Archaeological excavations are not confined to Rome or Greece, they can also be found here in Luxembourg. One of the best examples is the site of the Roman villa at Goeblange, where the Georges Kayser Altertumsfuerscher association has been carrying out digs for more than 35 years.
The association was founded after the death of Georges Kayser, a former priest and antiquarian who first uncovered the remains of the villa in the 1960s. Although not a trained archaeologist, Kayser’s passion for antiquity left a legacy that continues to inspire. Today, around sixty years later, the excavations are far from finished, and large parts of the villa remain unexplored.
Jacques Bonifas, president of the association, explained that the very first building uncovered was the main residence, the mansion where the owner of the estate lived. Other structures included thermal baths, a butcher’s workshop, stables, and even a brewery, according to Bonifas. He explained that several buildings behind the main complex have not yet been excavated, and archaeologists are still trying to establish the function of some of the remaining ruins.
For their work, the volunteers deliberately avoid complex technical equipment. Instead, the excavation is carried out with shovels, trowels, and wheelbarrows. Since 1991, the association has also run a youth camp each August, giving children and teenagers aged between 10 and 18 the chance to take part in the dig and nurture a new generation of enthusiasts.
Bonifas explained that the youth camp was created to inspire younger generations to get involved. From the start, members were invited to bring their children along, and many who came as teenagers still return as adults, he said.
One of them is Céline Mangen, now a university student, who has been taking part in the initiative for several years. She recalled how, as a child, she helped uncover the remains of a building that has since been reconstructed. For her, watching the site evolve and making new discoveries feels like digging directly into history itself.
The finds over the decades have been diverse: pottery shards, animal bones, statues, knives, bracelets, and entire walls. To date, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of 14 buildings on the site. Many of the artefacts are on display at the museum in Nospelt.
For history and archeology student David da Silva, currently completing an internship with the association, the camp is a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience. He described it as a place where most of the learning happens by doing: theory is explained only briefly, after which participants are expected to dig, observe and practise under the guidance of the supervisors. He added that working here has allowed him to broaden his perspective, especially as his studies have so far involved little on the Roman period.
This year, as in previous summers, a group from the Netherlands joined the team to help with the excavation work. Together with local volunteers, they continue to piece together the story of the villa – a reminder that even in Luxembourg, the traces of Roman life remain waiting to be unearthed.
