Burgus

A burgus (Latin, plural burgi ) or turris ("tower")[1] is a small, tower-like fort of the Late Antiquity, which was sometimes protected by an outwork and surrounding ditches.

This entailed the construction of two-storey, rectangular towers (on average 8–12 m wide and 10–12 m high), so-called residual forts (German: Restkastelle) in limes camps that had already been largely denuded of their complements, and granaries (horrea) envisaged for border troops.

These burgi were essentially a development of the limes towers of the middle imperial period and consisted, in the case of the larger examples, of a tower-like central structure and outer fortifications (a rampart, defensive wall or palisade, surrounded by several ditches).

Buildings such as smaller watchtowers, fortlets (castella), civilian refuges at estates and fortified docks for riverboats, especially on the Upper Rhine and Danube, were also called burgi.

In the coastal cities of the Roman Empire and early Byzantium, local defensive complexes (burgi) were also built to protect important harbours.

The burgus at Ahegg
The burgus at Finningen based on research by Michael Mackensen, 1985
Model (sectioned) of the burgus or ruined fort of Zeiselmauer . View from the south ( Roman Museum, Tulln (Austria))
Artist's impression of the late Roman burgus of Goch-Asperden (D) , core site with outer walls and ditch
Artist's impression of the Ländeburgus at Ladenburg. The bridge has not been established archaeologically.
Artist's impression of the Ländeburgus at Zullestein (D) with site plan
Floor plan of the well-researched burgus of Veröcemaros-Dunamezö