Lamps from the foundation pits (fossae) of the principia in the Roman fortress of Novae (Bulgaria)

Abstract

Material from two foundation pits associated with the first principia in the fortress at Novae (Švištov, Bulgaria), built shortly after the arrival of the Legio Prima Italica in AD 69, comprised waste left by the Legio Octava Augusta, its predecessor on site since AD 45. The finds provide essential information on the supply chain of lighting devices reaching the legionary camp before AD 71, when the pits were filled up. The high quality of the lamps sent to the legion, mainly exclusive imports from Italy and Asia Minor, but also from the Aegean world and South Pannonia, corroborates once again that the military supply chains in this period did not follow the easiest and shortest routes, and ignored much closer and already active lamp producing centers.