Dacian Fortress Sucidava, an ancient strategic point

Sucidava is a Daco-Roman historical site, located in Corabia, Romania on the north bank of the Danube. Corabia, also called ‘the city of the linden trees’ is a small Danube port located in Olt County. An ancient strategic point, Sucidava Fortress ranks among the first Roman-Byzantine settlements built thousands of years ago in the Danubian Carpathian Sea area.

During the free Dacian period, Sucidava was the political and economic center of the Suci, a Dacian tribe that had trade relations with Hellenistic cities and the Roman Empire, as proven by coins and stamped amphorae.

Sucidava archaeological complex spreads on two hectares of land and is very easy to access due to the newly rebuilt road. The main attraction point here at the fortress is represented by the secret fountain built by the Romans 18 meters underground. The fountain was rediscovered in 1958 and restored in 1968. It is the only monumental fountain of its kind in Southeastern Europe that dates back to the Roman-Byzantine era. The well was created especially to provide water supply in times of siege, so that the inhabitants didn’t have to go outside the walls searching for water. Today, especially the young brides drink it, convinced this will bring harmony in their couple.

The Geto – Dacian vestiges can still be seen today, after nearly 2,000 years since the settlement was built. Within the red brick walls, stretched over an area of ​​about two hectares, a nearly 3,000 people community is supposed to have been established here. Within the city walls the ancient Roman vestiges or the Roman under floor heating system can still be seen today, which dates back in the 6th century. Archaeological diggings carried out in the area revealed that the city residents had a quite developed lifestyle.

During the archaeological digs last year supervised by Univ. Professor Petre Gherghe, they discovered several dwellings dating back from the Dacian and Roman times, ceramic vessels and one coin from the 4th century.

Sucidava mainly receives organized groups of students but also visitors and experts in the field. Sucidava archaeological site is also used as a school where students come every year to learn from the experts.