Roman Castrum Porolissum – one of the best preserved archaeological sites in Romania
Porolissum Fortress is one of the largest and best preserved Roman Castra and it is located on Pomat Magura hill, near Moigrad Porolissum village, located within Salaj County at 504 meters altitude. The archaeological site is situated 15 kilometers away from the county seat, Zalau. Despite its imposing dimensions, approximately the size of 10 football courts, the castrum has been very well preserved in time.
Porolissum used to be an old Roman City in Dacia, being used as a military camp starting 106. After the culmination of the Dacian-Roman wars, the city became the capital of Dacia Porolissensis province, due to its strong economic activity at that time. The initial structure of wood and stone foundations, would house nearly 5,000 soldiers. Later one, the fortification was enlarged and rebuilt in stone, with defense walls and ditches, as well as several smaller castra.
The first excavations carried out in the area since 1970 show that it was inhabited for a long time after 271 and that Dacians settled around it after the wars. Inscriptions with the names of important figures of those times were discovered – Dacian-Roman names. Following researches, the remains of some military equipment used at the time and then the civil city were discovered there, which include: public baths, a temple, an amphitheater, as well as a few human settlements. The importance of this ancient archaeological site lies not only in its impressive size, but in the fact that it was very well preserved despite the lapse of time.The archaeologists have unveiled so far three rooms and the building’s corner walls.
No later than Wednesday, archaeologists announced they unearthed a building 40 m long and 20 m wide in a less explored area of the former city of Porolissum, near the eponymous castrum, which was the northernmost defence point of Roman Dacia. The discovery follows an ample archaeological prospecting campaign covering an area of about 10 hectares inside the Porolissum Archaeological Complex, with focus on the area where the Roman municipium Septimium Porolissense was allegedly lying.
It seems that initially, Porolissum Fortress was built on a stone foundation, continued with the upper part, made of wood that was later completely rebuilt in stone. Several settlements developed around the area knowing a rapid growth in a very short time. The old Roman city was abandoned by the majority of the population in 271, also known in history as the time after the Aurelian Withdrawal, but there is evidence that this place has been inhabited for a while after this period.
Nowadays in Porolissum Archaeological Complex you can still see one of the city gates: Praetoria Gate kept in excellent condition that still has the two circular towers. You can also admire the ruins of the old fortification walls, the building where there used to be the commandment, an old hospital and some workshops. There are traces of the colossal Porolissum Amphitheatre, a landmark for that period, which used to host shows, gladiator battles, acrobatics, stage plays or public executions.
Annually, The Roman Festival of Porolissum takes place, an event known nationally and internationally, which consists in the staging of various specific activities, such as wrestling demonstrations or food tasting, prepared following the Romanian tradition.
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