Dalheim Ricciacum

Founded during the reign of the Emperor Augustus, the site was at a strategic point on the Via Agrippa, the main Roman road from the Mediterranean to the Rhine.

[2] It appears that the settlement grew considerably until by the 3rd century AD it covered an area of about 25 hectares (62 acres).

In addition to the theatre there were private houses and large public buildings including a hostel, several temples and baths.

The huge stone blocks forming the solid base of the monument were excavated in the 19th century, not far from their present location.

Ternes argues that Caranusca and Ricciacum could equally well be situated on the Roman road from Metz to Trier on the south side of the Moselle and that, in any case, there appear to be errors in the calculations.