Stamped ceramic building materials are frequently found in late antique northern Gaul with its border provinces of Germania Prima and Secunda as well as Maxima Sequanorum. Stamped brick and tile have been found at numerous sites, providing a good insight into the production and distribution of this building material. The production is a proof for governmental building programmes in the 4th century. The imperial residence of Trier was one of the most important major construction sites in the Roman Empire. From the early 4th century, a brick industry developed in its vicinity. In the first half of the 4th century, the demand for brick material was met by larger manufacturers, whose stamps reveal the names of presumed tenants or foremen. In the course of the further expansion of the imperial residence under the Valetninian dynasty, smaller manufacturers took the place of these large companies.

The construction of fortifications along the Rhine border had a significant influence on brick and production. In Constantinian times, two legions are documented as producers. Valentinian's military construction programme brought a new central army brickwork in Rheinzabern, which was operated by the border troops (limitanei).

The great distance over which bricks were transported in northern Gaul in late antiquity is striking. There is evidence of both military bricks from the Rhine border in Trier and building ceramics from the area around Trier on the Rhine. They were mainly transported via the Rhine and the Moselle, travelling distances of over 300 km. This effort is unusual and shows the efforts of the state authorities to realise building projects across national borders.