Novae : headquarters building and rear division of the Roman legionary fortress : excavation of 2003

Abstrakt

The excavations of 2003 were carried out in the central (headquarters building - principia) and rear parts (retentura) of the fortress of the legio I Italica. The work in the headquarters building consisted mostly of consolidating the walls and removing traces of robber trenches, dug recently by treasure hunters in the cross hall (basilica principiorum) and in the rear range of administrative rooms (scholae) on both sides of the chapel of the standards (aedes principiorum). It was possible in consequence to complete the recording of the western tribunal (areas Hz and Iz) and entrances to Room Cz and Corridor Dz. In the front section of the aedes (Room A), between the steps leading up to the chapel and the stone slabs in its central part, a large masonry platform (3.90 m by 1.30 m), made of stones, once probably carrying similar slabs, was discovered.