Archaeological researches in the Histria site in 1997

Archaeological researches in the Histria site in 2005

2005 Basilica Pârvan:
In 2005, we have identified in S3 an extension to the north of the defence wall (0.7 m), an archaic layer made of yellow clay and what seems to be the foundation trench of the late Roman defence wall. In S4, we have discovered the foundation of the apsis of an earlier Christian basilica and an earlier phase of the later basilica. We have also discovered three walls of a Greek building we called House no. 5 (Casa nr. 5), two of which are cut diagonally by the defence wall, on which the foundation of the later basilica was laid. To the west, a new section (S1ext) was opened, parallel with the western wall of the Pârvan Basilica. The maximum depth reached during this campaign was 1.2 m and allowed the research of five walls with different structures and orientations.

Abstract 2005 Extramuros - Poarta Mare - Turnul Mare:
In 2000 research began on the area outside the late city precinct wall, located between the Great Gate and the Great Tower, with the purpose of observing the early Roman city – possibly the Hellenistic city, but also to bring out, from a tourist point of view, a part of the central area of the city. The area has suffered many interventions after the building of the precinct wall (238 AD), and especially from 1914 onwards, with the beginning of the archaeological excavations at Histria. The 2000–2004 research works have brought to light three buildings and a number of complexes, most of them to be dated before 238 AD This campaign’s main objectives were the research of elements in connection to building no. 1 (identifying the western limit, construction details of the two chronological moments we have identified until now, dating elements, etc., of construction details of the late Roman defence wall (especially those in connection to the chronology of the bastion and that of the watchtower of the Main Gate) as well as the elucidation of a series of stratigraphic problems. Building no. 1. We have researched two pits that represent, most probably, the place where vessels containing food supplies were kept. The research brought new stratigraphic proof in favour of our hypothesis concerning the abandoning of building no. 1 following the construction of sewer no. 3 in the last chronologic level we have identified.
The late Romandefence wall. Two soundings were undertaken at the eastern and western corners of the Main Gate’s bastion. These allowed us to make observations on the structure’s constructive system, such as the fact that its plinth is set directly on a sand layer; we have also discovered that the defence wall, as well as the wall connecting the Great Gate to its bastion, are set on a layer made up of yellow clay and sand, that was used to level a thick layer of burn.

During this campaign K 11-13 cassettes were finished and the J13 cassette was begun. The excavations revealed the atrium of the bishop's basilica (6th century AD), in the middle of which there was a porch paved with limestone slabs. On the exterior of the porch were identified all four layers uncovered during the excavations performed until now, namely: IV A (the first half of the 6th century AD - when the basilica was built), IV B (the second half of the 6th century AD - when the basilica was restored), V A (end of the 6th - early 7th century AD - when the basilica was partially dismantled), V B (7th century AD - the last layer at Histria).

It is worth mentioning that the atrium layer (including the porch) lies about 0.30 m lower than the narthex layer, but also lower than the west street, at least in its southern part, which entails the existence of steps from the street towards the atrium, but also from the atrium towards the narthex. One of the porch pillars bears, in its upper part, an inscription from Antonius Pius' time, raised by a veteran - with a Thracian name - from ala I Flavia Gaetulorum, dating after the names of the consuls from 152 AD.