New Roman boat impresses on Lake Altmühl: The Alchmona conquers rivers!

New Roman boat impresses on Lake Altmühl: The Alchmona conquers rivers!

The Alchmona rediviva, a newly designed Roman-type transport boat, recently celebrated its water premiere on Lake Altmühl. This impressive vehicle was developed at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and is based on archaeological finds from Zwammerdam on the Lower Rhine. Building the boat, which is specifically designed for use on small rivers like the Altmühl, represents an exciting challenge as there are no detailed construction plans from Roman times that could serve as a template for the researchers. How BR reported, the hull of the Alchmona rediviva was designed to be flat, without a keel, and with ramp-like bow and stern sections. The maximum draft of 15 centimeters makes it possible to navigate even shallow waters and thus transport materials such as grain and military equipment.

During construction, some sections were improvised, reflecting the challenges of replicating ancient ships. The Alchmona is part of a series of research projects by the Chair of Ancient History that deal with the reconstruction and testing of ancient ship types. The Roman patrol boat Danuvina recently returned from a three-year research mission in southern Hungary, and the team plans to deploy the Danuvina alacris again on the Danube in April 2026.

Activities at Altmühlsee

The Altmühlsee is more than just a setting for ancient shipping. On September 1, 2025, a popular Roman afternoon took place there, delighting visitors with freshly baked Roman bread and other traditional dishes. During this event, guests had the opportunity to actively participate in rowing on a rowing boat from around 100 AD. The corresponding page informs about the final work steps on the boat, such as caulking and tarring, which were completed on September 23rd.

Also important is the ongoing construction of a Roman traveling chariot, which is available for testing in combination with a Celtic chariot. These efforts are an expression of the deep interest in ancient technology and culture, which enhances the region around Gunzenhausen and the Rhaetian Limes not only historically but also in terms of tourism.

Background on ancient shipping

The importance of seafaring in ancient times cannot be overestimated. How Ingenieur.de As explained, the Romans relied on rivers such as the Rhine and Danube to carry out trade and supply military bases. The construction methods of ancient ships vary, with both clinker and Kraweel construction methods being used. The development and use of different types of ships also shows how sophisticated the technology of ancient shipbuilding was in order to meet the economic and military needs of the time.

These reconstruction achievements at Altmühlsee illustrate how lively the interest in Roman history is and how teachers and students at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg are working on site to research and preserve the heritage. The tours and events at Altmühlsee give people the opportunity not only to learn history, but to actively experience it.