Bulgarian Archaeological Association

COLONIA ULPIA TRAIANA RATIARIA

Written sources and epigraphical data represent Ratiaria as one of the most important Roman and Early Byzantine centres in the lower Danube area. It was established in the 1st century A.D. as a military encampment and a civilian settlement which grew around it. After 106 Trajan withdrew the legions and raised its status to a colony called COLONIA ULPIA TRAIANA RATIARIA. In the 2nd and 3rd century Ratiaria flourished with a romanized polulation. Towards the end of the 3rd century Ratiatria was already the main town of the new province Dacia Mediterranea and once again had a considerable garrison. In the 4th century it became an important bishoprics seat. In the first half of the 5th century Ratiaria was still a major centre with a large population, however in the 40ties of the 5th century it was sacked by the Huns. Under Anastasius I (491-518) restoration operations were carried out and the town received a new name ANASTASIANA RATIARIA. It seems the overrunning of the town in 586 by the Avars led to the end of its existence.

For a long time archeological information about Ratiaria was based on chance finds. The first excavations were carried out by V. Velkov between 1958 and 1962. It was also Velisar Velkov who wrote the first summarized publication about Ratiaria. Excavations were renewed over the 1976-1991 period, including work with Italian specialists. Georgetti has offered the most exhaustive review of the results of excavations.

Ratiaria was situated on a raised river terrace along the Danube. The analysis of an aerial photograph by L. Giorgetti allows the conclusion that the fortifications of Ratiaria originally were in the form of a square and later was extended to a rectangular shape with dimensions 426 m by 284 m. However this photograph only allows the location of the southwestern sector of the original fortifications. Chance discoveries show that towards the 3rd and early 4th century a considerably larger wall was built, including new ground in an eastern direction. The protected area amounted to approximately 30 ha - 35 ha. It is not clear whether it was maintained in the 6th century.

Giorgetti's restoration of the plan and the street network of Ratiaria is largely hypothetical. The only positive locations which can be established on the photograph are the streets and the insulae in the southwestern part of the fortified area. The most exhaustively studied sector of the street comes from the so-called second northern decumanus.

The course and structures along the main water supply system for Ratiaria - from the Zhidovetz locality over 10 km in a southwestern direction - are well known. A drain covered by an arch, found by chance on the southeastern part of the town was probably the main drain (cloaca maxima).

Only part of the western wall of Ratiatria with its towers and the western gate, probably the principal gates, has been studied. Three main construction periods have been established: from the end of the 1st and early 2nd century; from the end of the 3rd and early 4th century; from the end of the 5th and the early 6th century.

Remains from various buildings have been found off the western wall, including that of a late-Roman bath. A large building, which functioned until the end of the 6th century was established to the northeast, close to the western gate. Buildings from the 4th-6th century have been partially studied earlier in the central town section and the northeastern urban zone - the so called building with the treasure.

The central northern city zone has been studied with a representative complex with a large one apse hall. The hall is considered to fall within the early 4th century and is considered the residence of the ruler of the province of Dacia Mediterranea. One of the arguments for building work on a large scale was the rebuilding of the complex at the end of the 5th and early 6th century.

The aerial photograph shows the outlines of an enormous bath structure with an area of approx. 0.9 ha.

Up to the mid 5th century Ratiaria had considerable outskirts in a southern and eastern direction. The quarter on the left bank of the Archaritsa river appears to have been occupied by dwellings, while artisan's workshops were on the right bank of the river. At excavations in the Yaliata locality, to the north of the fortifications a representative dwelling was partially uncovered (probably the residence of the harbour master). A modest Christian basilica was built here towards the end of the 4th century

L. Giorgetti believes that a specific camp was made with dimensions 100 m by 60 m beyond the town walls and sees this in connection with the stay of Legio 13 Gemina after the end of the 4th century in Ratiaria. However in the respective sector only burials have been found. Considering the tendencies of the stationing of military units at the time, the headquarters and the barracks of the legion should be expected to have been in the protected part of Ratiaria, including its late Roman extension, not beyond them.

Data from the great number of incidental burials shows that towards the 3rd - 4th century the necropolis of Ratiaria was extended and placed as far as possible from the town fortifications. The situation towards the 5th -6th century was quite different when the necropolises appear close to the walls, including the area of earlier quarters. Evidently these changes reflect the general state and development of the town during these periods.

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