Living on the Rhine

The people of Mainz settled in an elongated area within the Roman city walls along the Rhine. This is indicated by numerous pottery sherds and very rarely metal findings. There is a small riverside settlement on the Rhine outside the wall.

Mainz flourished economically during the Merovingian period. Several noble families can be attested. The mintmaster Nantaharius, who minted official Merovingian gold coins in Mainz and signed them with his name, may have come from one of these families. A gold coin of the mintmaster Martinus was found in Lincolnshire in England, illustrating international trade relations.