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Of horses and men – Garrisoning the empire: stable-barracks on a grand scale in the auxiliary fort of the ala I Batavorum milliaria at Războieni-Cetate (Alba Iulia County, Romania) and the spatial planning of Roman forts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2023

Alexander Rubel  and
Carsten Mischka
Alexander Rubel
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology of the Romanian Academy Iaşi
Carsten Mischka
Affiliation:
Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
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Abstract

This article explores ideas about stable-barracks, which have received much attention in recent provincial Roman archaeology. This renewed attention stems from new discoveries in Romania that prompt a re-evaluation of earlier conclusions. Geomagnetic investigations and subsequent excavations of the fort of the ala I Batavorum milliaria in Războieni-Cetate (Alba County) have shown that, contrary to prevailing opinion, stable-barracks could be considerably larger than similar buildings known from Great Britain and Germany. These findings suggest that a significant reconsideration of the concept of stable-barracks is required, along with an updated discussion about the normal troop strength of alae milliariae in the Roman army.

Keywords

Roman fortDaciastable-barrackstype sitesstablesalae milliariaetroop strength
Type
Article
Information
Journal of Roman Archaeology , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , June 2023 , pp. 96 - 125
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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