Castrul de la Sarmizegetusa
Military camp from Sarmizegetusa

Summary/Abstract: The issue there was a military camp next place Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa aroused much controversy in the scientific world. It is true, however, that most historians and archaeologists who have debated the subject, were of the opinion that the presence of a camp can not be questioned. The main arguments that led to the rejection hypothesis fall into two broad categories. On the one hand we deal with scientific unsupported claims such as that Sarmizegetusa was founded in 106, as a colonia deducta, with veterans discharged after the war. On the other hand are the conclusions drawn from archaeological excavations, such as even while recognizing that the central phase of wood building could be a principia of camp, this is not possible because of civilian buildings located on the South of it; attempts to centuriation lead to one conclusion, existance of a camp is impossible, all data leading to hypothesis of a city from the very begining. Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa foundation can not be held in 106. Military diploma from Ranovac present a different governor, this was Iulius Sabinus, before the first one considered the founder of the settlement, Decimus Terentius Scaurianus. Since the fighting in the 106's should be completed in the second half of the year, and probably the Emperor Trajan was still in Dacia, the first governor must be magistrate between 107-108. And if Decimus Terentius Scaurianus, who founded Sarmizegetusa was governor between 108-109, the city will be founded as early in the year 108, going, possibly up to 110. This means that by the time functioned a camp here, where resided at least the first two governors of Dacia province.Another error is that Sarmizegetusa would be founded as a colony of veterans. Since diplomas from Ranovac and Porolissum testify disbandment quite late, 109 and 110 respectively, it is more likely that first veterans will settle down to Sarmizegetusa after founding of the city. This idea is reinforced by the cases of two veterans, C. Iulius Valerius veteran of Leg. XIII G Severiana, and that of M. Ulpius Marteialis veteran and decurion of the same Colonia Sarmizegetusa Metropolis. It is known that Legion XIII G epithet, that of Severiana, and of the city, that of Metropolis, dated in IIIrd century. On the other hand, the overwhelming majority of veterans inscriptions are made on marble. Or, according to the analysis this material begins to be used during late Antonin reign in Sarmizegetusa (after 160). All these data clearly show that the vast majority of veterans will settle down later on. Therefore, their initial contribution, if there existed somehow, was extremely low and in any case we can not take into consideration a colony of veterans but a civilians one.Regarding the refusal to concede a military presence before founding the city because of civil buildings located on the South, the answer is that we deal with a major scientific error. It is a matter of archaeological nature, more precisely of stratigraphic nature, meaning that it can not make a comparison between the central building from the first wooden phase, and those in the South from the second timber phase. Only military barracks excavated in Insula 3 can be a valid comparison, since here we deal with one phase in timber and coins dating is identical to that of principia. About the context no. 9 found in the central area we consider that have to do with the demolition level of principia. This statement could be checked very well with known data of the forum, more precisely the fact that some of the wooden buildings were still standing when it began digging to the foundation of stone edifice. Another argument is given by a gutter built in second wooden phase, paved with tiles stamped Leg. IIII FF, crossing the courtyard of the forum and is still functional in the early stone phase. It is a type of stamp that is also found in the first wooden phase, which shows a building material reuse and at the same time that it was no more essential the effective military presence for tegular production.Considering all these observations, the only conclusion that impose itself is that in first timber phase existed a military camp, which is held in the second phase by civilian settlers, which will begin construction of the city in stone very shortly. Principia of the camp was still in use when the work started at stone forum, practically the second wooden phase being caught only around the headquarters building, just in Insula 3 was revealed barracks with only one phase of functionality without trace of burning.The garrison troops were formed at least by Legion IIII FF and auxiliaries certified by military equipment. Presence of Legion XIII G raises some questions, which certainly occurs in the context of Marcomanic wars, but not quite sure if it was part of the garrison Sarmizegetusa from very begining.

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