Novae 2012. „Principia et Munitiones Castrorum”. Legionary defences

Abstract

In 2012 our post-excavation project (“Novae. Legionary Fortress and Late Antique Town. Fortifications”1 ) was carried out within the eastern and northern gates (portae principales sinistra and praetoria) and in the eastern intervallum. 2 The eastern gate (Fig. 1) was a double-portalled structure, simultaneously slightly set back and projected from the line of the wall. 3 In the present state of preservation it consists of two large platforms made of medium size stones in gray mortar bonding (lime with river graveland sand). These have been cleaned up and recorded. Both platforms (7×7 m – north platform, 8×6 m – south platform) must have carried once two stone gate towers, thetraces of which have not survived. The platforms which how many gaps and cracks were built to stabilise the ground in the next neighbourhood of the earlier 1st c. Ad ditch from the earth-and-timber defences of the legionary camp. Between the platforms the excavation revealed a socle walland foundations ofacentral spine in the middle of the roadway, designed to support two arches.