subterranean tour. City officials note that this discovery provides valuable insights into daily life in Roman Cologne, expanding knowledge of architectural elements rarely preserved in urban settings.

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2,000-year-old ancient Roman staircase accidentally discovered

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Excavations in a historic square in Cologne, Germany, threw up a surprise when workers accidentally stumbled upon Roman-era finds. It includes the remains of an ancient Roman staircase which dates back to the late 1st century, making it around 2,000 years old. The finds were buried underneath the LVR Jewish Museum in the Archaeological Quarter of the city, and the preserved stretch of stairs shows how movement through a Roman palace adapted to the terrain, being so near the Rhine river. (Picture: City of Cologne/Roman-Germanic M)

The excavation work focused on an underground visitor passage beneath Rathausplatz, in the heart of Cologne’s city centre. The staircase discovered once led from a large palace called the praetorium, which was typically used as a residence for Roman commanding officers or governors. (Picture: City of Cologne/Roman-Germanic M)

The staircase led from the Praetorium down to the Rhine river, though nobody knows exactly where the staircase ended or began. Archaeologists say that usually staircases like this are not so well-preserved but later Roman building work covered part of the stairs, which actually helped to protect them for centuries. (Picture: City of Cologne/Roman-Germanic M)

The site also revealed the foundations to what would have been a 4th century Roman basilica, or church, and a small private household altar from the 2nd century, BBC reports. This kind of altar is called a lararium, which would be built into a wall. Small figurines would then be placed inside as well as food offerings for their household gods. (Picture: City of Cologne/Roman-Germanic M)

The lararium found in Cologne revealed traces of painted plaster and nail holes above and beside the opening ,which would be where garlands of ribbons were once hung during rituals. The city says these discoveries are similar to those found from Pompeii – one of the more famous Roman sites in the world. (Picture: City of Cologne/Roman-Germanic M)

This is actually the first lararium discovered north of the Alps, and is similar in style to those from key Vesuvian cities, like Pompeii. Experts suggest that this altar being inside a Praetorium suggests the prominence of cult worship within official Roman dwellings, while analysis of the masonry shows a different method, not standard Roman concrete, was used in building. (Picture: City of Cologne/Roman-Germanic M)

These discoveries are useful in expanding our knowledge of daily life in Roman Cologne, with these architectural elements rarely preserved in such an urban context. The finds will form part of a future exhibition, which will offer visitors a chance to see these structures that lay deep beneath the modern city for centuries. (Picture: City of Cologne/Roman-Germanic M)

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