The collection of historic artefacts of the Trier "Society for Beneficial Research" of Carl Friedrich Quednow und the bequest of Johann Peter Job Hermes were the foundation pieces for the museum which was founded in 1877.  The Gallo-Romanic civilisation, economy, settlements, religion and art in the first four centuries after Christ are documented comprehensively as in no other museum. Of particular significance are the Neumagen gravestones, the glass and ceramic collections and the largest Roman gold treasure in the world. The collection is completed with artefacts from the Merovingian-Franconian era.