The ruins of the city of Tibiscum - Following in the footsteps of our ancestors
There is a special place in Banat. In ancient times, this place was home to a city of a great strategic importance. Initially it was a Dacian settlement, and later, recognizing its real value, the Romans occupied it completely to create a strategic point essential to the expansion of the empire. The ruins of the city of Tibiscum are more precisely located on the territory of the localities of Jupa and Iaz, in Caraș-Severin, on a researched area that so far includes at least 17 hectares.
One of the most important cities in Romanian Dacia
At the end of the Roman road that Emperor Trajan and his army walked on to reach Sarmizegetusa called Lederata-Tibiscum, there you could find the Dacian settlement. The road is an indisputable proof of the Roman influence in this area of the Banat, which passed through the Danube Gorge but also through the valleys of Caraș and Bârzava, being composed of numerous castles, civil towns, villae rusticae and Roman mines.
According to the studies, it was determined that the ancient city was raised in the 3rd century to the rank of municipium, this being a defining factor for its inclusion among the most important cities in the Roman province of Dacia.
The Jupa reserve would be comparable in importance to the Roman era monuments from Sarmizegetusa Regia, which is part of the UNESCO Heritage, Porolissum, from Sălaj county, or Histria, from the Black Sea. This statement is supported by the specialists who witnessed the unveiling of the site, which is still under investigation. It is considered to be one of the places where the formation of the Romanian people began.
The Jupa reserve would be comparable in importance to the Roman era monuments from Sarmizegetusa Regia, which is part of the UNESCO Heritage, Porolissum, from Sălaj county, or Histria, from the Black Sea. This statement is supported by the specialists who witnessed the unveiling of the site, which is still under investigation. It is considered to be one of the places where the formation of the Romanian people began.
The history of the discovery
The archaeological site was discovered by C. Mannert at the beginning of the 19th century and the first archaeological research was started by Ortvay Tivadar in 1875 on the right bank of the Timiş river. He managed to discover most of the civilian settlement.
Almost a century after the initial discovery, between 1923 and 1924, Professor G. G. Mateescu from the University of Cluj initiated the first systematic excavations at Tibiscum. Since 1977, excavations have been organized by the Tibiscum Archaeological Reserve. Currently, the works are led by the expert in the Roman Era, Adrian Ardeț, who is the scientific manager of the Jupa archaeological site.
Almost a century after the initial discovery, between 1923 and 1924, Professor G. G. Mateescu from the University of Cluj initiated the first systematic excavations at Tibiscum. Since 1977, excavations have been organized by the Tibiscum Archaeological Reserve. Currently, the works are led by the expert in the Roman Era, Adrian Ardeț, who is the scientific manager of the Jupa archaeological site.
A Daco-Roman city
This archaeological complex is composed of a castru, military vicus and the civil settlement, respectively the Roman town. At the end of the second Daco-Roman war, the fort was initially strengthened with a wall of earth and palisades that was built for the auxiliary troops.
There was also a civilian settlement in the vicinity of the castle. Pottery but also bronze processing, ironwork and glasswork workshops have been identified so far, indicating the presence of a strong craft center. Other discoveries consist of luxury ornaments and ceramics, a temple dedicated to the god Apollo and another dedicated to pagan gods who had the power to influence nature.
There was also a civilian settlement in the vicinity of the castle. Pottery but also bronze processing, ironwork and glasswork workshops have been identified so far, indicating the presence of a strong craft center. Other discoveries consist of luxury ornaments and ceramics, a temple dedicated to the god Apollo and another dedicated to pagan gods who had the power to influence nature.
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