Roman Fortification of Cetățeaua

The mining center for gold exploitation, Alburnus Maior (today's Roșia Montană), was the most important in Roman Dacia. 

For this reason, the Romans built fortifications in the area for surveillance and defense, one of which is Cetățeaua from Abrud, dating back to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD. 

Presently, the earthworks and defensive ditch on the northwestern side of this Roman fortification can still be observed. 

What was once a valuable observation point in antiquity is now a wonderful viewpoint, waiting for you to embrace it not only with your gaze but also with your heart!

The plateau of Cetățuia is located in the southwest of the town of Abrud, measuring 50 x 40 m. Archaeological research conducted here in 1977 and 1978 revealed that the Roman fortification was of the burgus type. Following the terrain's configuration, it had a quadrilateral shape, constructed of wood and earth, covering an area of approximately 2,000 square meters. 

The earthwork had a height of about 1.90 m, and the defensive ditch was 1.75 m deep, with an opening of 2.50 m.

Among the artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations within the perimeter of the fortification at Abrud, a particularly noteworthy find is a bronze fibula. 

Fibulae were decorative objects used in antiquity for fastening garments. They were made of metal, some of them beautifully ornamented, akin to modern-day brooches. 

The Abrud fibula is considered unique in Roman Dacia, featuring two pins and a foot decorated with incised motifs. 

This type of fibula emerged in the late 1st century AD, experiencing significant spread in the first half of the following century. The workshop that produced them was located in northern Italy.

If you want to learn more about the gold mines in the area, visit the Alburnus Maior Fortress, located on Cetatea Hill in Roșia Montană. Here, no fewer than 25 wax tablets have been discovered, the most significant being tablet XVIII, which contains the first attestation of the ancient settlement of Alburnus Maior, dating back to January 6, 131 AD. You will find it exhibited at the Mining Museum near the former mining site, where other artifacts discovered in the territory of the ancient city are also displayed. Here, you can also visit the former Roman galleries, with tunnels extending for tens of kilometers.