Petronell-Carnuntum (Austria)

Museum Auxiliarkastell Petronell-Carnuntum

The excavations at the Auxiliary Fort brought numerous finds and exciting excavation findings to light. The abundance of finds from this equestrian camp necessitated accommodation and a visitor-friendly presentation. Since 1989, the museum, which is run by the Auxiliary Fort Museum Association, has been housed in the cultural centre purchased by the municipality in 1987. The first exhibition in 1989 dealt with the topic of "Graves and the Cult of the Dead in the Carnuntum Area" and was set up in the basement of the house. After years of renovation work and the help of many volunteers, the house of culture was finally officially opened in 2008. The museum has three exhibition rooms: Exhibition room 1 deals with "Ancient Water Technology in Carnuntum" by showing remains of drinking water pipes, wells, springs and sewers. These guaranteed the vital drinking water supply and waste water drainage for the military and civilian population. Thanks to loans from the Carnuntum Archaeological Park in the form of water pipes made of clay and lead, the exhibition was expanded in 2016. Exhibition room 2 is dedicated to the equestrian camp of the provincial capital of Carnuntum and the documentation of the excavations under HR Dr. Manfred Kandler (Austrian Archaeological Institute). Selected exhibits and text panels give an insight into the strictly organised life of Roman auxiliary soldiers under the motto "PVGNA ET LABORA" (fight and work). In the deep cellar of the museum is the "highlight" of our display objects, well protected by an underground shelter built by the Kallinger company. It is a crossing structure of a sewer and a drinking water pipe, unique in the entire empire, which deviates from the classical Roman building regulations. In the rear garden area of the Kulturhaus is the lapidarium with twelve gravestones, which come from the burial ground around the Auxiliary Fort. They are like the life stories of former inhabitants carved in stone and therefore provide intimate insights into their private lives.