DOI Artikel:
Cvjetićanin, Tatjana: Trajanic Limes in Upper Moesia, a ceramic viewpoint
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41866#0119
Tatjana Cvjeticanin
Belgrad, Frankfurt am Main
TRAJANIC LIMES IN UPPER MOESIA, A CERAMIC VIEWPOINT*
Trajanic period represents a particular and an extremely significant phase in
the development of the Upper Moesian frontier. It was in that time that last gaps
in limes, already developed during Flavians into a linear chain of fortifications,
were completely built and the first objective of Roman middle and lower Danubian
border policy were fulfilled, full connection of the Danubian fortresses, i.e.
continuous fortified frontier from Carnuntum till the Black See [Mirkovic
1996, 27],
Earthen camps along the river line between Singidunum (Belgrade) and
Ratiaria (Archar), the ending points of Upper Moesian northern border, were
replaced by newly built stone castra and castellum, like Viminacium, Cuppae,
Novae, Smyrna, Taliata, Transdierna, Diana, Pontes, Drobeta, Egeta [Vasic,
Kondić 1986, 543; Petrovic, Vasic 1996, 21]. Trajan's large building activities
included also building and reparation of a road through the Iron Gates gorge,
construction of a channel near Sip and Diana in a bid to avoid dangerous cataracts,
raising up a bridge between Pontes and Drobeta and erecting large port at Kusjak
as well [Petrovic 1995, 129-139], Those activities were also the important part
of Trajan's large preparations for Dacian wars, making middle and lower
Danubian region the focal point of Roman military activities in the beginning of
the 2nd century. Consequently, huge manpower has been concentrated in this zone1,
in Upper Moesia 2 legions, 3 alae, 21 cohorts in AD 100, and in AD 103/105 2
legions, 2 alae and 11 cohorts were stationed [Mirkovic 1968, 33-34; Strobel
1984, 80-154; Petulescu 1997, 66-141],
Different archaeological material from excavated sites2, utterly military sites,
forms relevant evidence about that period, ceramic material being the most
* The paper is a result of a study conducted in the Romisch-Germanische Kommission in
Frankfurt, during the Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship. I want to express my grati-
tude for remarkable working conditions and support of Prof. Dr. S. von Schnurbein and academitian
M. Garasanin.
Belgrad, Frankfurt am Main
TRAJANIC LIMES IN UPPER MOESIA, A CERAMIC VIEWPOINT*
Trajanic period represents a particular and an extremely significant phase in
the development of the Upper Moesian frontier. It was in that time that last gaps
in limes, already developed during Flavians into a linear chain of fortifications,
were completely built and the first objective of Roman middle and lower Danubian
border policy were fulfilled, full connection of the Danubian fortresses, i.e.
continuous fortified frontier from Carnuntum till the Black See [Mirkovic
1996, 27],
Earthen camps along the river line between Singidunum (Belgrade) and
Ratiaria (Archar), the ending points of Upper Moesian northern border, were
replaced by newly built stone castra and castellum, like Viminacium, Cuppae,
Novae, Smyrna, Taliata, Transdierna, Diana, Pontes, Drobeta, Egeta [Vasic,
Kondić 1986, 543; Petrovic, Vasic 1996, 21]. Trajan's large building activities
included also building and reparation of a road through the Iron Gates gorge,
construction of a channel near Sip and Diana in a bid to avoid dangerous cataracts,
raising up a bridge between Pontes and Drobeta and erecting large port at Kusjak
as well [Petrovic 1995, 129-139], Those activities were also the important part
of Trajan's large preparations for Dacian wars, making middle and lower
Danubian region the focal point of Roman military activities in the beginning of
the 2nd century. Consequently, huge manpower has been concentrated in this zone1,
in Upper Moesia 2 legions, 3 alae, 21 cohorts in AD 100, and in AD 103/105 2
legions, 2 alae and 11 cohorts were stationed [Mirkovic 1968, 33-34; Strobel
1984, 80-154; Petulescu 1997, 66-141],
Different archaeological material from excavated sites2, utterly military sites,
forms relevant evidence about that period, ceramic material being the most
* The paper is a result of a study conducted in the Romisch-Germanische Kommission in
Frankfurt, during the Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship. I want to express my grati-
tude for remarkable working conditions and support of Prof. Dr. S. von Schnurbein and academitian
M. Garasanin.