Roman frontiers: on the edges of empire

The great cities of the Roman world are among the world’s most iconic archaeological sites. They are also among the most visited places on earth, and as such are evocative reminders of one of the greatest civilisations of the past. This civilisation, the Roman Empire, was enclosed by over 5,000km of frontiers. These are as much a reminder of the empire as its cities. And they have their own iconic sites – Housesteads on Hadrian’s Wall, the Saalburg and Eining in Germany, Aquincum in Hungary, Porolissum in Romania, Qasr Bsher in Jordan, or Lambaesis in Algeria. These sites recall the power and splendour of a fallen empire. This gate at Traismauer in Austria may look Medieval, but it