The archaeological study of Novae (Lower Moesia), a Roman legionary fort and late Roman settlement in northern Bulgaria, offers a thorough analysis of the site's structure, development and environmental setting. Led by Agnieszka Tomas, this research builds upon her previous volume, Living with the Army I: civil settlements near Roman legionary fortresses in Lower Moesia (Reference Tomas2017), offering further insights into this significant historical site. The study examines the complex evolution of Roman military settlements and their associated civilian areas along the Danube frontier, focusing particularly on architectural development, socioeconomic structures, administrative frameworks and cultural interactions that characterised these frontier communities. Located strategically on the southern bank of the Danube, Novae's geographical position was pivotal for Roman frontier defence. The research thoroughly records the site's evolution, including the military fortification (castra) and the neighbouring civilian communities (canabae). This wide-ranging analysis of the landscape provides a solid basis for comprehending the intricate dynamics between military and civilian population inside the frontier community.
This meticulously crafted archaeological investigation distinguishes itself through its systematic methodological framework, which integrates traditional archaeological practices with geophysical techniques. The research team's holistic approach that masterfully combines fieldwalking surveys with Geometrics G858 Magmapper caseium magnetometers operated over 30 × 30m and 40 × 40m grids (0.5m probe spacing, 0.25m reading intervals), alongside electrical resistivity measurements using a twin probe configuration at 1 × 1m resolution. This methodical data collection, enhanced by satellite imagery and aerial photography analysis, has created a comprehensive dataset particularly effective for identifying subsurface features and planning future excavations.
The research team's results have significantly enhanced our understanding of the site's organisation. The legionary fortress (castra), resembling a rectangular with rounded corners, covers 17.99ha with its north-south axis shifted 8° east from geographical north. The survey documented various buildings within the fortress, with structures ranging from 9 × 9m to 17 × 21m in dimension. Beyond the fortress walls, the survey area extended across 70–80ha, revealing evidence of civilian settlement that included workshops for pottery, building materials and metal products. Notable structures outside the fortress included temples, particularly Mithraea and Dolichena sanctuaries, as well as bath-houses and granaries. The site's occupation spans multiple phases, from the pre-Flavian period (before AD 70) through to the late sixth and early seventh century.
The discovery of many artefacts both in military and civilian areas provide rich insight into life at Roman Novae. The assemblage includes pottery for cooking and dining, weapons, metal items, coins and seals, reflecting a vibrant community. The finds demonstrate active trade networks, evidenced by amphorae and metal items suggesting wine, oil and metal commerce. The interaction between military and civilian populations is particularly evident in the reuse of military-stamped building materials in civilian contexts. The abundant pottery finds, including both tableware and kitchenware, indicate well-established domestic activities and point to a settlement supporting various occupations, from tradespeople to entertainers.
The book notably emphasises reconstructing the ancient ecosystem via palynological and anthropological analyses. The presented study examines samples from multiple locations within both the military camp and supporting civilian settlement, spanning the first to fourth centuries AD. These reveal cultivation of grapes, figs, olives and grains, with clear differentiation between military and civilian agricultural practices. The surrounding landscape comprised mixed oak-hornbeam woodland and riparian flora, supported by pollen evidence from Cichorioideae, Asterioideae, Brassicaceae, Poaceae and Cyperaceae. To better contextualise frontier development patterns, the research would benefit from comparisons with contemporaneous Roman settlements in the Lower Moesian region, rather than distant sites such as Carnuntum and Aquincum.
The publication features comprehensive visual documentation through maps, aerial photographs and orthophotoplans (interpretative drawings of geophysical anomalies). The artefact presentation, particularly pottery and coins, provides concrete evidence of cultural and economic dynamics: pottery fragments demonstrate Roman-indigenous acculturation through mixed manufacturing techniques, while coin finds reveal trade connections with Illyria, Macedonia and Thrace. The research confronted specific methodological challenges in geophysical prospection, including interference from modern infrastructure, varying magnetic responses due to different building materials (sandstone with brick versus limestone), and complex survey conditions in the canabae and annexe areas. The multi-method approach integrating geophysical surveys with remote sensing techniques, alongside varied electrode configurations in electrical resistivity surveys, enabled detailed subsurface investigation and strategic planning of future fieldwork.
Future research at Novae can build directly on the current remote sensing and field survey foundation. Priority areas include deeper analysis of existing geophysical and remote sensing data to identify undiscovered archaeological features, focused investigation of the eastern annexe area where Late Roman seals from Asia Minor were found and continued non-invasive prospection in accessible areas. The multi-method approach combining geophysical surveys with remote sensing has proven cost-effective for investigating the archaeological landscape. Particular attention should be given to partially reconstructing the canabae settlement layout through existing methodologies, while addressing specific terrain challenges posed by urban development and agricultural activity.
This research will serve as a crucial reference for scholars in Roman archaeology, frontier history and ancient landscape studies, but some interpretations may need adjustment when new data arise, such as additional excavation findings or advancements in remote sensing technologies. While the book's primary audience encompasses archaeologists and Roman studies specialists, its broader significance lies in its remarkable illustration of how diverse methodological approaches—from environmental sciences to digital humanities, from anthropological perspectives to advanced computational analyses, and from geological studies to cultural heritage management—can be harmoniously integrated to create a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of archaeological sites.
