Observations on the Funerary Constructions at Potaissa (Turda, Cluj County)

Abstract

"We are publishing here two fragmentary funerary monuments discovered during the archaeological monitoring for the development works in and around the fortress of the Legion V Macedonica at Potaissa in 2021. The two monuments discovered in and near the fortress probably come from a necropolis located nearby and document the existence of large funerary constructions in ancient Potaissa. The first monument, a fragment of a rectangular coping, belongs to the so-called ""pilaster-type funerary constructions"", while the second, the pediment fragment, must be linked to the aedicula-type funerary constructions. We have tried to identify other disparate elements in the sculptural production of Potaissa that document the existence of these types of monuments in order to complete the picture of the architectural-sculptural production for funerary purposes in this provincial city. The findspots of these monuments indicate the distribution of the funerary areas on Fortress Hill near the legionary fortress. Some large monuments that are found in situ, indicate two funerary areas on Fortress Hill pertaining to the canabae civilian settlement: the Szindivölgy-tető point and Fodor Domokos’ vineyard (on Rákos utca) in the Közep-mál area. Keywords: funerary monuments, pilaster, aedicula, necropolis, Potaissa "