European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 28, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Is photos by Ken George a Ladenburg resident pedals past a 15th-Century House. Onali Neckar excavation revealed the Walls of a roman Bath. By Andrew Cowin i like so Many West German cities Ladenburg owes its existence to a strategic location. In Ladenburg s Case the site is on the Neckar River about six Miles North of Heidelberg. A couple of thousand years ago the River was much wider than it is today attaining almost Lake like proportions before joining the Rhine. Ladenburg s relatively elevated position made it immune to flooding from the unruly River while surrounding marshes protected it from attacking armies. Thus in pre roman times the celts had an important settlement called Loup Odunton at the site. When the romans finally decided to establish themselves East of the Rhine they quickly saw the strategic value of the township which they renamed lop Dunum. In . 74, Rome built a wooden fortress with a Garrison of about 400 troops which provided a useful link Between the important cities of Speyer to the South  Worms  Mainz to the North. The gradual pacification of the area decreased the necessity of the military outpost  the town developed into a Large administrative Center. Excavations have revealed Many features of the sizeable roman town twice As big As its medieval counterpart including a theater Baths a forum potteries  brickwork. For today s visitor the most extensive remains Are to be found near the St. Callus Church these being the foundations of a enormous Market Basilica that was 220 feet Long  about 150 Germany Worms Weinheim l Ludwigshafen Ladenburg Heidelberg feet wide it s one of the largest roman buildings to have been found in Northern Europe. The lob Deugau museum contains a fascinating collection of relics of roman life ranging from jewelry to weapons  theater masks to Glasswork. The most important find on show is the famous mithras Stone a reminder that christianity s fiercest competitor. The romans grasp of the land East of the Rhine 12 stripes Magazine july 28,1988