- Canabae legionis, Roman Army, Roman Provincial Archaeology, Roman military archaeology, Roman soldier/civilian relationships, Roman Settlement, and 20 moreLower Danube Archaeology, Archaeology of Roman Provinces, Limes, Canabae, Lower Danubian Provinces, Lower Moesia, Logistics of the Roman Army, Roman Legionary Camp, Archaeology of Roman Moesia, Lower Danube limes, Moesia inferior, Roman Limes, Roman Prosopography, Women in the ancient world, Roman Archaeology, Latin Epigraphy, Roman collegia, Danubian Provinces of the Roman Empire, Landscape Archaeology, and Roman Small Findsedit
- Adjunct at the Faculty of Archaeology University of Warsaw trained in Roman provincial archaeology. I defended my PhD... moreAdjunct at the Faculty of Archaeology University of Warsaw trained in Roman provincial archaeology. I defended my PhD at the University of Warsaw with a thesis "Inter Moesos et Thraces. Roman and Early Byzantine settlement in the Yantra and Osǎm River basins, two right tributaries of the Danube" summa cum laude. In 2018 I reached doctor with habilitation degree at the same University with the research achievement "Civil settlement near the Roman legionary fortresses in Lower Danubian provinces. Settlements, their inhabitants and administration". My research interests primarily lie in the fields of Roman provincial archeology, with particular emphasis on the role of the army and civil settlement along the Roman frontiers. Subject of my present research interests are aspects related to the use of space inside the fortress, military administration and the role of principal buildings of the Roman fortress, as well as the epigraphic evidence of every-day military life.edit
- Tadeusz Sarnowskiedit
This monograph presents the civil settlements at four legionary camps located in the Roman province of Lower Moesia: Novae, Oescus, Durostorum and Troesmis. Based on archaeological and epigraphic evidence, the book presents in detail the... more
This monograph presents the civil settlements at four legionary camps located in the Roman province of Lower Moesia: Novae, Oescus, Durostorum and Troesmis. Based on archaeological and epigraphic evidence, the book presents in detail the remains and proof of extramural settlement at Novae as a case study, as compared to three other Lower Moesian sites. In each case, the topography, the current state of research, the unearthed remains in the vicinity of these fortresses, as well as various written evidence on the subject are presented and critically evaluated. This book is a first attempt at the evaluation of the extramural settlement in the area of the Lower Danubian provinces. A number of issues related to these settlements are discussed against the backdrop of the problems of extramural settlements near Roman military bases in general. The publication includes 60 figures, maps and plans, 4 charts and 17 tables.
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The Roman legionary base at Novae in Lower Moesia is one of the most important sites in the Lower Danubian provinces. Towards late Antiquity, the military camp was transformed into a civil town with Episcopal residence and survived until... more
The Roman legionary base at Novae in Lower Moesia is one of the most important sites in the Lower Danubian provinces. Towards late Antiquity, the military camp was transformed into a civil town with Episcopal residence and survived until the beginning of the 7th century. The Polish-Bulgarian excavations carried out for more than 55 years revealed remains dated from the mid-1st up to the early Byzantine periods and more than 300 inscriptions on stone. The rural hinterland of Novae is exceptional and fascinating for the historian and archaeologist, not only due to the importance of the site itself, but also due to its location. The legionary camp at Novae was located halfway between the outlets of two rivers – the Osăm and Jantra, flowing nearly parallel to each other. This part of the Danubian Plain was inhabited by Geto-Thracians and tribes influenced by the Celts. The special position of the lands between the Osăm and Jantra rivers is well-expressed by a series of boundary stones set up in AD 136 by Emperor Hadrian, who divided the tribal territories of Moesos and Thraces. This special geopolitical situation must have caused considerable difficulties in administering the area by the Romans. At present this poses a challenge for scholars, who search for answers to various questions concerning the universal solutions applied in borderlands in the past.
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In 2015 Professor Tadeusz Sarnowski celebrates his 45th anniversary of scientific work. The Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw decided to honour him with a special book dedicated to Him by his friends, colleagues and... more
In 2015 Professor Tadeusz Sarnowski celebrates his 45th anniversary of scientific work. The Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw decided to honour him with a special book dedicated to Him by his friends, colleagues and former students. Our aim was to publish a book with the articles dealing with the subjects close to his scientific interests. The book contains 39 papers authors from Poland, as well as from other countries.
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Tibiscum is one of the biggest Roman auxiliary forts in Dacia and one of the most interesting sites of this kind. It comprises a military fort with its civil settlement and the remains of other structures related to them. The environment... more
Tibiscum is one of the biggest Roman auxiliary forts in Dacia and one of the most interesting sites of this kind. It comprises a military fort with its civil settlement and the remains of other structures related to them. The environment around Tibiscum makes it interesting also from the geological point of view. The Timiş River flowing along the fort changed its riverbed regularly in the past, causing troubles to the inhabitants and now to the archaeologists. The broader area around Tibiscum has been only partly researched and still awaits further investigations. The goal of our two-year research was a better understanding of the ancient landscape around Tibiscum and a spatial allocation of settlements and infrastructure. A set of various methods has been implemented to cover the largest area available for the surveys without using excavation methods. Non-destructive survey allowed to collect data which led to the new conclusions about the settlement complex. Following the analysed surveys, new roads were discovered, the necropolis area of the municipium Septimium Tibiscensium, new areas inhabited around the fortification, and especially the parts of the archaeological site that were destroyed by the floods and fluctuations of the river Timiş could be established.
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The discovery of four graves made in 2016–¬2019 to the east of the legionary camp of Novae shed new light on the funerary rites practiced by the inhabitants in the 2nd century AD. Anthropological analysis shows that two deceased were men,... more
The discovery of four graves made in 2016–¬2019 to the east of the legionary camp of Novae shed new light on the funerary rites practiced by the inhabitants in the 2nd century AD. Anthropological analysis shows that two deceased were men, whose bone features may be related to a soldier’s activities and diet. The graves where the remains of bones were found contained, among others, shoe hobnails. The cremains identified in the third grave belonged to a woman, while the only skeletal burial was that of a child. The graves were furnished with pottery and some other small finds, such as terracotta lamp and bronze and iron objects. The adults’ graves were provided with bronze coins.
The analysis of the grave inventories allows to reproduce funeral rites practiced in Novae. In accordance with the information available from the earlier publications compared with the acquired data, at least part of the eastern side of the legionary fortress was surrounded by the biritual necropolis used in the 2nd and the mid-3rd century AD. The necropolis ceased to function after the Gothic invasions in the 260s and 270s, and the funerary monuments were reused in the internal buildings and the new fortifications which surrounded this the whole area to the east of the camp. The same fate was met by other cemeteries, as it is well-shown by the so-called “via inscriptionum” built on the ruins of the military hospital.
The analysis of the grave inventories allows to reproduce funeral rites practiced in Novae. In accordance with the information available from the earlier publications compared with the acquired data, at least part of the eastern side of the legionary fortress was surrounded by the biritual necropolis used in the 2nd and the mid-3rd century AD. The necropolis ceased to function after the Gothic invasions in the 260s and 270s, and the funerary monuments were reused in the internal buildings and the new fortifications which surrounded this the whole area to the east of the camp. The same fate was met by other cemeteries, as it is well-shown by the so-called “via inscriptionum” built on the ruins of the military hospital.
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In 2004, during the fieldwork carried out by the University of Warsaw Institute of Archaeology mission, a fragment of a limestone block inscribed with a honorary inscription in Latin was discovered accidentally to the west of a building... more
In 2004, during the fieldwork carried out by the University of Warsaw Institute of Archaeology mission, a fragment of a limestone block inscribed with a honorary inscription in Latin was discovered accidentally to the west of a building in the left retentura. The inscription has an exact parallel in another inscription from Novae, discovered by Bulgarian archaeologists in 1979.
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The reign of Trajan in the Lower Danubian lands was the time of significant changes, not only in administration and military issues on a regional scale, but also in local communities which witnessed intensified building activity, the... more
The reign of Trajan in the Lower Danubian lands was the time of significant changes, not only in administration and military issues on a regional scale, but also in local communities which witnessed intensified building activity, the movements of large groups of people, increase of production as a respond to growing demand and many other economic and social aspects. The extramural settlements near legionary bases were involved in all these events directly. This paper presents the evidence of the extramural settlements and their inhabitants who lived along the Lower Danube at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries and tries to answer the question what changes to these settlements were brought by Trajan’s rule.
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The excavations in the eastern extension (annex) of Novae revealed the remains of a necropolis, including three graves covered with stamped military building materials. The grave inventory compared with the date of the imprints makes it... more
The excavations in the eastern extension (annex) of Novae revealed the remains of a necropolis, including three graves covered with stamped military building materials. The grave inventory compared with the date of the imprints makes it possible to date the latter to the period between the early 2nd and the late 2nd century AD. Apart from the finds from the graves, four stamps were found in the layers superposing the cemetery, including a very unique consular stamp of L. Cossonius Eggius Marullus.
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Inscribed monuments may provide more extensive evidence concerning the character of a settlement than only about the social and ethnic composition of its inhabitants. Collected data may allow for reproducing, at least partly, other... more
Inscribed monuments may provide more extensive evidence concerning the character of a settlement than only about the social and ethnic composition of its inhabitants. Collected data may allow for reproducing, at least partly, other ele-ments such as the landscape, topography, religious life, and the nature of the set-tlement itself. A statistical approach provides further information concerning the development and prosperity of such a settlement. The civilian population of the canabae at Novae was multicultural and consisted of a mixture of various social strata.
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Many ancient writers have written about feeding the Roman army, including Vegetius, Appian, Cassius Dio, Tacitus and Suetonius. Archaeological sources provide interesting data on the ways of army provisioning, food supply, the soldier's... more
Many ancient writers have written about feeding the Roman army, including Vegetius, Appian, Cassius Dio, Tacitus and Suetonius. Archaeological sources provide interesting data on the ways of army provisioning, food supply, the soldier's diet, but also the consequences of eating certain types of foods. Analyzing the remains of consumption and waste, we can reconstruct the diet of soldiers in various corners of the empire and look at their everyday life "from the kitchen". This contribution is an attempt at an introduction on the nature of literary and archaeological sources concerning the food supply and diet of soldiers stationed in several selected places in the empire.
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The excavations carried out in 2016–¬2019 (supported by the Polish National Science Centre) to the east of the legionary camp of Novae shed new light on the function of this place before it was surrounded by new fortifications and became... more
The excavations carried out in 2016–¬2019 (supported by the Polish National Science Centre) to the east of the legionary camp of Novae shed new light on the function of this place before it was surrounded by new fortifications and became part of the Late Roman town. This paper combines the newly acquired data with the available information from earlier research in order to analyse the eastern necropolis of Novae, a so far little-known burial ground identified in the studied area. Reconstruction of its location, chronology, burial rites and history is offered, illuminating an obscure aspect of the history of Novae, especially the changes that occurred in the 3rd century.
One inhumation and three cremation burials have been unearthed, as well as a structure which is identified as a funeral pyre (ustrinum) or a monumental grave. The single inhumation grave was that of a child. The excavation results combined with anthropological analysis of the cremains suggest that two individuals were cremated within the grave structures (bustum-type burials), while the third burial was an ustrinum type, the body cremated elsewhere, the remains collected and transferred to the grave. The two individuals in the bustum-type burials were men, whose bone features and pathologies may be related to a soldier’s activities and diet. The furnishing of the graves was not expensive, but the deceased were provided with coins and clay vessels used for eating and drinking, some of them placed on the funeral pyre before cremation, and some used during a sacrificial feast. Combined with the earlier finds, it is possible to state that the eastern necropolis was biritual and the burials mostly followed typical Roman burial customs. It is possible that some of the gravestones found reused in various parts of Novae could have originally come from this area.
The unearthed part of the necropolis is dated by the small finds (coins and pottery) as well as its stratigraphy to the 2nd and the middle of the 3rd century AD. The final period of the eastern necropolis could have taken place in the 260s and 270s, after several Gothic invasions devastated the region. After the cemetery ceased to function, an unusual change of function took place, as it was included in the area protected by the new fortifications of the so-called “annex” and started to be used for habitation and manufacturing, even though it was still recognizable as a former graveyard.
One inhumation and three cremation burials have been unearthed, as well as a structure which is identified as a funeral pyre (ustrinum) or a monumental grave. The single inhumation grave was that of a child. The excavation results combined with anthropological analysis of the cremains suggest that two individuals were cremated within the grave structures (bustum-type burials), while the third burial was an ustrinum type, the body cremated elsewhere, the remains collected and transferred to the grave. The two individuals in the bustum-type burials were men, whose bone features and pathologies may be related to a soldier’s activities and diet. The furnishing of the graves was not expensive, but the deceased were provided with coins and clay vessels used for eating and drinking, some of them placed on the funeral pyre before cremation, and some used during a sacrificial feast. Combined with the earlier finds, it is possible to state that the eastern necropolis was biritual and the burials mostly followed typical Roman burial customs. It is possible that some of the gravestones found reused in various parts of Novae could have originally come from this area.
The unearthed part of the necropolis is dated by the small finds (coins and pottery) as well as its stratigraphy to the 2nd and the middle of the 3rd century AD. The final period of the eastern necropolis could have taken place in the 260s and 270s, after several Gothic invasions devastated the region. After the cemetery ceased to function, an unusual change of function took place, as it was included in the area protected by the new fortifications of the so-called “annex” and started to be used for habitation and manufacturing, even though it was still recognizable as a former graveyard.
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W marcu 2013 roku podczas prac terenowych związanych z budową wizualizacji budynku komendantury (principia) na terenie Parku Archeologicznego Novae zadokumentowano kilkadziesiąt zabytków ruchomych, kilka inskrypcji, a także pochówek... more
W marcu 2013 roku podczas prac terenowych związanych z budową wizualizacji budynku komendantury (principia) na terenie Parku Archeologicznego Novae zadokumentowano kilkadziesiąt zabytków ruchomych, kilka inskrypcji, a także pochówek szkieletowy. Wśród kilkudziesięciu zabytków metalowych znalezionych na terenie dziedzińca budynku komendantury znajdował się niewielki zabytek z brązu pokryty warstwą skorodowanego żelaza i gliny. Przedmiot został znaleziony około 10 cm poniżej powierzchni, z której wcześniej zdjęto ziemię koparką podczas prac budowlanych, na poziomie gruntu z okresu użytkowania budowli. Po dokładnym oczyszczeniu przedmiotu okazało się, że omawiany zabytek jest rodzajem niewielkiej, dość unikatowej kłódki określanej w literaturze niemieckojęzycznej jako Vorhängenschloss mit Maskendeckel, a w anglojęzycznej jako "mask puzzle padlock". W sumie dotychczas odkryto bądź opisano 157 egzemplarzy kłódek tego rodzaju. Jest to pierwszy tego rodzaju zabytek znaleziony w Novae.
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The fortifications of the eastern extension in Novae were subject of archaeological investigations carried out by the Bulgarian Archaeological Expedition in 1960–70. Since 2016 the excavations the extension are carried out by the... more
The fortifications of the eastern extension in Novae were subject of archaeological investigations carried out by the Bulgarian Archaeological Expedition in 1960–70. Since 2016 the excavations the extension are carried out by the Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw.
Three graves dated to the 2nd c. were unearthed in the area of the annex of Novae. All graves were covered by a roof-like covering of roof tiles and ceramic plates bearing LEG I ITAL stamps, and contained cremation burials. The graves were provided with tableware and metal objects which were heavily burned. The fourth feature in a form of a square construction may have been used as a funearal pyre.
Three graves dated to the 2nd c. were unearthed in the area of the annex of Novae. All graves were covered by a roof-like covering of roof tiles and ceramic plates bearing LEG I ITAL stamps, and contained cremation burials. The graves were provided with tableware and metal objects which were heavily burned. The fourth feature in a form of a square construction may have been used as a funearal pyre.
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The present interim report covers three years (2013-15) of various archaeological activities in Novae and its surroundings, including not only three systematic summer excavation campaigns (defences of the legionary fortress) and two... more
The present interim report covers three years (2013-15) of various archaeological activities in Novae and its surroundings, including not only three systematic summer excavation campaigns (defences of the legionary fortress) and two spring prospection campaigns (2013-14; extramural settlements-vicus at Ostrite Mogili and canabae including the mithraeum) but also emergency excavations associated with earthworks preceding the opening of an archaeological park in the central part of the site (2013) and with repairing the broken modern water supply pipe Vardim-Svištov in the rear part of the fortress (2014).
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The paper is a summary of my PhD thesis
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In 2013, within the framework of non-invasive investigations in the vicinity of the legionary fortress at Novae (Moesia Inferior), geophysical prospection was carried out in the area of an archaeological site located about 2.5 km to the... more
In 2013, within the framework of non-invasive investigations in the vicinity of the legionary fortress at Novae (Moesia Inferior), geophysical prospection was carried out in the area of an archaeological site located about 2.5 km to the east of the fortress, in a place known as Ostrite Mogili. In one of illegal robbery trenches, a fragment of a wall (about 0.60 m thick) could be seen. After cleaning it turned out that some elements are fragments of a broken inscription.
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Brief report from the last season of non-destructive investigations near the legionary fortress at Novae in Moesia inferior. The field surveys were carried out on the vicus Ostrite Mogili situated ca 2.5 km to the east of the fortress and... more
Brief report from the last season of non-destructive investigations near the legionary fortress at Novae in Moesia inferior. The field surveys were carried out on the vicus Ostrite Mogili situated ca 2.5 km to the east of the fortress and on two other sites.
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The present interim report covers three years (2013 – 15) of various archaeological activities in Novae and its surroundings, including not only three systematic summer excavation campaigns (defences of the legionary fortress) and two... more
The present interim report covers three years (2013 – 15) of various archaeological activities in Novae and its surroundings, including not only three systematic summer excavation campaigns (defences of the legionary fortress) and two spring prospection campaigns (2013–14: extramural settlements – vicus at Ostrite Mogili and canabae including the mithraeum) but also emergency excavations associated with earthworks preceding the opening of an archaeological park in the central part of the site (2013) and with repairing the broken modern water supply pipe Vardim – Svištov in the rear part of the fortress (2014).
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A 3-year excavation project in the eastern part of the Late Roman Novae (so called annex or Novae II) started in 2017. The area adjacent to the legionary fortress from the east was a part of the canabae legionis in the early Roman period,... more
A 3-year excavation project in the eastern part of the Late Roman Novae (so called annex or Novae II) started in 2017. The area adjacent to the legionary fortress from the east was a part of the canabae legionis in the early Roman period, and during the Late Antiquity became part of the fortified town. The Late Roman fortifications were excavated by the Bulgarian archaeologists in 1961-1969, and in 2012-2014 non-destructive surveys were made in the annex.
Based on the previous archaeological surveys, four places were chosen for further investigations. Sector 1 was excavated in 2016, in the place where the remains of walls were unearthed by illegal trenching. Three other sectors were located in places which were chosen as potentially not destroyed.
Based on the previous archaeological surveys, four places were chosen for further investigations. Sector 1 was excavated in 2016, in the place where the remains of walls were unearthed by illegal trenching. Three other sectors were located in places which were chosen as potentially not destroyed.
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The Roman military fort Tibiscum existing from the beginning of the 2nd up to the third quarter of the 3rd century AD has an irregular shape, relatively big surface, and not entirely clear settlement structures on both sides of the Timiş... more
The Roman military fort Tibiscum existing from the beginning of the 2nd up to the third quarter of the 3rd century AD has an irregular shape, relatively big surface, and not entirely clear settlement structures on both sides of the Timiş River. The non-destructive research project carried out in 2014–16 allowed to reassess the ancient landscape around the fort. An integrated archaeological prospection methods combined with the use of new surveying tools resulted in establishing the accurate position of the known extramural remains and the location of a dozen of new sites and features within the radius of ca. 3 km around the fort. The results of the surveys compared with the old maps and previous excavations led to the new conclusions concerning the topography of Roman Tibiscum and the development of the civilian settlement in its vicinity.
The publication is available online under the link.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/arp.1767
The publication is available online under the link.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/arp.1767
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The lands controlled by the army are frequently described by scholars as the 'military terri-tory', 'Militärland', 'territoire militaire/legionnaire' or 'militärisches Nutzland', while epigraphic evidence uses the terms prata or... more
The lands controlled by the army are frequently described by scholars as the 'military terri-tory', 'Militärland', 'territoire militaire/legionnaire' or 'militärisches Nutzland', while epigraphic evidence uses the terms prata or territorium. Their size, function, and legal status are the subject of debate among scholars. In this paper some questions are raised concerning these lands, understood in three basic ways; (1) the sector of a border remaining under the military control of a legion (bor-derland), (2) the area or areas used and controlled by the unit within the entire province (military territory), and (3) the territory outside the camp (legionary territory). Following this, the author discusses problems regarding military and civil administration, civil settlements near the military bases, settlement duality, the organization of the extramural space and its limitation, as well as the role of some public buildings and religious features.
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The latest occupation phase traced in the excavated section of the northern defensive wall of Novae dates to the sixth century AD. The excavations uncovered the earthenware pottery kiln containing the broken, but entire pots. The moment... more
The latest occupation phase traced in the excavated section of the northern defensive wall of Novae dates to the sixth century AD. The excavations uncovered the earthenware pottery kiln containing the broken, but entire pots. The moment of its destruction is dated by a follis of Justinian I. Among almost forty kilns unearthed so far at Novae, those placed within the walls of the fortress are dated mainly to the 4 th – mid-5 th centuries. The discussed kiln is a rare example of a 6 th century feature of this type from the central part of Moesia II, preserved with its batch.
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The importance of civil settlements near legionary bases was underestimated for many years, while their role is inquestionable. The civil settlements near legionary fortresses in Lower Moesia are still not very well recognized. The author... more
The importance of civil settlements near legionary bases was underestimated for many years, while their role is inquestionable. The civil settlements near legionary fortresses in Lower Moesia are still not very well recognized. The author tries to draw attention on some questions related to civil settlements near legionary camps at Oescus, Novae, Durostorum and Troesmis.
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The issue at hand is how to interprete finds related or possibly-related to women in Roman camps and forts. The author shows different possibilities of presence of women or youngsters within the camp walls
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Co-authors: L.A. Kovalevskaja, A. Tomas, P. Zakrzewski, T. Dziurdzik, E. Jęczmienowski
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A brief presentation of the non-intrusive investigations around the legionary fortress of Novae and the vicus on the site of Ostrite Mogili conducted in 2013.
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A 3-year excavation project in the eastern part of the Late Roman Novae (so called annex or Novae II) started in 2017. The area adjacent to the legionary fortress from the east was a part of the canabae legionis in the early Roman period,... more
A 3-year excavation project in the eastern part of the Late Roman Novae (so called annex or Novae II) started in 2017. The area adjacent to the legionary fortress from the east was a part of the canabae legionis in the early Roman period, and during the Late Antiquity became part of the fortified town. The Late Roman fortifications were excavated by the Bulgarian archaeologists in 1961-1969, and in 2012-2014 non-invasive surveys were made in the annex.
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The reconstruction of the civilian settlement in the neighbourhood of Novae is a task requiring an integrated scientific approach. Non-destructive investigations carried out in 2012–2014 were one of the steps in the long and laborious... more
The reconstruction of the civilian settlement in the neighbourhood of Novae is a task requiring an integrated scientific approach. Non-destructive investigations carried out in 2012–2014 were one of the steps in the long and laborious process of collecting data concerning this subject. The field survey included geomagnetic prospection, field walking, and mapping metal finds, but also laboratory analyses of archaeobotanical remains or documentation of architectural structure visible in some places. Finally, the results were compared to information provided by epigraphic evidence.
Due to the limited time for the survey, geomagnetic prospection was performed in an area covering 12.67 ha. The results undoubtedly show the existence of anthropogenic underground structures in the eastern annex of Novae and in the area of the presumed vicus at Ostrite Mogili. In the small lot accessible on the western side of the fortress, the results were better when investigations were done using the electric resistance method. The results were not so clear at other minor sites, although they are rich in archaeological material. The metal finds and pottery used in establishing the chronology helped to create a map of the canabae and Late Roman suburbium. During field walking, we localised several settlements or other traces of human activity, but also surveyed the exact positions of the mithraeum and shrine of Dionysus / Liber Pater. The research results show that studying the extramural settlement at Novae should involve long-term surveys and must be continued in the future.
Due to the limited time for the survey, geomagnetic prospection was performed in an area covering 12.67 ha. The results undoubtedly show the existence of anthropogenic underground structures in the eastern annex of Novae and in the area of the presumed vicus at Ostrite Mogili. In the small lot accessible on the western side of the fortress, the results were better when investigations were done using the electric resistance method. The results were not so clear at other minor sites, although they are rich in archaeological material. The metal finds and pottery used in establishing the chronology helped to create a map of the canabae and Late Roman suburbium. During field walking, we localised several settlements or other traces of human activity, but also surveyed the exact positions of the mithraeum and shrine of Dionysus / Liber Pater. The research results show that studying the extramural settlement at Novae should involve long-term surveys and must be continued in the future.
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In October 2012 the workshop entitled “Reading Past and Present Landscapes in Central Europe” was held in Hungary. During the workshop, which was focused on exchanging ideas and experience concerning remote sensing methods of detection... more
In October 2012 the workshop entitled “Reading Past and Present Landscapes in Central Europe” was held in Hungary. During the workshop, which was focused on exchanging ideas and experience concerning remote sensing methods of detection and registering archaeological sites, a large Roman site near the village of Sárbogárd in Nagyhörcsökpuszta was detected. The area of the site, its location, and the finds suggest that it could have played an important role in the region. This paper presents the results obtained from geophysical prospection and field walking, as well as the results of pottery analysis.
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Among almost 300 epigraphic monuments from Novae, thirty-five mention women, but only nine of them refer to female family members of the soldiers and veterans of the First Italic legion. The aim of this paper is to attempt to answer... more
Among almost 300 epigraphic monuments from Novae, thirty-five mention women, but only nine of them refer to female family members of the soldiers and veterans of the First Italic legion. The aim of this paper is to attempt to answer questions concerning the status and character of family relationships maintained by soldiers, officers and veterans of the legio I Italica. Therefore, to the group of monuments from Novae I have added evidence from other sites that yielded inscriptions mentioning the legionaries and their female family members. Thus, the list of monuments comprises evidence from other sites in Lower Moesia, Dalmatia and Chersonesus (Crimea), where soldiers of this unit were stationed. To this list I have added attestations of female family members of the high-rank officers (legates and tribunes) who mention the First Italic legion in their careers, as well as of veterans.
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Five monuments discovered so far at Novae have venerated Liber Pater and Dionysus. In one of his recent publications, Professor Tadeusz Sarnowski presented the opinion that the numerous dedications to this deity discovered at Novae may be... more
Five monuments discovered so far at Novae have venerated Liber Pater and Dionysus. In one of his recent publications, Professor Tadeusz Sarnowski presented the opinion that the numerous dedications to this deity discovered at Novae may be evidence of local wine production. This assumption is not without grounds. Nevertheless, a broader view of the Bacchic cult, both in the chronological and territorial extent, may be of some help for future investigations.
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Novae has been excavated for more than 50 years now, while the better half of these fieldwork campaigns have been witnessed by Tadeusz Sarnowski. All of the general publications on Novae and some of the more specific ones mention the... more
Novae has been excavated for more than 50 years now, while the better half of these fieldwork campaigns have been witnessed by Tadeusz Sarnowski. All of the general publications on Novae and some of the more specific ones mention the Mithraeum, but only en passant. Although the said sanctuary has been published to some extent in several contributions by Vărbinka Najdenova, it appears justified — 30 years after the discovery — to gather the somewhat scattered pieces of data on this small shrine for recapitulation, but also to enable further studies on Mithras and his associations with other Oriental cults worshipped by the Lower Danubian troops.
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The excavation campaign of 2015 took place on the southern front (Tower 12) of the legionary fortress and in the south-western part of the extramural settlement (canabae). In our field laboratory near the dig house of the Bulgarian... more
The excavation campaign of 2015 took place on the southern front (Tower 12) of the legionary fortress and in the south-western part of the extramural settlement (canabae). In our field laboratory near the dig house of the Bulgarian Mission the restoration work on the amphorae from the early Roman loess pits was continued.
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The brief report on the last season of non-destructive investigations near the legionary fortress at Novae (Lower Moesia)
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The question of pre-Roman settlement in the central region of the lower Danube valley remains unresolved. The quantity of hand-formed pottery discovered in first century AD layers of the legionary camp at Novae is intriguing, since local... more
The question of pre-Roman settlement in the central region of the lower Danube valley remains unresolved. The quantity of hand-formed pottery discovered in first century AD layers of the legionary camp at Novae is intriguing, since local settlements in the area between the Osum and Yantra rivers are not well attested. According to coin finds, pre-Roman settlements appear to have collapsed in the 80s BC. Pottery made in the local tradition and discovered in the layers and pits dating as late as the Flavian period may indicate that small-scale displacements of people living on the northern bank of the Danube were also possible near Novae.
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The epigraphic evidence from four Lower Moesian legionary bases provides information about military-civilian society living along the Lower Danubian frontier zone. The inscriptions on stone originating from these four sites informs not... more
The epigraphic evidence from four Lower Moesian legionary bases provides information about military-civilian society living along the Lower Danubian frontier zone. The inscriptions on stone originating from these four sites informs not only about the names, age or status of the people living in the border zone, but may be helpful in recreating the emergence of Roman provincial society in the military garrisons. The epigraphic evidence collected from Oescus, Novae, Durostorum, and Troesmis includes only the inscriptions related to the people who were not active soldiers and officers serving in the legions. The aim of the paper is to find out whether the epigraphic evidence may bring any additional information concerning the civilian and military families, ethnic and social composition of the inhabitants living near legionary bases, conditions of life, and the nature of the settlement.
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This paper presents the main goals and methods of non-destructive investigations at Novae carried out in 2012-2014.
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In 2013 during the building works in the area of the Archaeological Park at Novae a face padlock was discovered in area of the headquarters building. Face padlocks or mask padlocks (Vorhängeschloss mit Maskendeckel) were usually decorated... more
In 2013 during the building works in the area of the Archaeological Park at Novae a face padlock was discovered in area of the headquarters building. Face padlocks or mask padlocks (Vorhängeschloss mit Maskendeckel) were usually decorated with a human face, rarely with ram’s head. This type of padlocks are quite rare and only 157 items have been known so far, the majority of them kept in private collections. The earliest padlocks of that type are dated to the 1st century AD and the latest to the 4th. It is possible that their decoration is related to the manufacturing tradition of the craftsmen. The items originating from the European part of the Empire were produced among others in north Italy. It is quite interesting that the face padlocks were found mainly in the frontier provinces. The author presents one of the possible interpretations of such distribution.
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This paper presents civilian individuals known from epigraphic monuments discovered at Novae in Lower Moesia. The scarcity of information forces us to assess the representativeness, accuracy, and value of these sources, but also try to... more
This paper presents civilian individuals known from epigraphic monuments discovered at Novae in Lower Moesia. The scarcity of information forces us to assess the representativeness, accuracy, and value of these sources, but also try to find what is “behind” the text.
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All of the general publications on Novae and some of the more specific ones mention the Mithraeum, but only en passant. Although the said sanctuary has been published to some extent in several contributions by Vărbinka Najdenova, it... more
All of the general publications on Novae and some of the more specific ones mention the Mithraeum, but only en passant. Although the said sanctuary has been published to some extent in several contributions by Vărbinka Najdenova, it appears justified — 30 years after the discovery — to gather the somewhat scattered pieces of data on this small shrine for recapitulation, but also to enable further studies on Mithras and his associations with other Oriental cults worshipped by the Lower Danubian troops.
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Research Interests: Remote Sensing and Novae
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The review of the book: The Crimea and the Northern Black Sea Coast in Archaeological Research 1956-2013 / Крым и северное побережье Чёрного моря в археологических исследованиях 1956-2013, Marcin Matera, Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski... more
The review of the book: The Crimea and the Northern Black Sea Coast in Archaeological Research 1956-2013 / Крым и северное побережье Чёрного моря в археологических исследованиях 1956-2013, Marcin Matera, Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski (eds.), Światowit Supplement Series C: Pontica et Caucasica, vol. I, Warszawa 2017
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A review of the monograph by Tomasz Waliszewski, Elaion
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This is the review of the book by Michał Duch, Economic Role of the Roman Army in the province of Lower Moesia (Moesia inferior), Acta Humanistica Gnesnensia, XVI, 5 maps, 4 figures, Gniezno 2017, 284 pp. (edition in Polish: Gospodarcza... more
This is the review of the book by Michał Duch, Economic Role of the Roman Army in the province of Lower Moesia (Moesia inferior), Acta Humanistica Gnesnensia, XVI, 5 maps, 4 figures, Gniezno 2017, 284 pp. (edition in Polish: Gospodarcza rola armii rzymskiej w prowincji Mezja Dolna (Moesia inferior), Studia Europaea Gnesnensia, XXIV, Poznań – Gniezno 2016, 292 pp., 5 maps, 4 figures).