Romanian archaeologists find Roman gate beneath medieval fortress
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Archaeologists in Alba Iulia, Romania, unearthed the main eastern gate of Apulum, a Roman-era settlement. Anca Timofan led the research team during excavations at the Capistrano Bastion within the Alba Carolina Fortress.
The discovery came 40 years after researchers identified and restored the settlement’s southern gate. The newly found gate, known as Porta Praetoria, featured foundations for flanking towers, a central wall, and two arched entrances, all constructed with large limestone blocks using the opus quadratum technique.
The team found the remains approximately four meters underground. By comparing this gate to the southern gate, specialists can now better understand the layout of the Roman settlement’s eastern entrance. The discovery also revealed that medieval builders reused the Roman gate’s foundations when constructing the Saint George Gate of the later fortress, creating a layered fortification at the same location. Foreign travelers noted the Roman origins of the medieval gate as early as the 17th century.
