BATH AND BATHING IN DACIA (1). CURRENT STATE OF RESEARCH OF THE BALNEA.

Within this paper we publish a critical review of the state of research on the military bathhouses from Roman Dacia. Moreover, our aim is to also provide a broader regional survey. It comprises a short discussion of the history of research, emphasizing the importance of the essential contributions to the study of military baths in Dacia, as well as the importance of the regional studies and of the monographs of different archaeological sites. Therefore, we decided, to review and update our knowledge of the military bathhouses uncovered in the Dacian provinces. According to the current state of research, there are 39 balnea recorded, including baths located within the forts (praetorium), as well as extra muros, in the civilian settlements. Upon reviewing the evidence, the paper stresses the variety of the military balnea discovered and points out the differences between legionary and auxiliary baths, shedding light on some of the local features of these baths.</p

THE COIN FINDS FROM MĂLĂIEȘTI ROMAN FORT AND BATHS

This paper presents 86 coins discovered during the archaeological excavations carried out at the Roman fort and baths at Mălăiesti (19 specimens in the fort and 67 specimens in the baths), as well as 3 coins found by chance in the area of the fort. The earliest of these date from the period of the Roman Republic, while the most recent were issued during the final years of Trajan’s reign, more precisely between February 116 and August 117. The coin finds are very important for the dating of the fort and baths at Mălăiești

THE GLASSWARE FROM MĂLĂIEȘTI ROMAN FORT AND BATH

Excavations at Mălăiești Roman Fort and bath (Romania, Prahova County) undertaken in 1930, 1954, 1985, and 2011-2019 revealed a small roman fortification and its baths, between 101-118 AD. This paper will attempt to show the significance of the glassware finds through a social-cultural analysis resulting from the way the finds were distributed within the site. Our study describes the glassware fragments found during recent excavations and offers an analysis in the context of the manufacturing processes, spatial distribution, and the circumstances of their discovery as well as the chemical analysis of the typical samples. As an end result, we were able to determine their chronological, morphological, and typological properties

THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ROMAN DACIA IX (2006-2010)

The list of works on Roman Dacia published between 2006 and 2010

THE ROMAN FRONTIER IN DOBRUDJA. SEVERAL FORTIFICATIONS NOT EXCAVATED OR WITH UNDETERMINED PLANIMETRIC FEATURES

Eight different fortifications of unequal size and strategic importance are tackled in this contribution, namely the ones along the Danube limes, starting at Seimenii Mari, Stânca Topalu - Cariera Cekirgea, Cius - Gârliciu, Luncavița - Milan, Isaccea - Noviodunum, Tulcea – Aegyssus, and two more Late Roman quadriburgia, controlling the inner roads at Mihai Bravu and Mircea Vodă. Excepting for Noviodunum and Aegyssus, none of the above mentioned limes forts was subject to thorough archaeological investigations which is why all of them entered lately into the scope of the Romanian LIMES National Programme. As a matter of fact, within the framework of the World Heritage List nomination preparings, the entire Lower Danube Roman frontier became subject to detailed surveys and drone flight records (with orthographic and oblique shots) which were corroborated with all the information available so far in the archives. Therefore, a partial Forschungsstand for all this intensive research is presented in the following pages. Our approach is formally a holistic one, aiming at integrating and understanding the dynamics of both limes and interior communities, covering their communication mediums, landscape and resources. In this respect, new promising steps were also taken for identifying civitas Ausdecensium at Cetatea (commune of Dobromir, Constanța county), in southern Dobrudja. What we already know for sure is that in the 4th century the members of a prosperous habitation along the imperial road from Marcianopolis, running through Zaldapa, Tropaeum Traiani (possibly, Mircea Vodă) and Ulmetum, to Noviodunum peacefully dwelt within the area of the modern village

Investigation of Ancient Wall Painting Fragments Discovered in the Roman Baths from Alburnus Maior by Complementary Non-Destructive Techniques

In this study, several wall painting fragments discovered in the Roman baths from the archeological site Alburnus Maior (Roşia Montană, Romania) were analyzed with the aim to investigate the material composition of both plasters and pictorial layers. Dated from the beginning of the second century AD, these rare findings stand among the oldest examples of preserved decorative polychrome paintings on plaster excavated thus far in the former territory of the Roman province of Dacia. A non-destructive multi-analytical approach based on complementary techniques was considered: Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV fluorescence, and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). The obtained results highlight a common Roman color palette mainly based on naturally occurring earth pigments. Red ochre, yellow ochre, manganese-rich ochres/wads, carbon black, and calcite were identified. A traditional two-layer sequence of plasters was found—arriccio (based on lime and siliceous sands), and intonaco (pure lime). The presence of an organic protein binder, identified via FTIR analysis, and sustained by combined imaging documentation, indicates that the pigments were applied a secco. The obtained results are discussed in relation to previous published data, and they can be considered as valuable archeological indicators that contribute to the understanding of the painting techniques and the materials used in the Roman provinces

INTEGRATED MULTI-ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE BRONZE VESSEL FROM MĂLĂIEȘTI ROMAN FORT

This paper presents an integrated multi-analytical documentation of a bronze vessel discovered in a 2nd century Roman military fort from ancient Dacia. The process involved 3D digitization, X-ray and hyperspectral imaging, and molecular, elemental, and structural analysis using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results of the study revealed the composition of the vessel metal and of the interior coating and the state of conservation through metal quality, internal cracks and corrosion compounds mapping. A 3D virtual reconstruction of the original aspect is also proposed based on the digitization and metal characterization results