Politica Imperiului Roman la nordul Dunării de Jos în secolul IV d. Hr. în perspectiva descoperirilor arheologice de la Pietroasele
The politics of the Roman Empire north of the Lower Danube in the fourth century AD in light of archaeological discoveries from Pietroasele

Summary/Abstract: In the late third and early forth century, Diocletian’s reforms helped Constantin the Great to attain the throne of the Great Roman Empire. He proclaims freedom of Christianity, removes Licinius from power, consolidating his position as a sole ruler of the empire, builds a new capital, Constantinopol, and launches an offensive policy on the Lower Danube and in Scythia Minor/Dobrogea to protect the eastern part of the empire and defend the Danube border. Between 324-328, Constantin the Great regains the territory to the south of the Carpathians, builds the bridge and the citadel of Sucidava – Celei and raises the defensive system called Trajan’s Wall / The Furrow of Novac (it was geographically positioned between Hinova and Mizil, and completed with the castrum from Pietroasele and the polygonal tower from Barboşi – Galaţi) to protect the empire from foreign invasions, especially from the goths. The defensive line ensured peace on the Lower Danube for more than four decades. During this time, romanized native population (or in course of romanization), protected by the roman presence, were the dominant ethnic element in the eastern Muntenia and southern Moldova, alongside small groups of sarmatians, taifals, scyrs and visigoths. Archaeological findings attested the continuity of some carpic and dacian settlements dating from 2d and 3d century AD, which were superimposed by 4th century AD settlements, in some cases, the habitation extending to the 5th , 6th and 7th century AD. Recorded archaeological facts confirms the consolidation of roman provincial elements in the area north of the Danube and the spread of Christianity between 4th – 7th century AD. The vestiges from Pietroasele offered valuable archaeological informations. In 1866 A. Odobescu dated the roman castrum in the 4th century AD, attributing it to the constantinian era. The dating has been disputed for decades, but confirmed during the archaeological excavations started in 1973 under the leadership of Gheorghe Diaconu. The archaeological research of the edifice with hipocaustum (begun in 1976 and resumed in 2009) brought important informations about this unique building. The rooms and corridors of the building were paved with white marble, the walls were brushed-up with colored plaster – opus signinum – and painted in fresco technique in an impressive color range, and the windows were sealed with stained glass fixed in lead frames. The edifice has large basins with hot and cold water, small basins for special uses, training rooms, music halls, rest rooms, work spaces, banquet hall, kitchen etc. The entire building was heated by an ingenious system fitted with furnium and praefurnium. The dating of the edifice in the 4th century AD is certified by the archaeological material belonging entirely to Sântana de Mureş-Cerneahov culture and the discovery of a fibula (made from iron) which is characteristic for this period.

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