New archaeological researches at the roman fort from Băneasa (Teleorman county)

Abstract

The Limes Transalutanus research project included evaluating the conservation state of the studies sites. The large fort from Băneasa – the largest Roman fortification from this frontier – did not perform well, with the central part of its western side already lost in the ravine towards Călmățui and the adjacent corners in imminent danger. Although the project did not include archaeological excavations, with the exception of brief, mechanised samplings of the “wall” (“troian”), these observations have determined me to conduct a brief, informative dig on the south-western corner of the fort, the one that seemed to be the most affected by the erosion. The test digging intersected both the excavation conducted by Gheorghe Cantacuzino (in 1943) as well as a more recent excavation, whose author is unknown. They affected almost a third of the excavated area (11 square meters), with the remainder serving as the conclusions detailed in the report. The excavation proved that the diagnosis had been correct. It is not only the defensive wave that is completely lost but even the “ancient stepping level” on which the palisade had been built was affected by the combination of systematic excavations and the plateau’s natural angle. A stake hole (partially), burned down to its base, was all that was found from the former palisade. Compared to the dramatic situation of the curtain, the one noticed inside is much better. Two distinct Roman-era levels could be distinguished here, under the ploughing. The old one included a barrack that also burnt, though less severe that the palisade; the level is dated based on a coin from the beginning of the 3rd century. The more recent level suggests, through the inventory analysis, that the studied area changes its utility, becoming an industrial area (ceramic production and recycled iron). The inventory analysis for the Roman levels produced some notable surprises, among which the quasi-absence of tegular or metal materials, as well as the relative preponderance of ceramics considered, until recently, to belong to the Chilia-Militari culture. Another surprise was the existence of a consistent prehistoric level (probably from the early Iron Age), both in terms of anthropic deposition (more than 0.5 m) and in terms of the share of collected ceramics (about 40%). Considering the interesting results obtained from the interior area of the fort, it was decided to expand the research to other areas of the large fort, with the goal of a more thorough overall diagnosis, along with the expansion of the geophysical research, aiming to prepare the site for a systematic research project, on the indefinite term. The decision is also related to the inclusion of the fort on the UNESCO Tentative List, which is being prepared by the Limes Commission, as well as to the need for a future touristic and museum exploitation project, which will benefit from the necessary scientific support.