Archaeologists have uncovered a Roman temple dedicated to Mars, the god of war, just a few centimeters below the surface of a forest in the Taunus region of Hesse, Germany. The Hessian Monument Protection Office announced the discovery on September 25, 2026. The temple is located in a vicus, a civilian settlement that existed alongside the frontier fortress of Kapersburg. Since 2024, the service hessenARCHÄOLOGIE has been conducting excavations at the site in collaboration with Goethe University of Frankfurt. Some of the findings still require further verification. Around the temple, researchers found two new votive stones—inscribed stones offered to the gods—and a statue of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, as well as fragments of another statue. This second statue may represent Mars, though that remains unconfirmed. Markus Scholz, a professor at Goethe University, has been studying the inscriptions. He previously translated a similar stone dedicated to Mars found at the site last year. The land, covered in trees and never plowed, has preserved many features of the ancient settlement. Roads, terraces, buildings, and layers of occupation appear nearly intact. “These preserved layers are unique in Hesse because no agriculture has ever taken place here,” explains Kai Mückenberger, a district archaeologist and researcher on the Limes, the Roman frontier. The lack of heavy machinery in the forest means the team, led by Manuel Pieper, must dig almost entirely by hand. The latest excavation campaign has also provided insight into the daily life of the village. Archaeologists have uncovered signs of craftsmanship, including a forge. Layers of leveling indicate that the Romans later demolished the workshop to build homes. The layout of streets and artificial terraces also helps determine the size of the settlement. To understand the importance of this discovery, it's necessary to consider the history of Kapersburg. It was part of the Limes, the fortified border of the Roman Empire in Germania Superior and Raetia. For about 150 years, the fortress housed an auxiliary unit known as the Numerus Nidensium. Its name comes from the ancient Nida, now the district of Heddernheim in Frankfurt. Around the middle of the third century, during the decline of the Limes, the Romans abandoned the area. Earlier excavations by Louis Jacobi in the late 19th century seemed to support this timeline. However, near the temple, the team found a fibula from the late antiquity, a type of clothing pin, and handmade ceramic shards. These items may be the first evidence of continued use of the site after the Roman army left. Researchers cautiously link them to the Alamans, a Germanic people who settled in the Wetterau region. It is still unclear whether this was a temporary presence or a more permanent occupation. The vicus no longer appears to be merely a dependent settlement of the fortress but rather an independent community with its own economy and evolving layout. The temple provides insight into the religious practices of both soldiers and civilians at the frontier. However, many questions remain: the identity of the statue is still uncertain, and the presence of the Alamans needs further confirmation. More than 125 years after the first excavations of the fortress, the forest continues to reveal new insights. This discovery comes two decades after the Limes was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Kai Mückenberger hopes to continue the work next year with students from Goethe University. Kapersburg may offer valuable clues about the transition from the Roman frontier to the societies that followed.