Stefan Groh

Hofrat Univ.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Stefan Groh is a Senior Research Fellow at the Austrian Archaeological Institute (ÖAI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. He holds the role of Assistant Director since 2009 and has been with the institute since 1996. His research focuses on Roman military infrastructure, transport routes, and urban planning, with special emphasis on the Amber Road and Noricum. Groh has led excavations such as Flavia Solva (1993-1995) and contributed to projects like Ephesos surveys and geophysical studies in Aquileia.

Education: Degrees in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History from the University of Graz. Early career included roles at the Landesmuseum Joanneum (1989-1995), directing excavations at Flavia Solva from 1993–1995.

Research interests center on military camps, road networks, and urban development. Key projects include studies on Legio II Italica’s fortifications, the Amber Road’s strategic role, and the urban layout of Aquileia. Over 65 journal articles and 16 monographs document his work, including seminal studies on Roman military infrastructure and settlement patterns.

Publications highlight interdisciplinary methods like geophysical prospection and GIS analysis. Recent work includes analyses of the Marchfeld as a Roman military zone and the impact of the Antonine Plague on infrastructure. Groh has edited volumes on Celtic-Roman cult practices and contributed to exhibitions like Ephesos Upper City surveys.

Grants and funding supported projects like the Legio II Italica studies and the Bruckneudorf villa research. His work bridges field archaeology with theoretical insights, influencing both academic discourse and public engagement through museum collaborations and media outreach.

Labs/Teams: Leads ÖAI’s Roman frontier studies team and collaborates with international groups on projects like the Carnuntum-Aquincum comparative study. Active in the Scientific Advisory Board and promotes early career researchers through training programs.