On the Fringes of the Empire: Multidisciplinary Investigations at the Roman Fort in Ungra, Transylvania

A Roman fort near Ungra, Transylvania, reveals new insights into the military strategies and defensive networks of Dacia during the Roman Empire. The fort's strategic location, featuring a double ditch and rampart system, along with evidence of both timber and stone construction phases, suggests it played a pivotal role in controlling key communication routes and defending against threats. Multidisciplinary investigations, including satellite imagery, drone surveys, geophysical studies, archaeological excavations, and digital reconstructions, uncovered significant artifacts such as ballista projectiles, sling stones, and metallurgical slag, indicating active military use for both defense and offense. The fort's proximity to the auxiliary fort at Hoghiz further implies an interconnected network of defenses, enhancing our understanding of Roman frontier dynamics in Transylvania.

Hegyi, A., Gridan, S., Angheluță, L., Ardelean, A.-C., Sheishah, D., Honcu, Ș., Boțan, S.-P., Zăgrean, R., Onaca, A., Urdea, P., Picior, A., Pețan, A., & Sărășan, A. (2025). On the Fringes of the Empire: Multidisciplinary Investigations at the Roman Fort in Ungra, Transylvania. Journal of Field Archaeology, 50(5), 425–443. https://doi.org/10.1080/00934690.2025.2505818