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The Roman watchtower in the Filchenharder forest |
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At first sight the Roman watchtower seems disadvantageously positioned since steep slopes obstructed the view of the area beyond the Limes and necessitated the use of reinforcing elements to stabilize the tower’s walls. However, it provided an excellent view along the line of the Limes and its position allowed quick and far-range signalling along the Roman frontier. The intervisibility of watchtowers played an important role in the Limes’ defence system, e.g. to report unauthorized crossings of the border to the forts in the hinterland. The Raetian wall, built around 200 A.D., ran ca. 10 m north of the watchtower without incorporating it. Instead a second, very small tower was attached to the limes wall, either in addition to or after the destruction of the first, freestanding watchtower. |
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