Archäologiepark Belginum, Morbach

The Belginum Archaeological Park is an archaeological museum and open-air museum near the Rhineland-Palatinate village of Wederath in the district of Bernkastel-Wittlich. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Hunsrück Heights Road. Its theme is the Roman settlement of Belginum in the Hunsrück. The village was located on the Roman road from Trier to Bingen, the Ausonius Road named after Decimius Magnus Ausonius.

The museum displays burial finds from several Iron Age cemeteries, the everyday life of the provincial Roman population in ancient Belginum and explains the work of archaeologists. Furthermore, changing exhibitions on historical-cultural topics are held here.

The archaeological significance of the excavation site is due to its burial ground, which was continuously used from the 4th century BC of the Hunsrück-Eifel culture, through the Late Latène period to the 4th century AD. In addition to the actual settlement and the cemetery, excavations at Belginum have revealed several temple precincts and an early Roman military camp that was probably only used for a short time. The Roman vicus is listed in the Tabula Peutingeriana, a late Roman road map of the 5th century, which, however, is based in essential parts on maps of the 3rd century.

The results of scientific research and excavations are exhibited in the museum.

The Belginum Archaeological Park was founded in 2002 after 50 years of intensive research. Already since the 17th century, archaeological findings were regularly announced. In the museum, visitors are shown the results of archaeological excavations under the theme "Life along a long-distance road". The approximately 1,000 meter long circular trail leads past a burial ground with burial mounds, the former Roman settlement, the military camp and a well. All stations are explained with informative display boards. The Belginum Archaeological Park offers a wide range of educational museum activities, regularly changing special exhibitions and lectures.

The museum is supported by the Archaeological Park Belginum e. V. founded in 2001.

Since 2009, when the section of the Hunsrück Transverse Railway between Büchenbeuren and Morbach was reopened as a tourist railroad, a stop has been set up at the former U.S. loading station Zolleiche for visitors to the archaeology park. Rail traffic has been suspended again since 2014.