Earth Castrum in Măgulici - Ighiu

The earth castrum at Ighiu is one of the small Roman fortifications that guarded the entrance to the gold-bearing land of Dacia province.

Its location on the top of Măgulici hill, at an altitude of 492 m, gave it a dominant position, with good visibility in all directions.

Its purpose was to supervise the transport of people and goods on the road to Zlatna and Roșia Montană and to ensure security in this area. From the point where it had been built, the fortification had a direct view of the legionary base at Apulum (today's Alba Iulia), located approximately 10 km away.

A coin from the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, discovered during recent archaeological research, indicates as a possible period of use of the fortification the interval between 106 AD and the end of the century II AD.

The Roman fortification from Măgulici, Ighiu was one of a castellum or burgus type. It had a quadrangular shape, with rounded corners, its dimensions being 50 x 41 m. The long sides were oriented in the east-west direction.

The fortification consisted of a mound of earth, preserved at a height of 1.50 m, and a ditch in front of its northern and western sides. Access was only from the west; beyond the other sides the slope was very steep.

---

The archaeological material resulting from recent research belongs almost exclusively to the Roman era, with the exception of a prehistoric stone ax. The numerous iron targets from shoes, ceramic or glass fragments, a stylus (writing instrument), an iron key, half of an iron scissor, but also a fragment of an openwork bronze appliqué are worth noting.

The most important find is a bronze coin that appears to date to the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD). 

In recent years, several thematic routes have been inaugurated in Alba County, one of them being the Via Auraea - the Roman Golden Road, which connects Apulum (Alba Iulia) with Alburnus Maior (Roșia Montană).

The other tourist route with a historical theme is the Via Victrix, which connects the Principia Museum in Alba Iulia and the Roman castrum in Ighiu.

The milestone on the Măgulici hill marks the Gemina Victrix, the march route of the XIII Gemina Legion to the Ampoi Valley.

Follow these routes and you will discover impressive collections of Roman artifacts and monuments!