The priority project Inter Alpes Noricas is dedicated to the exploration of a transport network that connected the military zone of the Limes with the natural resources of the inner-Alpine area and gained particular importance in the course of the stationing of the Legio II Italica in Lauriacum-Enns.
The Roman exploitation of natural resources in the Salzkammergut was convincingly established since the investigations of the settlement Michlhallberg for the middle and late imperial period on the basis of numerous finds, including military objects. In the course of the project »Inter Alpes Noricas« the processing of artifacts discovered surrounding this central settlement site was initiated and aims at documenting the direct contact with the Limes region along a transportation route that starting at the Hallstätter See passed the stations in Obertraun, Unterkainisch and Pichl-Kainisch and led across the plane of Bad Mitterndorf in the direction of Pürgg at the foot of the Grimming. Along this route the built structures were documented with the help of geophysical surveys of the ancient settlement site of Pichl-Kainisch but also the traditional paradigm for the course of the ancient road in the Mitterdorfer Hochtal was completely revised.
Following the direction of the newly prospected road embankment from Pichl-Kainisch to the east led to the discovery of an important find site for the region in the area of the Kampwald by Bad Mitterndorf. Due to topgraphic considerations regarding the embankment of the ancient route network a sensational discovery was made in the middle of a forested area: A hoard of coins was discovered scattered around the Roman road.
This coin hoard consists of more than 550 mostly freshly minted silver coins from a narrow time span. The final coin dates to the rule of Gordian III. The coins were deposited without any recognizable shell, i.e. without a vessel or a bag. The only context is provided by an iron finger ring that was discovered together with the middle finger of the hand of an individual at least 30 years old. It is under discussion that this unusual assemblage of finds points to hidden looted goods. This hoard of coins from the Kampwald will be presented as part of the exhibition »Mensch, Welt und Ding. Eine Region erzählt« in Trautenfels Castle in 2024-2025.
The processing and analysis of all findings and discoveries of this research is carried out within the framework of the FWF project »Inter Alpes Noricas – Römische Ressourcenerschließung«.
