The Location of Augst from Daniel Bruckner's Attempt at a Description

The map recording Augst originates from between 1748 and 1763, from the regional studies work Attempt at a Description of Historical and Natural Curiosities of Basel’s Landscape by the lawyer Daniel Bruckner (1707-1781). In the final, 23rd volume, he devoted himself in detail to the town of Augst and the remains of the ancient Roman colony of Augusta Raurica found there, which were cartographically located in the partially coloured copper engraving based on drawings by Emanuel Büchel (1705-1775). A temple (A, now known as the Temple in the Grienmatt), the theatre (B, clearly visible as a semicircle) and numerous “walls” (E-K) are shown on the map and explained in the caption. Not only the area around Augst belonging to Basel was recorded, but also Kaiseraugst to the east, in Further Austria (clearly distinguishable by the different coats of arms), with the walls of a late antique castrum (H). For his description, Bruckner was able to build on the research that had been carried out in Augst starting in the late 16th century, but unlike his predecessors, he aimed to present the ancient city comprehensively. To do this, he even carried out his own excavations and new, extensive site surveys with the help of the local population.