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By combining the technical and empirical research methods, this article aims at establishing the role of the landforms in the location of Roman settlements and fortifications in Northern Transylvania, Romania, focusing on the Dacia Porolissensis (province of the Roman Empire) border and how (and if) these elements are still present in the local identity. Cartographic methods helped us to achieve the technical part. We used the ArcMap 10.6 software. The result obtained through digital modelling is the morphometric identification of the territorial discontinuities. Considering the qualitative aspects, the used methods were the traditional ones: analysis, synthesis, induction, and deduction. These methods enabled us to better understand how these settlements influenced the regional identity. The results of the study are emphasizing the strategical importance of the landforms in establishing the Roman castrum, and it demonstrates how (or if) the associated settlements remained present in the locals’ mentality and influenced the regional identity.

This paper presents the results of archaeological work carried out between 2005-2016, within the framework of a postexcavation project, "Per lineam munitionum", on the fortification system of the Roman legionary fortress and the late Roman and early Byzantine town of Novae. The research concentrated generally on completing and recording old trenches, as well as recording remains of the original building substance, stratigraphy and other archaeological remains using modern technologies and precise geodetic equipment. The archaeological data and stratigraphical observations were compared with the numismatic findings in an effort to improve the final interpretation and the reconstruction of the main construction phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper represents the final publication of excavations by Brian Hartley in the northern annexe of the Roman fort at Slack, West Yorkshire, carried out half a century ago, but still providing rare evidence for activity within an annexe and the nature of its defences. Hartley concluded that the annexe enclosed a civilian vicus of Trajanic–Hadrianic date, although its defensive enclosure was provided only in the Hadrianic period. This report upholds that conclusion. In the light of recent claims of later Roman occupation at Slack, Hartley's conclusion that the site was abandoned by c. a.d. 140 is examined and upheld. It is proposed that a second annexe at Slack enclosed the fort baths (and possibly a mansio) and by examining the Slack annexes in the context of other fort/annexe plans an attempt is made to distinguish between annexes enclosing fort vici and those enclosing official or military activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to articles published within the issue is presented on topics including the role of imperial women in Tetrarchic propaganda, traditional religion in late 14th century Roman Africa, and antique fortified settlement in Northeastern Gaul.

Archaeologists of Goethe Universität Frankfurt and Harvard University investigated the Roman settlement of Decem Pagi (Tarquimpol, Moselle, France), known mainly from Ammianus Marcellinus and the Itineraria, and its late antique fortification. They uncovered a sequence of flourishing settlement, apparent abandonment, and surprising refoundation in Late Antiquity. Occupation antedated the Roman conquest (ceramic, coin, 14C dating). Fourteen sounding trenches and geomagnetic, aerial, GPR, and walking surveys identified impressive early imperial monuments (colonnaded portico, large fanum); they offer a context for the theater observed in 1981, and earlier finds. Decem Pagi now emerges as the religious center of the Saulnois, Metz's salt-producing hinterland, down to its destruction dated by ceramic around the mid-third century. Most surprising was the settlement's late antique refoundation after apparent abandonment. At the Roman crossroads, the settlement's highest point was fortified by a massive late antique clay and stone spolia-faced wall faced and preceded by a double V ditch. A dark earth layer shows at least two phases from ca. 350 to some-time before ca. 450, dated by Argonne and other ceramic, coins, and 14C. It displays craft production and postholes from structures whose regular spatial layout suggests a street plan. Excepting Merovingian-era sarcophagi excavated in the Romanesque parish church in the nineteenth c. there are almost no signs of early medieval occupation, notwithstanding substantial Merovingian activities at neighboring sites along the Seille River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work contains a discussion of the exact dating and reasons for construction of the fort on Vela Palagruža in Late Antiquity. Archaeological evidence of the use of this building is contextualized within the historical circumstances of navigation on the Adriatic Sea in the 5th century AD. Comparisons to similar architectural examples are used to discuss the nature of the fortification's use as lodgings by crew with the primary task of maintaining light signalization during the sailing season on the Adriatic. The historical circumstances that probably led to the abandonment of the fortification as a part of a larger but, at the end of the 5th century, deteriorating maritime system are presented. The exact location of the first Church of St. Michael, adapted inside the remains of the Roman fortification, probably in the 9th century, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roman forts had a major impact on the foundation of many of today’s existing cities. Although a Roman Fort was accessible to many civilians, its image for most of the common people was dictated by the appearance of its walls and outer defenses, which are focus of this study. As a whole Roman fort is being conceived to be built, this case study embraces only the boundaries of this project: the walls, the outer defenses, and the analysis of how the uicus (civilian communities) and annexes are integrated into the structure. This study sets out to establish the basis for the preliminary design of this construction, taking the walls and outer defenses as the first construction phase. It is a classical construction to be built in the short-term under the constraints of modern building techniques, to serve historical re-creation and experimental archaeology purposes. The size of the uici and the fort’s annexes and their inclusion within its walls, as well as the open areas and the various defenses outside them (e.g., ditches and counterscarps), within its envelope, were analyzed to enable historical inferences, as well as legal and economic constraints to be respected, allowing to achieve a sustainable and durable solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation of the Roman fort of Fectio was seized upon to gain insight into the factors that determine the degradation of metal finds and the relationship with different forms of land use. The research showed no difference in the preservation of metal finds from different burial contexts, including disturbed contexts. A possible explanation for the good condition of the metal finds is the presence of organic waste and building material that, together with the clayey soil, create an ideal burial environment for non-ferrous metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adornment artifacts from the Roman Empire have always reflected the preferences, options, aesthetic taste, social status as well as different artistic influences encountered in that period of time. The same situation can be found also in the Roman provinces, where the colonists (who have come from all over the Roman world) have imposed their own artistic styles. Roman jewellery, worn by both men and women include a wide variety of forms (tiaras, necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, medallions, pins, brooches, hairpins) being made of different materials such as metal (gold, silver, bronze, iron), bone or glass. Must not be excluded from this category the precious and semiprecious stones destined to decorate these pieces of adornment. In this article, I have decided to bring into discussion a ring made of iron, decorated with a gemstone, discovered during the archaeological excavations campaign carried out in 2014, at Cioroiu Nou, Dolj county. The iron ring has been well preserved. It has an ellipsoid hoop made of a band with rectangular and slightly rounded cross section, widening towards the upper part, with rounded and not very prominent shoulders on the curvature. The ellipsoid horizontal plaque in which the bezel is shaped, is without a setting for the gemstone. Actually, the gemstone is placed at the level of the plaque. The gemstone has engraved on its surface the representation of a male character with military attributes, most probably the god Mars. The relatively small size of the ring might suggest the fact that it belonged to a teenager or a woman. In terms of dating the gemstone ring, the archaeological context of the discovery may suggest a direction in this regard. The ring was found beneath the stratigraphic level of a building that dates back to the first half of the 3th century AD, so the archaeological level to which it belonged may fit chronologically between the end of the 2nd century and the beginning of the following. The decoration of an iron ring with a gemstone may seem a bizarre fact. But adorning jewellery made from inferior quality metals with semiprecious stones, representes a 3th century custom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the city of Mainz, Germany, highlighting the city's historical and archeological significance as the site of a former Roman military fortress. Topics addressed include the excavation and preservation of a Roman temple, theatre and cenotaph at Mainz, as well as the city's Roman Ship Museum.

The article discusses the significance of the Saalburg archeological site along the Taunus Mountains in Germany. Topics addressed include reconstructions of Roman military forts at the site under the rule of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, as well as the history of excavations of the site in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Copyright of Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Historia is the property of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Roman fort from Sfârleanca is one of the most representative archaeological sites dating from the Roman period (2nd century A.D.) in Northern Muntenia. The existing natural and anthropic features of the environment required the application of geophysical methods in order to outline the spatial pattern of the buried remains, to define the geometry of the anthropogenic settlements and to obtain detailed information about different archaeological materials without digging. During the survey, two different geophysical methods have been employed: total magnetic field measurements and electrical resistance mapping using Twin-probe array. The instrument consists of GSM19W Overhauser magnetometers with GPS, in base-rover system, and a twin-probe array LGM 4-Point light hp. The measurements were used to draw primary maps of the physical parameters (total magnetic field strength/intensity, electrical resistance), and also processed maps (filtering, derivative). The magnetic results obtained by interpreting the anomalies yielded information about the limits of the fort, about the internal organization of the military structure (its axial road, partially its secondary road, the localization and the shape of its constructions) and at the bath and heating installation. A previously unknown element is the possible water supply pipe made of ceramic material highlighted by the mathematical modelling of the data obtained by the magnetic investigations. Electrical resistance results provide complementary information to the magnetic survey concerning the limits of the baths and the remains of the fort structure. This paper brings to light geophysical investigations into this Roman fort and baths, extending the picture produced by previous archaeological excavations that only dealt with a small part of the site. It indicates the importance of using geophysical methods in preliminary archaeological research and the advantages of combining total magnetic field measurements and electrical resistance mapping when investigating an archaeological site characterized by a number of environmental difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dacian Wars present at this moment numerous unknown aspects, among these are the military operations of the Roman Army on the Lower and Middle basin of the Mureș Valley. The scholarly opinions on this matter are numerous, in regard to the advance directions, the troop composition, and the period in which the actions occurred - the first or the second war. The author brings into discussion another possible advance route towards the Mureș Valley, across the Lipovei Hills, on a via terrena road type, built and used during the Dacian - Roman Wars. The hypothesis is supported by the discovery of another possible roman road in 1977, which crosses in its turn the Lipovei Hills about 50 km to the east, at Bulci. Related to these events during the wars, the author presents a number of new fortifications at Bârzava, Neudorf and Secusigiu. The one from Secusigiu, judging by its size and analogies, might represent a temporary roman camp and could represent the first tangible proof of a Roman advance on the Mureș Valley during the Dacian Wars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Trieste Karst, at the northernmost shore of the Adriatic Sea, is rich in prehistoric caves and protohistoric hill forts. Most of these archaeological sites were already identified in the second half of the 19th century when large parts of the area were almost without vegetation coverage for the effect of sheep breeding and exploitation of wood resources. Only a few open-air archaeological sites have been discovered in recent years due to the lack of systematic archaeological surveys and reforestation. Airborne LiDAR (light detection and ranging) data, originally acquired for environmental monitoring over the Friuli Venezia Giulia region (north-eastern Italy), have been recently analysed by means of free open source softwares for archaeological prospection of the Trieste Karst area. The LiDAR derived images have allowed identifying numerous unknown fortified structures ranging from prehistory to Roman time within a complex archaeological landscape that includes possible funerary barrows, agricultural terraces and other structures. The discovery of a probable Roman republican fort is particularly significant since similar structures, almost unknown in Italy, find comparison only with later examples of military forts from Roman provinces. The discovery of prehistoric, protohistoric and Roman fortified sites reported in this paper shows that airborne LiDAR remote sensing represents a revolution in landscape archaeology and archaeological mapping of karstic areas. This technique can provide unexpected results even in relatively urbanized territories investigated for a long time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The most outstanding oasis fort of the limes Tripolitanus, Myd(---)/Gheriat el-Garbia, saw the deployment of various military units between AD 198/201 and 275/80. Archaeological research in 2009/10 focussed on the, fortifications, particularly the main and rear gates, the northern angle tower and interval towers 2 and 4 as well as the curtain wall at its south corner. The towers of the porta praetoria have been reconstructed theoretically with three storeys, at an overall height of c. 12.5 m. Of the headquarters building two of the rear rooms, including the shrine, were excavated. A monumental inscription of a length oft. 9.0 m and corresponding architectural elements suggest the existence of a groma building. Completely unexpected by archaeologists as well as ancient historians and rather spectacular is a late Roman reoccupation of the military.site: after a hiatus of c. 80+ years building activities were undertaken within the fort and repairs and the blocking of the main gate could be observed and probably attributed to the cleploynient of a unit of liinitanei between AD 360/80 (at the earliest) and 430/55. The reoccupied fort might be identified with the so far unknown castra Madensia, where the milites munifices were garrisoned (Notitia Dignitatum 0cc. 31, 30). Further evidence of occupation, possibly of a Libyan chieftain and his tribe, has been assigned to the second half of the fifth century, continuing thereafter until AD 540+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of a Roman military fort at the town of Mizda, about 150 km south of Tripoli, has long been assumed, in spite of scarce archaeological indications. A field survey, conducted recently in the area around the old town of Mizda, yielded an assemblage of pottery dating to the mid and late Roman periods. The pottery provides the first unequivocal evidence for a Roman settlement around (and beneath) the old town, most probably in the form of a fort and vicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, part of a supplement dedicated to the proceedings of the 2012 Summer Meeting of the Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain, discusses the history of Ribchester, a village in the county of Lancashire in England known for its Roman antiquities, including a fort. Particular focus is paid to the history of archaeological excavations at the site. The Ribchester Roman Museum is dedicated to the village's Roman history.

Copyright of Asseria is the property of Museum of Ancient Glass and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Roman earthworks at Burnswark, Dumfries and Galloway, have long been the subject of different interpretations. Were the Roman camps on either side of the hill-fort erected as part of a siege or as a training ground for the Roman army? This paper reviews the evidence, quoting extensively from the excavation reports and surveys of the site in the hope that one interpretation might predominate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the inscription of Claudius Postumus Dardanus. The inscription is a declaration of Dardanus' loyalty to the Roman administration and concern for community. It is not a recollection of a building creation. It likewise reflects on contemporary concerns about fortification of private real properties. It is offered as evidence for Dardanus' career and the history of the site, Theopolis, which became a significant center for Christian worship. Dardanus' inscription written in Latin, is provided.

Cawthorn Camps is a Roman site of probable late 1st and early 2nd century date comprising two forts, one with a later annexe, and a camp. The site survives as earthworks and, within the main defences, there are many slight embanked structures. The current multidisciplinary programme of research has included geophysical prospection, excavation, ground and aerial survey; it is a joint initiative by the North York Moors National Park Authority and English Heritage. The project aims to increase academic understanding, improve information available to the public and assist the production of a revised management plan for this nationally important site. Large-scale air photographs and digital photogrammetry have been used to produce a plan, at scale 1:500, of the earthworks to a precision of ±10 cm. This plan has been used as a base map with which to rectify other key photographs and plans allowing further detailed interpretation and mapping to be undertaken. The air photographic work has also investigated some of the products available through digital photogrammetric technology, such as digital elevation models (DEMs), orthophotographs and perspective views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the archeological significance of the Feldberg Roman fort located near Frankfurt Am Main, Germany. Several images and a map of the site are presented, and the sites history of excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries is noted. The construction of the fort around AD 100 is noted.

The article focuses on Hellenistic and Roman fortifications in Butrint, Albania which are viewed as a coded history from the Archaic Greek age to the Ottoman era. The author and colleagues made a photogrammetric survey of these fortifications and conducted illuminating excavations. It notes that these earliest fortifications belonged to the Archaic Greek age and provided urban grandeur to the sanctuary to Asclepius.