Have you ever wondered about the whispers of history etched into the very stones around you? Here in Mainz-Finthen those whispers are particularly loud. We stand before the remnants of a rich past a past stretching back millennia. Finthen isn’t just a suburb it’s a living testament to layers upon layers of civilization.
Finthen’s story begins long before its first official mention in 1092. Archaeological evidence points to settlements dating back to the Neolithic period around 4500 BC. Imagine the lives of those early inhabitants their tools their daily routines. The settlements shifted over time. The Bronze Age saw a move towards the Königsborn area. The Celts then favored the Aubach valley before the Romans arrived.
The Roman influence is undeniable. A Roman road once cut through Finthen’s land. Its path is still traceable today along Saarstraße Landstraße 419 Kurmainzstraße and Flugplatzstraße. A temple dedicated to Mercury and Rosmerta was erected on the Katzenberg hill. Contrary to popular belief Finthen wasn’t a bustling Roman town or vicus. Instead scattered farmsteads villae rusticae dotted the landscape. A branch of the Roman aqueduct even led from Königsborn to Mainz carrying precious water.
The transition from Roman to Frankish rule isn’t clearly documented archaeologically. It seems to have been a gradual shift around the middle of the 5th century. The Roman population likely integrated into the incoming Frankish community. This peaceful transition is perhaps reflected in the name Finthen itself. It derives from the Roman “fontanetum” meaning “area of springs” a testament to the area’s water abundance.
The actual emergence of Finthen as a village remains a mystery. It is speculated that a settlement grew around the current St Martin’s Church perhaps near a villa rustica whose graves were found on Bierothstraße. By the Carolingian era Finthen was firmly established. Its land was likely imperial property eventually passing into the hands of the Mainz archbishops. The Dompropst held local authority until secularization in 1803.
Finthen’s history continued to unfold. It became part of Kurmainz then briefly French after the First Coalition War. Later under the Grand Duchy of Hesse. In 1939 Finthen’s forest was cleared to build an airbase. After World War II Finthen became part of newly formed Rheinland-Pfalz. Its independence ended in 1969 with its incorporation into Mainz.
But Finthen retains its identity. Its history continues to shape its character. The church the old town hall the remnants of the former manor house all whisper stories of resilience and continuity. The annual Fastnachtsumzug or Shrovetide parade a testament to the community spirit of Mainz-Finthen continues to celebrate the past and the present. From Neolithic settlements to a modern suburb Finthen is more than just a place. It is a journey through time. A history palpable in every cobblestone every building every story shared among its people.