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Old And New Data About The Late Roman Fortification From The Island Ostrovul Mare
Gogoșu Commune, Mehedinți County, Romania
On the island of Ostrovul Mare, there have been signaled vestiges belonging to different periods. First of all, I have to mention here a neolithic settlement of Sălcuţa Culture1. Important archaeological traces were dated in the Bronze Age, especially those belonging to Gârla Mare Culture2. The archaeological excavations made between 1976-1977 pointed out a settlement and a necropolis from the 7th century3. Three medieval settlements from the 13th –14th centuries4 were also identified.
The Roman period is well represented too. Traces of walls, pottery fragments5, and an inscription (…Ferox…[v]ix(it) a[n(nis)]…)6 can be dated in the period of Roman Dacia, somewhere between the 2nd-3rd centuries. A Roman brick with an incised nine men’s morris play, was reused for the 7th century settlement7. From Ostrovul Mare, Al. Bărcăcilă published a monetary treasure beginning with the emperor Constantius Chlorus and ending with Mauricius Tiberius8. In 1978, there was excavated a tumulus and inside, there were discovered a cremating stake and a fireplace; the inventory contained a curved knife of Dacian tradition, Roman pottery decorated with "ribs", a fragment of a bracelet of glass, three coins from Probus, Diocletian and Constans9. The late dating of the brick with stamp [CO]H(ORS) VIII discovered near, in the locality Balta Verde10, is uncertain11.
The retaking of the discussion about the fortification from Ostrovul Mare has been caused by new discoveries, but also by some old ones. A fragment of a Roman grinder (mola manuaria) of stone (Fig. 1), has been discovered by Dr. Adrian Gheorghe from Filiaşi, on the Romanian bank of the Danube, right on the beach of the river, opposite the island Ostrovul Mare. The piece is the superior part (catillus) of the grinder, with a frame of 4cm wide. Sizes: the probable diameter- 36cm ; the height- 7cm. It is difficult to date the piece, therefore I can just suggest the Roman period of Dacia. A similar piece was reused in the 7th century, to make a kiln inside a hovel12.
Fig. 1. A fragment of a Roman grinder (mola manuaria)
In the same place (on the
Romanian bank of the Danube, on the beach of the river, opposite the island
Ostrovul Mare), I have discovered a fragmentary lancet (Fig. 2). The spatula
has been well preserved, with a green patina on its surface. It was made completely of bronze, with its section in a rectangular shape; at the end, inside of a
transverse section, there has been preserved part of an iron blade.
Sizes: the preserved length - 9cm; the breadth - 1.3cm. There have been discovered similar
pieces in Porolissum13, Sarmizegetusa14 and other places
of the Roman Empire15.
Fig. 2. A fragmentary lancet.
The works for building of hydro-electric
station Iron Gates II also favoured more discoveries. A stone of 39 x 42 x 28cm
with a fragmentary inscription: …A… VI…16 was reused with other 8
pieces of stone like anchors (Fig. 3). This identification is based on the
shallow furrows on the surface of the pieces, for the attachment of ropes.
The remains of a harbour installation are remarkable, whose landing place made of
wooden beams has been very well preserved in the sand of the beach of the
island (Fig. 4, Fig. 5). This installation was made of a row of vertical stakes put in the ground. Over them were placed horizontal beams of wood17. Weights for fishing nets, pottery, fragments of tiles and bricks and an iron
anchor (Fig. 6) have completed the discoveries of this kind from Ostrovul Mare18.
The possibility to date the harbour in the 2nd century, an eventual
destruction at the middle of the 3rd century, the subsequent
rebuilding and its working till the 6th century, etc.19,
are simply speculation for the moment. Their checking is impossible because
the place of discovery is superposed by the waters of the Danube and the
buildings of the hydro-electric station Iron Gates II.
Proofs that certify fishing in antiquity
are all over the place. A fish hook (Fig. 7) made of bronze has been discovered
by Dr. Adrian Gheorghe on the beach of the island. It was fully cast and
presents a green patina on its surface. At the superior part, the hook is bent
to be tied with a cord. Its rod is rectangular in section. The inferior part is
bent like a hook and it presents a spine in order to prevent the escape of the
fish after it has bitten the bait. Sizes : 8.5 x 3cm. The weight - 20g. The
most appropriate analogies come from the 4th century, from the Late
Roman fortification of Hinova20. A very interesting piece is a
weight/anchor (Fig. 8), made of sandy limestone. The piece has been discovered
on the Romanian bank of the Danube, right on the beach of the river, opposite
the island Ostrovul Mare. It is in the shape of a pear and it is perforated in
the superior part in order to be hung with a cord. The diameter of the
perforation is 5cm. Sizes: Height - 23cm; Maximum breadth - 15.3cm. Weight - 4kg. I have discovered a small round disc in
the same place. It was made from a fragment of a pot, and it is aproximately
round with a small hole in the middle. It was probably used as a weight for a fishing net (Fig. 9). Diameter - 5.4cm. The traces of a fortification surrounded
by a ditch and a vallum (palisade) of defence were known by Al. Bărcăcilă
as far back as in 193621. Al. Bărcăcilă had
information about the investigations of a silviculturist who excavated in 1910,
because he wanted to find the gate of the fortification. The spoilation of the
stone and of the bricks seems to be usual in Ostrovul Mare. Somebody remembered
that at one moment, even the Serbian neighbours from the southern bank of the
Danube, used to come to the island by boat to find bricks (information from
Dr. Adrian Gheorghe). The researches made in 1981 by M.
Davidescu led to the identification of the Late Roman fortification. The
archaeological excavations begun in 198322 pointed out just a part
of a wall from the eastern side, 23.50m long (Fig. 10). It was built of stone,
limestone and bricks. The wall is 2.80m thick. At its northern end there is a
circular tower with the interior diameter of 3.50m, and at its southern end
there is a pentagonal tower with its interior in a rectangular shape (4.05 x
3.45m). Both towers are protruded out of the enclosure, this feature being
specific to the Late Roman fortifications. A gate with an opening of 3.27m was
identified at 8.50m from the northern tower; at some time it was blocked
with an exterior tower of rectangular shape. A coin from the reign of emperor Aurelian,
which was discovered during the excavations23 cannot be a
chronological argument for the dating of the fortification, because it could
have remained in use for a long time. But another coin coming from the emperor
Valens, has been discovered right on the precinct wall24. There is no information about
the military unit of this fortification. M. Davidescu mentioned that in the
inventory there are three round pieces of limestone25, used as
weights for fishing nets. One of them, the biggest, even if it was perforated in
its middle, could be a projectile, but for this hypothesis there are no
archeological proofs (no photos or drawings)26. Because the other
sides (the northern, the southern and the western sides) of the fortification
have not been discovered, M. Davidescu was led to believe that it was not finished27,
also he identified signs of an organised destruction of the precinct, by
spoilation of the stone on the entire length of the wall. He dated the building
to the reign of Emperor Iustinian and believed that on the island there is
another fortification from the 4th century, but it has not yet been
discovered. There are some observations to be made about these. First of all, the discovered wall represents just a part from the
eastern side of the fortification, which could have been continued towards the south, as the plan of the building suggests, because behind the pentagonal tower
could easily be seen the prolongation of the wall. In this case the pentagonal
tower is not a corner one, but an intermediary one, and from the published plan
seems to be attached subsequently, during another period. The northern tower could
be considered a corner tower only if the brick laying that started towards the west
represents sooner a part of the northern side of the fortification. Also, the
blocking of the gate with a rectangular tower could suggest another phase of
construction. The few preserved signs seem to show that we deal with a
fortification of the quadriburgium type. For the dating of the fortification
during the 4th century we have some epigraphical and archeological
evidence. 1. A stamped brick has been given to me
for study by Dr. Adrian Gheorghe from Filiaşi, who told me that he
discovered it on the wall of the fortification. It is fragmentary and is
made of semifine clay with small stones in the composition. On the surface,
there are abundant traces of mortar and a stamp inside, in a rectangular
register. The letters are in relief, 2.8cm high; the two letters A are
upside-down; the letter N is tied to the A. The preserved sizes: 17 x 11.5cm.
The legend on the stamp is DIANA (Fig. 11). The toponym refers to the
ancient locality Diana (today Karats in Serbia), situated on the southern bank
of the Danube. The brick is dated in the 4th century and it
represents an import of building material. A similar piece coming also from Ostrovul
Mare is shown in Fig. 12. It was signaled by I. Stângă28. For the
fortification Diana see the article by V. Kondic28bis. Stamped
bricks with the toponym Diana have also been discovered to the north of the
Danube, in Dierna-Orşova29, Drobeta30 and Hinova31.
This fact proves the intense activity of the officina from Diana-Karatas and also,
the relation of military dependence, of the Roman fortification from the
islands of the Danube and from the north ripa of the river, upon the Roman political
and military authorities from the southern bank of the Danube. From this point
of view, the northern-Danubian Late Roman fortifications could be considered
the "bridge-heads" of the ones from the southern bank of the river32. 2. Another brick has been given to me by
Dr. Adrian Gheorghe, who mentioned that he found it near the
wall of the fortification, and that probably it had fallen from the wall. It is
fragmentary, made of semifine clay, with little stones and fragments of mica in the composition. On its surface, there are traces of mortar and there is also
a fragmentary stamp inside a rectangular register. The letters are in relief,
disposed from the right to left, 2.5cm high. The preserved sizes are 25 x 16cm. The
legend on the stamp is AQUI[s] (Fig. 13).. It is dated to the 4th century. The toponym refers to the ancient locality Aquae (today
Prahovo-Negotin, in Serbia) situated on the southern bank of the Danube,
opposite Ostrovul Mare. Taking into consideration the position of the island
Ostrovul Mare, opposite Aquae, I think that this stamped brick represents more
than an import of construction material. Most probably, the garrison from
Ostrovul Mare was made by soldiers coming from Aquae, and they brought with
them bricks from the southern bank of the Danube. Bricks with the stamp Aquis have been
discovered to the north of the Danube, in Drobeta33; in this case,
surely it is an import of building material. The fortification Aquae was
mentioned in Tabula Peutingeriana (VII). Systematic archaeological excavations have not yet been made34. 3. A fragmentary brick (Fig. 14), made of
semifine clay, with sand and little stones in the composition. The piece was discovered on
the wall of the circular tower. On its surface, there are traces of mortar and
also two stamps inside of rectangular registers. Just one of the stamps has
been well preserved ; the letters are in relief, 2.2cm high; the last
letter is upside-down. The preserved sizes of the brick: 22 x 17 x 7cm; the
sizes of the rectangular register: 6.3 x 3cm. The impression of the stamp is DA(cia)
RIP(ensis).
It could be dated in the 4th century. The place of manufacturing
could not have been identified, such pieces have been discovered on a large area,
to the north and the south of the Danube35. Anyway, the stamp
certifies the contribution of the army of the province Dacia Ripensis to the
Late Roman domination over the islands from the Danube. The 2nd stamp was badly preserved. There are visible just the traces of three
letters. 4. A fragment of brick (Fig. 15), made of
rough red clay, with little stones in the composition. It was discovered on the
wall of the circular tower. On the surface of the piece, there is a
fragmentary stamp. Unfortunately, no letters have been preserved. The
preserved sizes: 10 x 6cm. 5. During the archaeological excavations,
right on the precinct wall, there was discovered a coin from the time of the
emperor Valens36. The northern circular tower has many
analogie in the 4th century, on the limes of the Lower Danube: Hajducka
Vodenica37, Rtkovo38, Cezava39, etc. Sometime, during the period of the
emperors Anastasius-Iustinian, the fortification seems to have been rebuilt;
then the gate could have been blocked and there was raised the pentagonal tower
situated to the southern end of the wall. The most appropriate analogy for this
tower are at Hajducka Vodenica, where such a tower was dated during the reign
of the emperor Iustinian40. Similar towers in shape and dated in the
same period are in Sucidava41. Among the discoveries from the 6th century made by M. Davidescu in Ostrovul Mare, an arrow-head
of iron with three sides42 is significant. On the Romanian bank of the Danube,
right on the beach of the river, opposite the island Ostrovul Mare, I have
discovered a digitated brooche with five knobs (Fig. 16), made of bronze. The
head is in a semi-disc shape, divided by a vertical line in two quarters of a
circle. The plate is decorated with geometrical motifs and on the lateral
sides, it presents six prominences, three on each side. The superior and the
inferior prominences are perforated and they seem to have been filled with
precious stones in antiquity. The leg was schematically decorated like a stylised
head of an animal; unfortunately the preserved details do not permit its
identification. The pin was made of iron and it has been fragmentarily
preserved. Sizes: 4.6 x 2.6cm. The most
appropriate analogy comes from Desa43. It is a piece which,
excepting a few differences, is very similar to the piece from Ostrovul Mare.
On the line of the Danube, near Ostrovul Mare, another digitated brooches were
discovered in the locality Izvoarele44, Drobeta- 2 pieces45,
Aquis- 4 pieces46. On the map of the area, these discoveries show a
concentration in the Iron Gates area47. Concerning the Late Roman fortification
from the island Ostrovul Mare, taking into consideration the new discoveries,
it could be said that there is only one fortification, built in the 4th century, rebuilt subsequently in the 6th century. The precinct and
the circular tower belong to the 4th century, this dating being
based on the stamped bricks discovered in the brick laying of the tower, but
also on the coin from the time of the emperor Valens, which was discovered
right on the wall48. The mentioning on the stamps only of the
toponyms and of the name of the province, could suggest a later period, perhaps
the 2nd half of the 4th century- the beginning of the 5th century. The fact that they were discovered in the brick laying of the tower
shows that we deal with military officinae. In the 6th century, after
the domination of the Empire on the line of the Danube was restored, the
fortification was probably rebuilt and then there was raised the pentagonal
tower. NOTE 1.
I.
Stângă, Raport preliminar de cercetare arheologică. Ostrovul Mare,
km. fluvial 876, Porţile de Fier II-
campania 1980-, Drobeta, V, 1982, p. 183-189; G. Crăciunescu, Noi
date despre locuirea de la km. 865 din Ostrovul Mare, Drobeta, VI, 1985, p.
43 and the followings. 2.
G.
Crăciunescu, op.cit., p. 47; Idem, Noi descoperiri
arheologice din epoca bronzului la Ostrovul Mare, Drobeta 1980, p.
43-58 ; M. Davidescu, Cetatea romană de la Hinova,
Bucureşti, 1989, p. 107. 3.
V.
Boroneanţ, I. Stângă, Cercetările privind secolul al VII-lea
de la Ostrovul Mare, comuna Gogoşu,
din zona hidrocentralei „Porţile de Fier II”, Drobeta, 1978, p. 87-107. 4.
V.
Boroneanţ, G. Crăciunescu, Aşezarea şi necropola din
secolele XIII-XIV de la Ostrovul Mare, km. 875, Drobeta, VI,
1985, p. 119 and
the followings. 5.
D.
Tudor, Oltenia romană, 4th edition, Bucureşti, 1978,
p. 220. 6.
CIL,
III, 12600=IDR, II, 138. 7.
V.
Boroneanţ, I. Stângă, op.cit., p. 89. 8.
Al.
Bărcăcilă, Câteva monede şi două iconiţe de la
Ostrovu Mare şi Gogoşu (reg. Craiova), SCN, 1, 1957, p.
419-421; D. Tudor, op.cit., p. 220-221; M. Davidescu, op.cit., p. 107. 9.
M.
Davidescu, op.cit., p. 108. 10. IDR, II,
140. 11. C. C.
Petolescu, Cronica epigrafică a României (I, 1975-1980), SCIVA,
4, 32, 1981, p. 602, nr. 29. 12. V.
Boroneanţ, I. Stângă, op.cit., p. 96. 13. N. Gudea, I.
Bajusz, Instrumente medicale şi ustensile folosite de medicii şi
farmaciştii romani din Dacia
Porolissensis. Contribuţii la studiul medicinei romane, Acta Musei
Porolissensis, 16 1992, pl. I/1-2. 14. D. Alicu, S.
Cociş, C. Ilieş, A. Soroceanu, Small finds from Ulpia Traiana
Sarmizegetusa,
Cluj- Napoca, 1994, plate
41/739. 15. E. Künzl, Medizinische
Instrumente aus Sepulkralfunden der römischen Kaiserzeit, Bonner Jahrbucher,
Band 182,1982, p. 1-131; Idem, Operationsräume in römischen
Thermen. Zu einem chirurgischen Instrumentarium aus der Colonia Ulpia Traiana, Bonner
Jahrbucher, Band 186 (1986), p. 493, abb. 2/1-2; E. Riha, Romische
toilettgerat und medizinische Instrumente aus Augst und Kaiseraugst, Augst 1986,
p. 81-82. 16. M. Davidescu
op.cit.,
p. 109 without photos or drawings; I Stângă, Viaţa
economică la Drobeta în secolele
II-VI p.Ch.,
Bucureşti 1998, p. 283, pl. XIII, for drawings. 17. M.
Davidescu, op.cit., p. 110; I. Stângă, op.cit., p. 281, pl.
XI/2; p. 282, pl. XII. 18. M.
Davidescu, op.cit., p. 112, fig. 35. 19. Idem,, p.
112-113. 20. Idem, p. 64,
fig. 17. 21. Idem, p.
113-114. 22. Idem, p.
113-117. 23. Idem, p. 116. 24. Ibidem; the author
considered that the piece has no any connection with the precinct. 25. Ibidem. 26. D. Bondoc, Artillery troops
detached north of the lower Danube in the late Roman period, Limes XVIII,
Proceedings of the XVIIIth International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies
held in Amann, Jordan (September 2000), II, BAR International Series, 1084
(II), 2002,
p.643, nr.6. 27. M. Davidescu, op.cit., p. 116. 28. I. Stângă,
Sur les estampilles tegulaires decouvertes dans la fortifications romaine
tardive de Hinova (dep.
De Mehedinţi), Die archaologie und geschichte der region des Eisernen
Tores zwischen 275-602 N. Chr. Kolloquium in Drobeta-Turnu Severin (2.-5.
November 2001), Bucureşti 2003, p. 85, fig. 2/7. 28bis.
V. Kondic, Statio cataractarum Diana, Derdapske sveske, 4,
1987, p. 43-47. 29. AnnEp, 1972,
493; IGLR, 416; IDR, III/1, 46. 30. CIL, III, 14216,
32; IGLR, 404 şi 408, cu bibliografia. 31. M. Davidescu,
op.cit.,
p. 35 şi 36; ILD, p. 72, nr. 85 şi p. 71, nr. 83/e. 32. D. Bondoc, „Bridge
heads“ on the northern border of the Dacia Ripensis province between the 4th-5th centuries,
The Roman and Late Roman City. The International Conference (Veliko Turnovo, 26-30
July 2000), Sofia 2002, p. 167-172. 33. IGLR, 405,
with the bibliography. 34. Short
presentation N. Gudea, Die Nordgrenze der Römischen
Provinz Obermoesien. Materialien zu ihrer
geschichte (86-275 N.Chr.), Sonderdruck aus Jahrbuch des
Römische-Germanischen Zentralmuzeums Mainz, 48. Jahrgang 2001, p. 89, nr. 25,
cu bibliografia. 35. D. Benea, Officina
militară de la Dierna (sec. III-IV e.n.), Acta MN, 13, 1976, p.
205-214, p. 205-214. 36.
M.
Davidescu, op.cit., p. 116. 37.
M. Vasic, V. Kondic, Le limes romain des Portes de Fer, Studien zu den
militärgrenzen Roms, III. Vorträge des 13.
Internationalen Limeskongresses, Aalen, 1983, p. 550, fig. 15. 38.
Idem, p. 551, fig. 16. 39.
Idem, p. 552, fig. 21. 40. Al.
Jovanovic, Hajducka Vodenica, fortification antique tardive et
paleobyzantine, Starinar, 33-34, 1982-1983, p. 329-331. 41.
The
towers I and J, acc. to D. Tudor, op.cit., p. 424, fig. 127. 42.
M. Davidescu, op.cit., p. 116, no drawings or photos. 43.
D. Popescu, Fibeln aus dem Nationalmuseum fur Altertumer in Bucureşti, Dacia, IX-X,
1941- 1944 (1945), p. 505, fig. 11/121; Al.
Madgearu, Continuitate şi discontinuitate culturală la
Dunărea de jos în secolele VII-VIII, Bucureşti, 1998,
p. 54, no. 13. 44.
M.
Davidescu, op.cit., p. 217, fig. b. 45.
Idem, p. 217, fig. a and c. 46.
Non vidi,
acc. to Al. Madgearu, op.cit., p. 58, no. 43-46. 47.
Al. Madgearu, op.cit., p. 64, fig. 37. 48.
M.
Davidescu, op.cit., p. 116. 49.
ABBREVIATIONS Acta MN- Acta Musei Napocensis, Cluj-Napoca, 1, 1964 şi
urm. AnnEp- Anne
Epigraphique, Paris 1903 şi urm. CIL- Corpus
Inscriptionum Latinarum, Berlin, I, 1863 şi urm. IDR- Inscriptiones
Daciae Romanae= Inscripţiile Daciei romane,
Bucureşti, I (1975), II (1977), III/1 (1977) şi urm. IGLR- E.
Popescu, Inscripţiile greceşti şi latine din secolele IV-XIII
descoperite în România, Bucureşti, 1976. ILD- C.C.
Petolescu, Inscripţii latine din Dacia, Bucureşti 2005. SOME PIECES DISCOVERED BY DR.
ADRIAN GHEORGHE ON THE ROMANIAN BANK OF THE DANUBE, FACE TO FACE WITH OSTROVUL
MARE ISLAND A lot of pieces
were discovered by chance by Dr. Adrian Gheorghe, on the Romanian bank of the
Danube, opposite Ostrovul Mare island, and were given to me for publishing,
and then were given to the Museum of Oltenia, Craiova. This is the reason I present these pieces here. 1. A fragment of terra sigillata
vessel. Only a part from the inferior half of the piece was preserved. The decor consisted of
ovals and below these were rendered grapes and vine leaves. Sizes: 10 x
7.2cm. Fig. II.1. 2. A fragment of terra sigillata vessel,
with the surface decorated with irregular impressions. Sizes: 3.5 x
3.2cm. Fig. II.2. 3. A fragment of a vessel
decorated in barbotine technic. It was made of fine brick-coloured paste, with
fragments of mica in its composition. The rim is bent towards the exterior. The
piece is decorated with vegetal motifs, and on the exterior surface there are
red painted. Sizes:
6.7 x 4.5cm. Fig. II.3. 4
Adornment of a belt (?). It is in a rectangular shape, with the end cut in the
shape of pelta. Sizes: 5.3 x 2cm.
Fig. II.4. 5. Two fragments of
brooches. The pieces belong to the strong profiled type. The beginning of the 2nd century. Fig. II.5. 6. A fragment of a
handle of a vessel made of bronze, in a shape of an acanthus leaf. Sizes: 9.3 x 4.5cm.
Fig. II.6. 7. Little plate
made of lead. On its face there are the letter A, made in relief, 0.7cm high.
I have no idea about the significance of the piece. It could be a sigillum (?). Sizes: 1.9 x 1.3 x
0.4cm. Fig. II.7. 8.
A digitated brooche with five knobs, made of bronze. The head is in a semi-disc
shape, decorated with semicircular lines. The plate is decorated with
geometrical motifs and on the lateral sides, it presents six prominences, three
on each side. On the lateral sides there is the head of a eagle. The leg was
schematically decorated like a stylized head of an animal. The pin was not
preserved. 6th century, perhaps later. Sizes:
6.3 x 3.5cm. Fig. II.8.
Fig. 3. Anchors.
Fig. 4. Ostrovul Mare. A harbour installation, acc. to M. Davidescu 1989.
Fig. 5. Pieces of wood from the harbour installation, acc. to I. Stângă, 1998.
Click on the images to see a larger version.
Fig. 6. Iron Anchor acc. to M. Davidescu 1989.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Fig. 7. Fish Hook.
Fig. 8. Stone Anchor.
Fig. 9. Disc.
Fig. 10. Plan of a late Roman fortification.
Fig. 11. A stamped brick with the legend "DIANA".
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Fig. 12. A stamped brick with the legend "Diana" acc. to I. Stângă.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Fig. 13. A stamped brick with the legend "Aquis" in mirror image acc. to I. Stângă.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Fig. 14. A fragmentary brick made of semifine clay, with sand and little stones in the composition.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Fig. 15. A fragment of a brick of rough red clay.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Fig. 16. Bronze Brooch.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
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