Katzenberg Hillfort

Katzenberg Hillfort is a Roman refuge fort near Mayen in Germany dating to the 4th century [1]. The fortification on the Katzenberg hill was built around 300 AD after the Roman limes had been overrun and Germanic tribes had invaded and plundered the Roman Empire [1]. The inhabitants of the Roman vicus, which was located on the site of the present-day town of Mayen, could escape to the fort in time of danger [1]. The Katzenberg was the largest of about 60 Late Roman hillforts which were constructed in the Eifel and Hunsrück regions [1]. They were used for about 70 years and then, after a 30-year pause, used again, in some cases until about 450 AD [1]. The fort covered an area of 1.2 hectares [1]. The remains of the Late Roman hillfort were discovered around 1900 and excavated for the first time between 1907 and 1932 [1].