Frontiers of the Roman Empire (FRE) – the ‘ideal’ transnational WHS or a crazy idea?
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2017-11-10

After Hadrian’s Wall was inscribed on the WH List in 1987, it was considered the first element of a wider transnational WHS when the Upper German–Raetian limes was nominated and inscribed in 2005. After the inscription of the Antonine Wall in 2008 as yet another Roman land boundary with physical barriers, we are now working on our dream of expanding the WHS along the Rhine and Danube. However, after changes of rules and regulations in the nomination process, this seems to be a difficult task.
But this would not be the end. The original concept was considered as ‘Frontiers of the Roman Empire WHS’, ‘the line(s) of the frontier at the height of the Empire from Trajan to Septimius Severus (about AD 100 to 200)’ delimiting the Roman rule all around the Mediterranean as held together by the Roman army. But is it absurd, ridiculous or crazy to foresee installations in the Near East and North Africa being part of this WHS? On the other hand, would not the participation of, let us say, Syria, Libya and Algeria follow the ideal of the WH Convention of international (and in this case, intercontinental) exchange and participation? The way there seems to be long, and not only because of the present political situation…

C Sebastian Sommer, Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection