Arrubium
Măcin (Arrubium – TP VIII, 4; ItAnt 225, 4; ND, Or. 39, 7, 16; GeogrRav IV, 5, 18)
Location: Tulcea county (RAN 159749.01; TL-I-m-A-05837)
The fortification is located on a high terrace on the right bank of the Măcin arm, at the point “La Cetate”, at the southwestern limit of the city.
Although it was reported from the end of the 19th century, the fortification was significantly affected by stone excavations carried out in the interwar period. An entire side is preserved, the northern one, which has a length of about 115 m. The eastern side, perpendicular to the northern one, is preserved across a length of 110 m. 25 m from another side are also preserved, oriented north-east-south – west, which forms an angle of about 120° with the north side.
The auxiliary fort, overlaid by the late Roman fortification, was very little excavated. This was the garrison of the ala Vespasiana Dardanorum (ISM V 251). Evidence of another unit, the ala II Hispanorum et Aravacorum (ISM V 253) are also present. In the Dominate era, the garrison of a cavalry unit is attested here, Cuneus equitum catafractariorum (ND, Or. 39, 16). It appears referred to as an urban structure (civitas) for the Dominate period (Geograv IV 5, 47).
Our investigations consisted of collecting data necessary for obtaining an orthophoto plan, and 3D modelling, respectively taking oblique photos. On this occasion, field reconnaissance of the structures built was carried out.
Part of the study:
Ovidiu Țentea, Ioan C. Opriș, Florian Matei-Popescu, Alexandru Rațiu, Constantin Băjenaru, Vlad Călina, Frontiera romană din Dobrogea. O trecere în revistă și o actualizare, Cercetări Arheologice, Vol. 26, pag. 9-82, 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.46535/ca.26.01
Bibliography
TIR L 35, p. 24; Suceveanu 1977, 61-62, nr. 4; Zahariade, Gudea 1997, p. 80, nr. 46; Gudea 2005, p. 453, nr. III. 46.