70. Geoagiu, Geoagiu township, Hunedoara county [Germisara]
Location: Dealul Uriesilor - Castrum militar (Military Fortress)
Site Code: 89570.03
Team: Adriana Pescaru, Eugen Pescaru, Angelica Balos (MCDR Deva)
The archaeological site was uncovered situated between the localities of Bobalna and Geoagiu, on the right bank of the
Mures river, at approximately 8 km from the Roman thermal complex of Germisara (excavated in previous years). The Pagus of Germisara included in antiquity next to the thermal complex, the civil settlement, the necropolis (the last two objectives being identified by field research) and the castrum militar (military fortress) which constituted the theme of systematic excavation in the summer of the year 2000.
Within the castrum were quartered the military unit Numerus Singularium
Britannicorum, as well as sub-units of the Gemina XIII Legion (proven by numerous
tegulae with stamps of the two units). The area of the castrum totals approximately
2.2 ha.
Traced were two sections S. 1 (2.5 x 14 m) and S. 2 (2.5 x 17 m), as well as a box C. 1 (4 x 4 m). In box C. 1 was revealed the west part of the castrum, with a wall made of small quarry stones mixed with locally
fired lime. The wall has a width of 1.2m and supported by a depth of 1.1 m. At the exterior of these substructures were uncovered numerous large blocks of river stone mixed with debris and earth, which
derived from the elevation of the wall in the premises. Sections S. 1 and S. 2 contain
traces of some wooden structures ([beams - grinzi] , [beams - barne] and pillars) - the barracks in
which the soldiers were quartered.
Excavation continued in the east part of the plateau, where in the year 1998 was carried out a
geophysical study of resistivity and magnetism of a surface area of 45 x 60 m, in
collaboration with the firm S.C. GEI-PROSECO S.R.L. Bucharest (engineer Florin Scurtu). Section S. 3 (2.5 x 20 m) oriented east-west was traced. In this interior were discovered traces of the east wall of the castrum and the defensive ditch of this side. The wall was built in the same technique as that of the west part, with the ruins of large blocks of stone in its place, as well as in front of the wall, in the ditch of the mound of defence. In the eastern extremity of the section reaches to -3 m deep and excavation is not finished. In the profile of the sections were observed two zones with construction material and river stones, which are derived from successive
topping up of this.
Everything in this zone, perpendicular to the western end of section S. 3 was
traced section S. 4 (2.5 x 20 m), to the south. In the interior of these were evidenced traces of some wooden
constructions of [caror] layout following to be stable in future campaigns.
In the central part of the plateau were verified arrangements of here, by making a section S. 5 (2.5 x 20 m) oriented north-south. In the
southern part of the section were supported portions of the wall and traces of the destroyed wall, as well as a fragment of a column. On the
traced sections to the right of m 20 were discovered traces of a wall (l = 0.65 m and depth includes between 0.1 and 0.15 m) made of quarried stone mixed with river stone and mortar. Between m 29 and 32.5, were uncovered the [edge - end] of a possible building. At the northern extremity of section S. 5 were discovered a portion of paved road of river stone - possibly the principal road which traversed the castrum from west to east, as well as a hold with a diameter of 0.3 m and which contains bronze
[slag - residues].
In the west part of section S. 5, perpendicular to this, were discovered sections S. 6 (2.5 x 22m), S. 7 (2.5 x 30 m), boxes C. 2 (6 x 6 m) and C. 3 (6 x 4 m). The orientation of sections S. 6 and S. 7 and of boxes C. 2, C. 3 were stabilised in reference to the
arrangement of the central zone of excavation in view of clarifying the layout of the structures of this portion.
Later campaigns will offer the possibility to stabilise the layout form and the destinations of the arrangements of this zone of
Germisara the Roman castrum - possibly praetoria.
Referring to the moveable inventory needs to be stated that until the year 1989 agricultural work was carried out on the entire surface area of the castrum and in this ground is a "vegetable" layer of
approximately 0.1 - 0.3 m having been disturbed by the tilling of the plough. In general the material is fragmented and consists of regular ceramics, fragments of
tegulae with the inscription NSB, fragments of glass, bronze coins, nails and
cramp irons, hinges and keys, etc.
Illustrations
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