Roman fort, Mušov

Roman fortress in Mušov

Fortress praetorium
Shown within Czech Republic
Location	Moravia, Czech Republic
Region	Marcomania
Coordinates	48°54′N 16°34′E / 48.900°N 16.567°ECoordinates: 48°54′N 16°34′E / 48.900°N 16.567°E
Type	Castrum
History
Material	wood, stone, bricks
Periods	Roman Empire

Bowl of Terra sigillia

The typical landscape silhouette of the fortress - Northern view

Brick with stamp of Leggio X

The Roman fort (Czech: římská pevnost), also known as German: Burgstall and Czech: Hradisko, is an archaeological site located in Mušov, Czech Republic, of a Roman army camp on the Dyje-Svratka-Jihlava confluence. It was intended to be the capital of the proposed Marcomannia province (Moravia).^[1][2]

Geography

The site is located on the Dyje-Svratka-Jihlava confluence. It is situated 18 km from Brno and 86 km from Vienna.

History

The castra in Mušov originated as a Roman army camp.^[3] Its name is unknown (possibly, but uncertainly, it was Eburon, from Ptolemy's Eβυρον). Romans made it his base of operations in the campaigns against Maroboduus (Marbod). So far the important in the Europe-wide context remains the unique site encompassing large variety of evidences of the period of the Marcomannic Wars (166-180 AD) - the central military base on the hill Hradisko (Hillfort) at Mušov (now cadastral area of Pasohlávky). It was built by the Marcus Aurelius' soldiers deep inside the enemy territory, roughly 86 km to the north of the antique Vindobona (today Vienna). The base covers flat minor hilltop, superelevated by 50 m above surrounding terrain, and its southern mild slopes, on the banks of the river Dyje (Thaya). From this strategically situated location was possible to control and manage crossings of river (fort) and overland routes at the confluence of the rivers Svratka, Svitava and Dyje (Thaya) as well as surrounding areas along the rivers, densely populated by the Germanic tribes of Marcomanii.

Even in Roman times it had a history as a trading center for amber (in analogy as in Carnuntum), brought from the north to traders who sold it in Italy; the main arm of the Amber Road crossed the Danube at Carnuntum and continue on the right bank of Dyje. Marcus Aurelius resided there for short time in the operations time, shortly before his deth (180 AD) - during the war against the Marcomanni. During the Barbarian Invasions (reocuppy of the territory - "Eburon" was eventually abandoned and used as a cemetery and source of building material for building projects elsewhere. Eventually, its remains were covered by decaying plant material.

Civilian city

Reconstruction of the timbre house

The remains of the civilian city extended around the fortress (on the top). Housing around the upper (real roman) fort was in fact measuring more than 11 square kilometres, lightly fortified, area densely populated by the Germanic tribes of Marcomanni (or Quadi) - (the part of them traded and collaborated with the Romans and enjoyed luxury roman goods). They had the best out of comfort of (partly) civilised life. The area was (of natural development) bounded by left (northern) bank of Dyje river in the south, right (western) bank of Jihlava River in the east and in the north by rectangular plan enclosed V-shaped ditch (and light fence ?). History of this area and its development is probably more older than history of real roman fort on top of the hill.

Balneum

The inner build-up area of the Roman fortress at Hradisko was uncovered in very limited scale so far. Yet between the years 1926 and 1928 were uncovered unique evidences of antic architecture in the north parts of fortified area by archeologist Anton Gnirs and supported by president Masaryk. Back then discovered enclosure, consisting of residential building with four rooms and baths, considering the war conditions, could be interpreted as luxury residential complex, some sort of ad hoc residence for the highest representatives of military authorities and commanders. Smaller scales of the baths implies rather private use, but there were all necessary rooms including cold and hot water. Baths determined for ordinary Roman soldiers will be at Hillfort (Hradisko) perhaps discovered in the future.

Military camps

In the close surrounding was discovered more than 12 temporary roman military camps (marching camps).^[4] In the seasonal operations (179 AD) was settled there more than 50 000 legionars, mostly from the X. legio - GEMINA PIA FIDELIS

Workshop

On the open area among the buildings were uncovered simple round kilns and one sizable waste pit. This installation served as workshop district, specialized among others to reparations and perhaps simple production of the Roman military equipment and weaponry. This evidence support an idea that inside the fortified area operated certain numbers of civilian personnel under protection of the Roman army. Their sustenance depended on contracts with the Roman army and for that they followed them even in the time of war into the hostile territory

References

1. Komoróczy, Balázs (2010). Hradisko at Musov. Czech Academy of Sciences. pp. 1–5. ISBN 9780810863101.
2. Norbert Hanel; Ángel Morillo Cerdán; Esperanza Martín Hernández (2009). Limes XX: Estudios sobre la frontera romana (Roman frontier studies). Editorial CSIC - CSIC Press. pp. 893–. ISBN 978-84-00-08854-5.
3. Komoróczy, Balázs (2009). The character of the internal buildings of - the Roman military bases on Burgstall at Mušov South Moravia Czech Republic in: Limes XX - Roman Frontier Studies, Volume 2. Ediciones Poliferno, Madrid. pp. 1422–1436. ISBN 9788496813250.
4. Anonymus, Marching or temporary camps of Roman troops north to the Middle Danube. Culture 2000

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "^{article name needed}". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

External links

• Archaeological report by Czech Academy of Science