Arcidava (castrum)

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View of the village Varadia, recording from 2005

The fort Varadia was a Roman auxiliary troops warehouse and part of the chain of fortresses of the Dacian limes ( limes Daciae / Dacia Superior province or later Dacia Apulensis ) in the landscape Banat, community Varadia, district Caras -Severin, Romania.

The occupation of the fort secured the Roman main road Lederata - Tibiscum. Its area is relatively little research studies found in 1901 by Felix Milleker, 1930 by Grigore Florescu, 1985-1990, conducted by Eugen Iaroslavschi and 1997 to 2002 Ovidiu Bozu and Eduard Nemeth instead. The finds from the plants discussed here are now in Institutul de Archaeology in Bucharest, in Narodni Muzey Vršac ( Werschetz ) and in Caras Severin Muzeul Judecean in Resita ( Resita ).

Location

The fort is located about 200 m southeast of the village Varadia, directly at the mouth of the river Vărădiabaches in Caras. The site is known also under the field name " Chetatea " ( = castle ) and " Rovinä ". In the attachment site is still clearly recognizable as a quadratic survey.

Development

Argidava (Greek Ἀργίδαυα ) was originally a Dacian fortified town near the Danube river, which had been founded by the tribe of the Albocenser. The fort was in the reign of Trajan ( 101-102 AD), probably built under the name Arcidava. With Ptolemy it is mentioned as Argidava, in the Tabula Peutingeriana as Arcidaba. Due to its geographical position, was the Banat for the Romans one of the main entrance gates to the Dacian provinces. One of these compounds to the Danube Limes was passing right by the castle road to Tibiscum, which originated from the Moesian Lederata. During the construction of this road, the Romans kept exactly to the topographical conditions and put the path to the outer edge of the hill country and a plane.

Fort and vicus

During the excavations in the 20th century, a total of two phases are detected:

From wood and earth fort to date is only approximate extent be known, 214 × 132 m (?), But largely coincided with the subsequent stone fort. The stone fort was designed by its builders in the classic manner of the early and middle imperial period as a rectangular area with rounded corners ( game card form). It covered an area of ​​154 × 172 m and was surrounded by a 7.50 m wide and 2.50 m deep V-shaped ditch. The defensive wall was pulled 1.10 m wide and Opus incertum technique. It was pierced by four gates, which were flanked by two slightly projecting outwards and trapezoidal gate towers. The flanking towers of the north gate, the Porta Praetoria, measured 4.65 × 8.40 m, that of the south gate, the porta decumana, 2.80 × 8.50 m and that of the west gate, the Porta principalis sinistra, 3.15 × 8, 50 m. The passages of the gates were approximately 8.80 m wide. Of all the gatehouses was only equipped on the northern front with two passages through a central pillar ( spina ) were separated.

From the internal buildings, only the remnants of rod cantonment, called the Principia could, and two camp streets, in the retentura ( pre-storage ) of N -trending S ( wide 9 m) via praetoria and extending from W to O via principalis ( 3.45 m wide) are observed. The Principia had a rectangular layout and measured 32.50 × 37.50 m. They were with a courtyard (atrium, 18.60 × 30 m) and a vestibule ( Basilica, 9.50 × 30 m). The flags sanctuary ( sacellum ) was located on the back of the building and was flanked on either side by two smaller chambers.

In the environment of the fort 's also traces of a vast warehouse village ( vicus ) could be detected.

Garrison

Which unit has asked the occupation of the fort, is unknown; due to the discovery of a bronze Täfelchens suspected you that here the raetische cohors prima Vindelicorum civium Romanorum (the first cohort of Vindelici, with Roman citizenship ) was possibly stationed up to 106 or 111/118, before it was relocated to Tibiscum.

Limes course ( roadblock ) between fort and fort Varadia Mehadia

The crews of the forts listed below were mainly probably also the road link Lederata - to monitor Tibiscum.

Its remains are located directly under the Central Park, field names " Chetatea " or " Dealul Cetäcii ". Scientific excavations have not been carried out. Presumably there was a Legion and auxiliary fort, due to some small finds, it is assumed that it was founded in the 2nd century AD. Some brick temple and inscription findings suggesting the presence of soldiers of the Legio IIII Flavia Felix, the Legio VII Claudia, the Legio XIII Gemina and two auxiliary contingents: the cohors II Hispanorum as well as an equestrian unit, the ala I Tungrorum Frontiana, close.

Its area is also known by its field name " Rovinä " and " Progadie ". The place is run by the Tabula Peutingeriana as Centum Putei. The remains of the enclosure can still be seen as a slight increase in area. The site has been explored very little, from 1964 to 1968 led by Dumitru Protase some research. The fort dates back to the occupation in the early 2nd century AD and appears to have been abandoned around 118 AD again, since even a construction phase could be detected. It was built in wood and earth technique and had a square 128 × 132 m measured floor plan with rounded corners. The base enclosure consisted of a double wall, which was each surrounded by one or two V-shaped ditches.

• Wall I: 15 m wide and 1.10 m high, Trench: 3.20 m wide and 1.50 m deep,

• Wall II: 15 m - 17 m wide and 0.50 m high, Trench 1: 4 m wide, 0.70 m deep,
• Trench 2: 2 m wide, 0.50 m deep.

Probably the camp of Legio IIII Flavia Felix the relatives was built, how can the findings of brick temples of this Legion suspect.

Its area is known as the field names " Jidovin ", the safety fence is still clearly visible. The place is mentioned in the Tabula Peutingeriana as Bersobis. The site has been studied in the 20th century in three field seasons: 1960-1964 by Dumitru Protase and Volker Wollmann, 1968-1970 by Marius Moga, Flores Medelec and Richard Petrovsky. The single-phase and 410 × 490 m large wood and earth fort dates from Trajan and was abandoned after 114. The crew put the Legio IIII Flavia Felix, which is attested by several brick temple.

1783 saw Johann Georg Hoffinger in the immediate vicinity of the camp is an ancient building with several heated by hypocaust rooms. The largest of them had an apse and a step-shaped pool, presumably the remains of the fort Spa ( balineum ).

Probably also a wood and earth castle from the early 2nd century AD In ancient times it was known as the place Aizizis. The site is completely unexplored. The remains of the enclosure (110 × 30 m) can still be seen as a slight elevation in the terrain, forming an irregular rectangle with long sides north and south, which was roughly aligned to the cardinal directions. At the Western Wall is still a door opening to detect. The unit stationed here crew is not known.

Conservation

• Romania: The entire archaeological site and in particular the castle are adopted after the 2001 Act No 422/ 2001 as historical monuments under protection and are registered in the national list of historic monuments ( Lista Monumentelor Istorice ). The responsible authority is the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage ( Ministerul Culturii şi Patrimoniului Naţional ), in particular the General Directorate of National Heritage, the Department of Fine Arts and the National Commission for Historical Monuments and further, the Ministry subordinate institutions. Unauthorized excavation, as well as the export of ancient artifacts have been banned in Romania.

• Serbia: The protection of archaeological objects and zones enjoys top priority and is defined by the 1994 Monument Protection Act (Official Gazette RS SG, 71 /94) regulated with its subsequent amendments and additions, as well as by special decrees. Laboratory is that the Ministry of Culture belonging Serbian Monuments Office in Belgrade. Research and purposeful gathering of findings require a license. The damage and destruction of archaeological objects and places of discovery must be reported within 24 hours of the authorities. Without consultation with the Serbian Monuments Office no antiquities may be placed out of the country. Offenses are punishable as criminal acts within the meaning of the Serbian legislation. Upon entry into the European Union is expected to inspections.