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Cioroiu Nou
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Cioroiu Nou is a small village near a town from the southern part of the Oltenia County, called Bailesti, between Craiova and Calafat, on the left bank of the Danube. Cioroi means "Crow" in Romanian. Originally it would have been Cioroiul Nou, (the new place of the crows) abbreviated to Cioroiu' Nou, and the apostrophe was then abandoned.
Dr Dorel Bondoc from the Oltenia Museum says that the site was discovered in 1930. It is placed at the eastern exit from Cioroiu Nou village, on the right side of the main road, beween the eastern part of the village and the cemetery.
Photo: Google Earth
The very important site has been declared a Historical Monument of Romania, and there will be many projects to study it, from now on.
Here there was a clay fortress, built after the 2nd Century AD, and the Porta Praetoria and towers are not yet discovered, so it is not yet described as a castrum. It is even bigger than the Malva castrum, being 150 m x 100 m in area. The fortress is placed with its eastern wall at the western border of the present cemetery, the western wall near the eastern edge of Cioroiu Nou, its northern wall along the main road, starting from the exit to the village to the east, and the southern wall is located somewhere in the middle of an agricultural field.
Photo and art work: Adrian Gheorghe 29th September 2007
This carefully drawn map was created from the careful measurements made above, as well as three maps, one from 1930 with many errors, and two aerial views, one from the year 2000 and one from 2005. It was a lot of work reconciling the scales of these different sources.
On this map one cm (one of the small blue squares) = 4 metres.
The map helps to show the position and dates of the various digs at Aquae, especially for the area owned by Dr Gheorghe, bought to protect it for future generations.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 8th December 2007
Echipa Alexis Project face la Cioroiu Nou o noua verificare GPS a sit-ului, precum si a raului Eruga, care il inconjura in partea de nord si vest.
The Alexis Project Team is making a new check at the site at Cioroiu Nou, also at the river Eruga, that surrounds it in the north and west side, using GPS devices.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd June 2008
Alina si Alexandru fac puncte GPS in sit-ul arheologic Cioroiu Nou, folosind 2 aparate simultan.
Alina and Alexandru are taking GPS points at the archeological sit at Cioroiu Nou, using two GPS devices simultaneously.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd June 2008
La intoarcerea din cercetarea GPS a sit-ului Cioroiu Nou, Alina calculeaza datele obtinute, iar Alexandru deseneaza harta GPS a acestui important sit.
Back from the GPS research at the site at Cioroiu Nou, Alina is calculating the numbers obtained, while Alexandru draws the GPS map of this important site.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd June 2008
These images show how, for the first time, the site is marked and protected according to the law.
Dorel Bondoc, Alexandru Gheorghe, Alina Neagoe and Adrian Gheorghe - the team from Oltenia Museum and the Alexis Project with a new hope of progress for this site and for the good of Romania...
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th July 2008
The expert Dorel Bondoc, from Oltenia Museum and Adrian from Alexis Project in the middle of the new digs at Cioroiu Nou.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th July 2008
Alexandru, working at the greatest discovery at Ciroiu Nou, an ancient structure ("absida"), an apse, which seems to be part of a huge building, from the first part of the 3rd century.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th July 2008
A new bronze age site was discovered about 300 m north-east of the main site.
Dorel and Adrian searched for artefacts from this area, and found pieces of ancient pottery.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th July 2008
Beautiful pottery pieces found at Cioroiu Nou.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th July 2008
Working hard on the digs at Cioroiu Nou.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th July 2008
Another view of the absida, or apse.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 8th July 2008
Alexandru compara datele anterioare despre ruinele gasite la Cioroiu Nou cu zidurile pe care echipa condusa de expertul Dorel Bondoc le-a descoperit.
Alexandru compares previous data about the ruins found at Cioroiu Nou with the walls that the team led by expert Dorel Bondoc has discovered.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th July 2008
Munca este foarte grea, din cauza caldurii extreme pe care aceasta perioada a anului o aduce in Oltenia. Sapatorii lucreaza in soare si pun mult efort in a descoperi artefactele, dar noi incercam in permanenta sa le imbunatatim situatia aprovizionandu-i cu apa minerala proaspata si suc.
The work is very hard, because of the extreme heat that this time of the year brings to Oltenia county. The diggers work in the sun and put a lot of effort into revealing the artifacts, but we are constantly trying to improve their situation by supplying them with fresh mineral water and juice.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th July 2008
Alexandru sapa la Cioroiu Nou, sub stricta supraveghere a arheologului Dorel Bondoc, care ii spune cum sa lucreze intr-un sit arheologic. A fost o experienta interesanta, pentru ca asa a inteles dificultatea de a lucra din greu sub caldura soarelui.
Alexandru digs at Cioroiu Nou, under the strict supervision of the archeologist Dorel Bondoc, who tells him how to work in an archeological site. It was an interesting experience, since he now understands the difficulty of working hard in the heat of the sun.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th July 2008
Aceasta imagine arata noile sapaturi de la Cioroiu Nou, inca 3 patrate de 4x4 m, ajungand la un total de 7 patrate si dezvoltandu-se mai mult pentru a descoperi intreaga cladire din regiunea respectiva.
This image shows the new digs at Cioroiu Nou, another 3 squares of 4x4 m, reaching a total of 7 squares and developing greater discoveries concerning the whole building in that area.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th July 2008
Arheologul expert Dorel Bondoc, Alina si Alexandru la sapaturile de la Cioroiu Nou.
Archeologist expert Dorel Bondoc, Alina and Alexandru at the Cioroiu Nou digs.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th July 2008
This shows a newspaper report about the activities of the Alexis Project in cooperation and partnership with authorities such the Oltenia Museum. It is further evidence of the importance of this organisation in furthering the aims of the preservation of Romanian Culture and History.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th July 2008
A general view of the site on the 17th July 2008, showing the huge area which has been uncovered, more than 20 x 20 metres, and more than 1.5 metres deep, more than 600 m3 volume of earth removed. This represents more than 1500 tonnes of dirt to be shifted, a huge undertaking.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 17th July 2008
A new building was discovered by the expert Dorel Bondoc, and it seems there are many others underground, still.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 17th July 2008
A part of the ancient building with a hypocaust was discovered. It seems to be an important ancient building, with a floor area of 10 x 5 metres, and possibly two stories high.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 17th July 2008
Text from Wikipedia:
A hypocaust is an ancient Roman system of central heating. The word literally means "heat from below", from the Greek hypo meaning below or underneath, and kaiein, to burn or light a fire. They are traditionally considered to have been invented by Sergius Orata, though this is not fully confirmed.
Hypocausts were used for heating public baths and private houses. The floor was raised off the ground by pillars, called pilae stacks, and spaces were left inside the walls so that the hot air and smoke from the furnace (praefurnium) would pass through these enclosed areas and out of flues in the roof, thereby heating but not polluting the interior of the room. Rooms requiring the most heat were placed closest to the furnace, whose heat could be increased by adding more wood. It was labour-intensive to run a hypocaust as it required constant attention to tend the fire, and expensive in fuel, so it was a feature of the villa and public baths.
Adrian consults with the General Manager of the Oltenia Museam, Professor Dr Mihai Fifor about the entire site, and they make decisions together concerning the near future of this very important discovery.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 17th July 2008
Adrian, as well as the expert Dr Dorel Bondoc and the General Manager of the Oltenia Museam, Professor Dr Mihai Fifor, answered questions from television and newspaper reporters about their dream: to make the Cioroiu Nou site an important part of the time-line of the cultural history of the Romanian People.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 17th July 2008
GPS maps of the site of Cioroiu Nou.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 18th July 2008
There are now nine huge digs at Cioroiu Nou, each 4 x 4 x 1.4 metres spread over an area of over 20 x 20 metres, and there is another week of digs until the 2008 campaign is finished.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 18th July 2008
The dig of the Hypocaust is now complete, with the entire area uncovered. It seems to be a very important ancient building, over ten metres by five metres in floor area, two stories high, as well as an absida or apse, and the hypocaust. The future will show how large the entire area of buildings here was.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 18th July 2008
The first bronze coins found this year at Cioroiu Nou. There have also been some iron pieces found as well.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 18th July 2008
Photo of Alina at the site during winter 2007/8.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th February 2008
Aquae map with GPS positions marked.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th February 2008
This important historical site has been selected by Dr Gheorghe for a very important Aquae Rediviva Project.
Text below adapted from:
http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~aprakash/dacia/about.html
Dacia is the ancient name of the European region corresponding roughly to modern Romania. It was inhabited before the Christian era by a people who were called Getae by the Greeks and were called Daci by the Romans.
Geto-Dacian society flourished under king Burebista (ca 82-44 B.C.), a contemporary and opponent of Caesar, and a friend of Pompey. Burebista's country, rooted in the former social and political tradition, was strengthened by the king's conquest of Greek cities, like Tomis, Histria and Callatis on the Black Sea shore, and by eliminating the threat of Celtic invasion. In this way, Burebista came to rule over the whole Thracian-Geto-Dacian world, from the Haemus Mountains (the Balkans) to the Wooded Carpathians, from Tyras (the Dnestr) to the Tisza.
The Geto-Dacians were to witness a new period of cultural and political prosperity when Decebal (87-106 A.D.) acceded to the throne. Geto-Dacian civilization was by then at its climax. In the 1st century B.C., as the Roman Empire was expanding, the Danube became the border between the Roman Empire and the Geto-Dacians.
Eventually, the Romans did declare war on the Dacians, after a first confrontation (87-89 A.D.), and they waged two bloody wars (101-102 and 105-106 A.D.). The Geto-Dacians were defeated, the Empire led by Trajan extended its bounds over the Danube and turned part of Dacia into a Roman imperial province.
After the conquest of Dacia by the Romans and its turning into an imperial province, the Geto-Dacians continued to live and work side by side with the Roman colonists and veterans, who had been brought into the new Imperial province of Dacia from everywhere in the Roman World. When the Roman administration withdrew from Dacia (270-275), most of the population, made up of Roman colonists and romanized Dacians, stayed. Thus, the Romanian people was born. The intense process of romanization stamped a lasting mark on the language of the Romanian people, on their name, conscience and culture.
Text below adapted from:
The Defensive System of Roman Dacia by Nicolae Gudea
Britannia, Vol. 10, 1979 (1979), pp. 63-87 doi:10.2307/526045
from the JSTOR Archive.
The causes of the conquest of Dacia by the Romans were numerous, among which the strategic position and importance of that country were the most important. The military conquest of the empire was also closely linked with its economic advantage. Dacia was extremely rich in metals (gold, silver, copper), minerals (especially salt), and possessed fertile lands, forests and extensive pastures. This land was the cradle of coherent and lasting civilisations from the Bronze Age onwards. The emergence of the Geto - Dacian civilisation and the Dacian state can be considered the climax. The Romans quickly appreciated its military and economic potential; after the conquest they ensured its security by a strong defensive system based on a large army. The aim was clearly the installation of a strong 'Romanitas'. The Roman conquest did not interrupt the material development of Dacian native civilisation, but on the contrary contributed to its integration in new and more advanced forms.
The role of the defensive system of Dacia is revealed by the military history of the two centuries following the conquest, which showed clearly the value of the decisions made by the Emperor Trajan and the important place Dacia held within the overall Roman strategy. Through the creation of the province of Dacia, an advanced bastion was installed in the barbaric world, the potential unity of the enemy front was broken, and the security of all the Roman provinces along the Danube was strengthened.
Dorel Bondoc at the site.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 29th September 2007
The fortress was destroyed by agriculture over the intervening years, so today there remains only the north-west part of the fortress, with a clay mound running for about 50 metres near the river, from the edge between the village and the field. There are many artefacts at the surface of the ground and beneath it.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 29th September 2007
Dr Bondoc says that the fortress was built by a huge military unit of the Roman Empire, called 'Legiunea a VII - a Claudia' and with the help of specialist digs in the area, where Dr Mondoc is the general manager of the search, many facts about the fortress were discovered, and a few buildings, one of which is called 'Statio' which shows that there was a Roman presence here for possibly 200 years, with many administrative buildings and houses, a very important place.
These images of artefacts found in previous digs at Cioroiu Nou have been kindly made available by Dr Dorel Bondoc.
However, the site is private property, and this creates many problems to solve, with digs and agriculture being carried on at the same time. The Museum has not enough money for the moment to buy the land from the owner, so Dr Gheorghe has bought the site, 10 000 square metres, one hectare, or two and a half acres, in order to facilitate the work of the Museum in discovering more about this very important work.
Dr Gheorghe is to be congratulated for his public spirit in ensuring that this monument is not lost to the world and to the Romanian people. As well as buying the land from his own pocket, he has paid the owner to clear the land and prepare it for the work of the specialists, and continues to pay taxes and costs on the land.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
A general view of the north-west corner of the fortress. Today, the digs from last year are covered for protection,but in the future Dr Gheorghe as the new owner will permit them to leave the digs uncovered, in order to complete step-by step a huge reconstruction of this site.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 29th September 2007
Dr Bondoc has big plans for the site, leading a study of the area for many years to come. Dr Gheorghe's ownership will facilitate these plans, making it possible for a camp for specialists to be built on the land, and with the long term aim of completing a reconstruction, as has been done at Arutel.
A few samples of the artefacts saved by Dr Gheorghe from the area.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 29th September 2007
On the 6th of October 2007 Dr Gheorghe (shown here at the land he is buying at Cioroiu Nou) went with Alina to finish negotiations with the owner of the land.
As can be seen here, the present owner has, at Dr Gheorghe's request and expense, cleared the land preparatory to exploration.
On Monday, 8.10.2007 the expert archaeologist Dorel Bondoc from Oltenia Museum will start work on digs to try to discover the ancient fortress believed to be buried there.
Perhaps one day there will be a recreation here, like the one at Arutela.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th October 2007
This year the dig starts in October. As can be seen here, Dorel Bondoc, the expert from Oltenia Museum is the leader of the dig. This dig starts with the eastern part of the site, with a search area about 4 x 4 metres.
Because Dr Gheorghe is now the owner of the site, with all documentation complete, Dr Bondoc can be free to dig anywhere on the site, and to leave the digs uncovered where appropriate, as is the case with Malva. It will never be used for agriculture.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th October 2007
Here is the first artefact found at the new dig, a piece of pottery.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th October 2007
Walking over the field, Alina and Adrian found a large number of artefacts, evenly distributed over an area of 200 x 200 metres, which gives an indication of the scale of this large ancient fortress, possibly as big as Malva Castrum.
Here is an ancient stone for grinding cereals, as was found several times at Cerat.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th October 2007
A few samples found at Cioroiu Nou on this day.
There are grand plans for the site, including making a wooden fence around the entire site, marking it with a sign, to protect it with police help. It is hoped to establish here a camp for specialists, and also to reconstruct the entire fortress, or at least part of the north west corner, as has been done at Arutela. This would transform the area into an important historical and tourist centre.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th October 2007
The digs in the eastern part of the area are now more than 80 cm deep, but only stones and bricks were found until today. Dr Bondoc believes that this is a part of the roof of the buildings in the middle of the area. There are six to eight men working here all day.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
The stones and bricks found in the digs are kept separate, not covered with the clay also dug up, and kept for future reconstruction of the fortress, after four to five years of digs here. Until that time, the artefacts are inspected by Dr Bondoc and sorted into stones, bricks and pottery, and kept in a safe place for future reconstruction.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
Another area of the dig starts in the northern part of the area, near the left bank of the river which passes along the west and north of the land. This dig is showing a white area about 25 cm deep, which seems to be a wall, but more will be known in a few days. The digging is slow but very carefully done, in order to keep a high standard of excavation.
In addition, the general manager of the Oltenia Museum has promised Dr Gheorghe to make this dig a model for archaeology students, a central point of such studies of the area.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
All day Adrian and Alina searched the entire area to get an idea of how large this area is, over 60 000 square metres, more than six hectares, or 15 acres.
It was a very wet and windy day, with gusts of more than 80 km/h, cold but sunny at times, and the pair searched the entire field, which is covered with artefacts, as can be seen here.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
The dig is progressing well, overseen at all times by Dr Bondoc, because at any moment an important artefact could be discovered.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th October 2007
In the eastern part of the land, the dig is quite deep, at about 150 cm below ground, and this will continue until "yellow clay" is found, which will indicate that there are no more artefacts to be found, possibly at 200 cm depth.
As can be seen here, artefacts which may be used in the reconstruction of the building are stockpiled under the instructions of Dr Bondoc after Dr Gheorghe's request.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th October 2007
These are two pages from the newspaper, "Gazeta de Sud" (or "Southern Newspaper"), from Craiova, the main town of the Oltenia district. This is the first time that such data has appeared in popular newspapers, and this bodes well for the project. It helps for better understanding of the site by the people of Romania.
It should be noted that the Roman artefacts date only to 2 000 years ago, not 4 000 years as stated in the article. However the entire history of the site does span 4 000 years.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 8th November 2007
Although progress is being made, we are still at the beginning of the dig, which is a slow process, since every artefact must be diligently searched for. The colour and the structure of the clay can also show important data for a specialist such as Dorel Bondoc, shown here inspecting the dig.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th October 2007
This wonderful piece has already been found, made of bronze with a silver link, part of what is called a "Weapon of Hercules", a charm made in the shape of a wooden weapon attributed to the ancient Hercules, called in Romanian, a Maciuca, a cudgel or club. It was made for the good luck of the person who owned it, to make them as strong as Hercules.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th October 2007
Dr Gheorghe is considering buying another 10 000 m2 of land to the north of the area already purchased, over the river and between the road, the village, and the river, where it seems there are many artefacts from ancient times.
Adrian, Andrei (Adrian's first son) and Ana, friend of Andrei, saving a few Roman bricks from the area of the Bronze-Age village, to the north of the site, to use them for reconstruction of the site, later.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th October 2007
Andrei looking at the digs on the eastern part of the site. This dig seems to be finished, only artefacts from broken walls and roofs has been found here. A problem must be solved with the clay excavated from the digs, because in the future there needs to be a project to reconstruct the site for visitors from the general public.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th October 2007
This dig is at the northern part of the site, where there is more to be done. It would seem that a wall has been found, but more excavation is required.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th October 2007
On the 23rd October, Adrian and Alina went to Cioroiu Nou to look at the progress made. The weather was cold and rainy, which made working conditions difficult for everyone.
The digs at the eastern part of the area are finished. The remains of a wall may be seen on the right of this dig, in the middle of the wall of the dig, as a few white stones in the clay.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2007
At the dig on the northern part of the site the remains of a wall have been found, but the dig must be deepened to complete the excavation of the wall, on the northern side of this pit.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2007
In this same pit was found on the eastern side a possible fire place, with some burnt clay and a few pieces of burnt wood and other charcoal. The entire pit, from the wall on the north to the fireplace on the east, seems to have been a large room, but more digging must be done to make a better picture of how everything fits together.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2007
A pottery pipe, possibly a small Aqueduct or water pipe, (in Romanian an Apeduct), a tube for taking water into or out of a house.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2007
Each piece of pottery is well washed and examined later to discover as much as possible from each discovery. This would have been a very trying and difficult job under the field conditions of rain and cold.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2007
Artefacts with bricks and walls of an ancient room, found at Cioroiu Nou.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe October 2007
A Roman building, possibly for soldiers, found on the site. The black squares show the small brick piers, made with bricks for a heating system beneath the floor (in winter time) similar to that at Sucidava.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe October 2007
Part of a stone wall from the northern part of the northern digs of Cioroiu Nou.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
A rare piece of slip-decorated pottery from ancient Roman times, found in the the northern digs.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
Pieces of glass, the first time in the last five years that Dr Gheorghe has found glass at a site, found in the eastern digs of Cioroiu Nou. It has been christened the Lady's Room, because found in the one area was glass for a cosmetics container as shown here, a small cup of clay pottery, and a silver coin.
Notice the opalescent sheen on some of the glass. This may be deliberate, or it may be the effect of being buried in the ground for nearly two thousand years.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
A silver coin from the Lady's Room, dated by Dorel Bondoc as Hadrianus, Emperor, son of Traian, 117 AD, some years after Traian came to Dacia.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
In the eastern part of the area, a second hole was dug beside the one shown here in the foreground in order to gain more information about the stone wall visible in the first hole.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
Trying to shelter from the rain, cold and wind, Dorel Bondoc draws a profile of the clay wall of the dig as his secretary calls out the measurements.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
These two holes were dug in the northern part of the area, in order to search for walls.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
Dorel Bondoc dictates a report for the Oltenia Museum to his secretary from the first hole in the northern part of the area, under difficult conditions of rain, cold and wind.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
Dorel Bondoc making a report on the discoveries in a hole in the east part of the dig, the finish of his work in the field for this year.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
Now that the 2007 season is over, the pottery from this dig was put into a plastic bag, and then put into the hole it came from to be covered with clay until next year.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
In addition, the stairs carved from the clay of the sides of the dig were destroyed in order to stop easy access by treasure hunters.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
With the pottery pieces in the bottom of the dig, vegetable matter and clay is shovelled into the pit to cover everything until 2008.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
All the holes were filled in at least partially in order to protect the pottery and bricks until the next season.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th October 2007
Text below from Wikipedia: Marcus Julius Philippus or Philippus I Arabs (c. 204 - 249), known in English as Philip the Arab (after the origin of his family), was a Roman emperor from 244 to 249.
Little is known about Philip's early life and political career. He was born in Shahba, about 55 miles south-southeast of Damascus, in the Roman province of Syria. He was the son of a Julius Marinus, a local Roman citizen, possibly of some importance. Many historians agree that he was of Arab descent who gained Roman citizenship through his father, a man of considerable influence. Many citizens from the provinces took Roman names upon acquiring citizenship. This makes tracing his Arabic blood line difficult. However, it is documented that Rome used the Ghassan tribe from the Azd of Yemen as vassals to keep the neighboring northern Arabs in check. Arabic Oracles speak of a local Sheikh, Uthaina, who was reported to have risen from the ranks to command the Eastern armies of the Roman Empire. This strengthens the possibility of Philip's Arab descent to some degree. The name of Philip's mother is unknown, but sources refer to a brother, Gaius Julius Priscus, a member of the Praetorian guard under Gordian III (238–244). In 234, Philip married Marcia Otacilia Severa, daughter of a Roman Governor. They had two children: a son named Marcus Julius Philippus Severus (Philippus II) in 238 and according to numismatic evidence they had a daughter called Julia Severa or Severina, whom the ancient Roman sources don't mention.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 3rd November 2007
In 243, during Gordian III's campaign against Shapur I of Persia, the Praetorian prefect Timesitheus died under unclear circumstances. At the suggestion of his brother Priscus, Philip became the new Praetorian prefect, with the intention that the two brothers would control the young Emperor and rule the Roman world as unofficial regents. Following a military defeat, Gordian III died in 244 under circumstances that are still debated. While some claim that Philip conspired in his murder, other accounts (including one coming from the Persian point of view) state that Gordian died in battle. Whatever the case, Philip assumed the purple following Gordian's death. Philip was not willing to repeat the mistakes of previous claimants, and was aware that he had to return to Rome in order to secure his position with the senate. He thus travelled west, after concluding a peace treaty with Shapur I, and left his brother Priscus as extraordinary ruler of the Eastern provinces. In Rome he was confirmed Augustus, and nominated his young son Caesar and heir.
Philip's rule started with yet another Germanic incursion on the provinces of Pannonia and the Goths invaded Moesia (modern-day Serbia and Bulgaria) in the Danube frontier. They were finally defeated in the year 248, but the legions were not satisfied with the result, probably due to a low share of the plunder, if any. Rebellion soon arose and Tiberius Claudius Pacatianus was proclaimed emperor by the troops. The uprising was crushed and Philip nominated Gaius Messius Quintus Decius as governor of the province. Future events would prove this to be a mistake. Pacatianus' revolt was not the only threat to his rule: in the East, Marcus Iotapianus led another uprising in response to the oppressive rule of Priscus and the excessive taxation of the Eastern provinces. Two other usurpers, Marcus Silbannacus and Sponsianus, are reported to have started rebellions without much success.
Dr Gheorghe writes:
During the time of the Roman Emperor Filip Arabul (Philip of Arabia) Dacia was attacked by the ancient people called the Carp, coming from the eastern part of present day Romania. Philip of Arabia had to come here to Dacia to help the Roman army fight the Carp. There is some information which says that Philip of Arabia actually came to Aquae, one of the names of Cioroiul Nou today.
There are many specialists who argue against the use of the name Aquae for Cioroiul Nou, by saying that this is the name of another ancient place, Calan, and that Aquae means water, which is not important at Cioroiul Nou but is much in evidence at Calan. Another name for Cioroiul Nou may be Malva, but in reality, no one knows the true name of this location.
So, I had the idea to buy a few silver coins depicting Philip of Arabia, in preparation for a display at the time when Cioroiul Nou may become an important tourist attraction, which I will call Aquae Rediviva.
This may be only a dream of mine, but dreams are important.
One researcher at least regards Cioroiul Nou as Aquae.
From: Eduard Nemeth: Armata În Sud-Vestul Daciei Romane / Die Armee Im Südwesten Des Römischen Dakien
Website: http://www.muzeulbanatului.ro/istorie/publicatii/armata/capitolul4d.htm
Philip of the Arabs (244-249) apparently had a little to do with this part of Dacia, because he had already in the autumn of the year 245 gone to Aquae (today Cioroiul Nou).
This bronze arrow was found in the east of Romania, in Moldova, and is dated to the third century, and may have been made by the Carp people.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
The river around the Aquae site is called the Eruga or Apa Cioroiului, or "Cioroi's Water". The Eruga comes from the north, near the Cioroiase village area, where there is a good flow of water, and goes to the south, until it meets another small river. The river is not large, it is about three metres across, and is about 30 cm deep.
There are a couple of considerations:
When the Romans started to build the fortress in the 3rd century, they had to choose a good place for it. Aquae was the best place for it, because the Eruga protects the fortress to some extent towards the north and west, and follows the clay walls and ditches around it. The walls to the east and south needed to be well made to defend attackers, who may well have come from the Danube to the south, and the Carps from the east.
As well, the fortress was built to follow the bank of the Eruga. Normally Roman fortresses are built as a square, but here the fortress has many sides, in order to follow the path of the Eruga.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
In the villages around the fortress there are many important artefacts, placed in random locations, without any care being taken of them, they are exposed to passers-by and the elements.
The artefact here is a stone coffin from the middle ages at a bus station in the village of Cioroiasi. It is about 200 x 50 x 40 cm, and characters are engraved in the stone, possibly from the 19th century or perhaps earlier.
In these photos Alina and Amelia measure the dimensions of the coffin, and one of the images shows a hollow carved from it, perhaps as a receptacle for the body.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
Part of the Alexis team, Dr Gheorghe, Alina and Amelia, both vice presidents of the team, and young Maria-Amelia went to Aquae on 11th November 2007 to work on the site. It was cold, about 6° Celsius, with a strong cold wind blowing at 50 Km/h from the south.
Despite these conditions, careful measurements were made in order to work on an accurate map of the Aquae site.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
Working in the dig at the northern part of the site, in Section CIIB.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
Amelia and Maria-Amelia passing over the wall between the two digs in the northern part of the site, CIIA and CIIB, to make careful measurements of this section of the dig.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
Examining the dig in the northern part of the site, in section CIIB.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
In very cold and blustery conditions, Alina and the other members of the team looked for artefacts in the area in order to preserve them.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
Hercules
Photo: unknown origin, via Adrian Gheorghe
This is a small stone monument, discovered in 1964 at Cioroiu Nou. It is dedicated to Hercules. One can see the leg of Hercules on the right part of image and also to the left a bull-head, the bull from the island of Crete, killed by Hercules according to legend.
Dimensions of this stone are 0.30 x 0.11 x 0.08 metres and it was classified by Daicoviciu, a wellknown Romanian specialist in history, as made at the beginning of the second century, and by another specialist Tudor, as made in the third century.
One of the most important things to be discovered about an archaeological site is its ancient name.
For example, we have an ancient Aquae in the Romanian city Caln (Aquae means in Romanian "hot-waters"), also we can have this Aquae at Ciroroiu Nou (you will see why), also we have an Aquae in Bulgaria, south of the Danube, and another Aquae in Serbia, in the southern part of the Danube river on the right bank.
This last name seems to be a good one, because on the left bank, in Romania, we have a village named Izvoare (which means in english "springs"), just at a short distance from the Basilica, discovered in the area of Ostrovu Mare island (see our site www.alexisphoenix.org at the file "Ostrovu Mare").
If Ciroroiu Nou was the true Aquae, it means that the roman emperor Philip the Arabian was here during the third century when the war with the Carps had just begun, because there is in existence another engraved stone with the text "...Philip at Aquae..."
There is a similar problem with the ancient name of Cioroiu Nou, where the piece of stone above was found. As can be seen, the text is:
M. Opellius Maximus
[dec(urio) Mo]ntanensium Herculi
[pro sal(ute) AQU?/MALV?]ensium, ex voto posuit
Unfortunately in the lower part of the text on the stone, the name of the ancient village is missing, only "ensium" can be read, so the first part of the name might be "Aqu" or "Malv" or even something else.
However it is unlikely that the ancient roman name of Cioroiu Nou is Aquae, since there are already so many of them in the region, in Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia (though these were under Roman control at the time), and also because Aquae means "hot water" or Thermals, which are not at Cioroiu Nou, and also it is unlikely that a roman emperor would come to Dacia (ancient Romania) during a dangerous war with the Carps.
For these reasons, many specialists such as Dorel Bondoc believe that the ancient Oltenia was called Dacia Malvensis, as a country or region, with the main cities of Malva (located by specialists at Racarii de Jos/Bradesti-Dolj County, also the city of Romula/Resca, near Caracal, Olt County, and so on.
Dr Gheorghe writes:
In the language of the Romans, Latin, names such as Aquae and Malva may have different endings. I appeal to anyone with a knowledge of Latin who may be able to help, if in Latin whether Aquae and Malva would necessarily have the same ending, of "...ensium". For example, if the only form for Aquae is Aquensis, then the place is not Aquae.
At the start of the new digging season, Dorel Bondoc discusses with Adrian Gheorghe the projects for future searches with the aid of maps and diagrams of the site.
Inainte de toate, Dorel Bondoc ne arata citeva proiecte/harti ale vechiului cimp, pentru a face un bun proiect in vederea cercetarii viitoare.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
Then they go to the middle of the field, to make the connection between their paper project and the reality in the field. As Dorel Bondoc said, this year is a special one, because we have a great project for a Cioroiu Nou dig, and we look forward to excellent results from it.
Apoi, am fost chiar in mijlocul cimpului, sa facem o conexiune intre proiectul din documente si realitatea de pe teren. Cum spunea Dorel Bondoc,anul acesta trebuie sa fie cu totul special, deoarece noi avem un mare proiect pentru cercetarea Cioroiului Nou si asteptam cele mai bune rezultate de la acesta.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
Looking at the first digs from 2007 (the Part I digs), we want to put all necessary signs up in the area, as is required by law, and are at the moment missing.
Privind la sapaturile de anul trecut (partea I a sapaturilor) noi vrem sa punem toate semnele de protectie ale locului, dupa cum spune legea si care lipsesc acum.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
Looking at the digs from last year, Part II, it was decided to provide protection for all digs in the future, by constructing roofs against rain and snow, to preserve the area of the search, because the law says that all results of archaeological search must be protected if they contain walls, buildings, and similar finds. It is desired to make a real model of search here, to show every one the best way to make a search, to show every one that here is a real treasure of the County, a treasure of culture, history and civilisation.
La sapaturile de anul trecut, partea II-a, am decis sa facem protectii pentru fiecare sapatura in viitor (ca: acoperisuri impotriva ploii si zapezii), pentru a conserva zona, deoarece legea spune ca toate rezultatele cercetarii trebuie potejate,daca contin ziduri, cladiri si altele, ca acestea. Noi dorim sa facem un model real de cercetare aici, sa aratam oricui cea mai buna cale de a face cercetare, sa aratam oricui ca avem un adevarat tezaur in judetul nostru,un tezaur de cultura, istorie si civilizatie.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
A lot of measurements of the road were taken, in order to provide a base marker for the map, and the width of the road, seven metres, is an important measurement to act as a marker.
Am efectuat o multime de masuratori ale drumului, pentru a face un marker al hartii, sa consideram largimea drumului (7 metri) ca un martor pentru aceasta.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
Holes dug in abandoned land
Starting from the Roman fortress of Cioroiu Nou and going to the east, one arrives at the cemetery. At that point there is a cross roads, with one road to the right, to the south, going to Bailesti. Just ahead to the east is another road to Silestea Crucii, another village in the area, and to the left is an agricultural road, to the north.
Following this agricultural road to the north, at about 200 metres to the north from the cross roads, and about 400 metres from the Roman Fortress, there is at right angles to this point, to the east, a small area of abandoned land in which people dig for clay, so there are many holes dug in the ground. In most of these pits, one can find many artefacts from Bronze Age times, and also from Roman Times. It would seem that a huge area of land, including even the village of Cioroiu Nou were covered with ancient buildings, starting with the stone age, and well into Roman times.
However Dr Gheorghe and Dr Bondoc both believe that this was not one huge village, but many villages, linked in time, but spread over a huge area of as much as 60 000 square metres, or six hectares.
GPS coordinates of the find.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th February 2008
These photographs show Alina searching the holes which have been dug in this abandoned land. Behind Alina in the left hand photo can be seen a part of the eastern side of the village of Cioroiu Nou, not very far from this area, with the river in between.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
Artefacts from the bronze age village, found in the abandoned area of pits, about two to three hundred metres to the east of Cioroiu Nou.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
A Roman artefact, pottery found in the area, with the ornaments on the pottery made with a rolling stamp.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
Samples of pottery found on the new site from Cioroiu Nou, from the Bronze Age, the area of abandoned land with pits dug for clay.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
A sword from the Middle Ages, found in Romania.
The hilt of the sword is of bronze, the blade is of iron.
This sword which had been thought to be of Roman origin, has been identified by the Museum of Oltenia as being from the Middle Ages. Dr Gheorghe has purchased it to add to his collection of historic items.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 21st November 2007
The top two blades are copies of the ancient sword below. It is only a start, but it is progress towards making a school, Aquae Rediviva project, of archaeology and ancient hand made objects such as these swords, as well as arrows, sandals, shields etc.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th December 2007
Malaiu' Rau
When you drive from Cioroiu Nou on the main road between Craiova and Calafat, about 35 km south of Craiova, just on the entrance of the road to Boureni-Bailesti, there is a place discovered by Dorel Bondoc known as Malaiu' Rau, or "Bad Corn Flour" in english, that is, flour made from maize. It is named thus because the maize grown in this area was found not to be good for flour making, perhaps because of the heavy clay soils, or because of the many rocks in the soil. Malaiul means Polenta, and Rau means bad.
From when it was first imported from the Americas, maize has been used for making bread, named in Romanian Mamaliga. It is called in English Polenta. It is made by using corn ground to small pieces, and boiled with water. This results in a kind of pudding from corn which can substitute for bread in some areas of the country where maize is grown more commonly than other cereals. It is an old and healthy food.
On both sides of the road, there are huge holes in the ground, made by people who have dug clay for making bricks.
GPS coordinates of the find.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th February 2008
Looking at one part of the road cutting, where Dorel Bondoc has found Roman artefacts.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
In this road cutting can be seen a small area of about one metre in diameter with a different, grey colour. This seems to be an ancient dump for broken pottery, as can be found at the edge of many ancient villages. This hole may perhaps come from the top of this small hill, so it might be advantageous to look for the top of it and excavate.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
Careful observation at this point can reveal small shards of pottery in the grey area, as well as a lot of signs of burnt wood in the deposit.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
Searching patiently, several examples of Roman pottery were found in the clay, as well as a huge snake, over one metre in length, who came out of a hole and escaped so quickly that no photo could be made of it.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
A few samples of pottery found at Malaiu' Rau, from Roman times.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th October 2007
On another visit to Malaiu' Rau on the 16th October 2007, Dr Gheorghe had the idea to climb up the road cutting and search above the area with the discoloured section indicating a pottery dump.
He discovered these artefacts, indicating that the area is in fact an ancient village, possibly from Roman times. It would be best to search in winter, when the grass is dead and flattened, in order to find artefacts such as these.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 16th October 2007
On revisiting the site, Dr Gheorghe decided that the road actually passed through the pit with pottery, and that there must be artefacts on both sides of the road. Here he examines the road cutting.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
Dr Gheorghe searching the field above the road cutting for artefacts.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
A piece of Roman pottery found on the left side, looking from the road towards Perisor, on the side that had already been established as a Roman site.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
It is good to get confirmation of one's hunches.
Here are some artefacts found on the other side of the road, which means that at Malaiu' Rau, it is a site from the time of the Romans about one kilometre south of Perisor towards Cioroiu Nou, and with the road passing straight through the middle of the site.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th November 2007
Many years ago a road was built through the site, so there are two sides to the road cutting in which a lot of artefacts from Roman times can be seen, as well as on the hills themselves on each side of the road.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 9th February 2008
Alina looking for artefacts in the road cutting, and one of the finds. Several ceramic fragments of Roman age were found dating from 2000 years ago, when there was a village on this hill.
Because Oltenia Museum has the ability to verify the scientific importance of this information and because the specialists of Oltenia Museum have made contributions to this site, the copyrights to it are part of Oltenia Museum property.
If you have any photographs or information which would be useful for this site please contact Don Hitchcock
This page last modified Saturday, 19th July, 2008 05:20pm
