The topography of Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa and the first centuriation in Dacia

Abstract

The topography of Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa and the first centuriation in Dacia

The paper deals with advanced topographical and ancient landscape research at the Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa, the capital of the Roman province of Dacia. Even if topographical surveys had been conducted previously as early as in the 16th and 18th centuries, excavations here were not undertaken until the 19th century. In the mid-20th century, scientific research was established at the site. Subsequently, topographical plans were elaborated and published in the 1970s and 1990s. However, the latest topographical survey was led between 2008 and 2010 by the authors of this paper, with state-of-the-art equipments, and overlapping the measurements on the satellite photography, revealed interesting features of the ancient landscape and cadastre. It is now sure that these are the first traces of Roman centuriation in the province of Dacia.