Roman Site Diana
The Roman fortification Karataš–Diana is an archaeological site located on the right bank of Danube about 8 km upstream from Kladovo.
By Archeological Sites of Serbia
Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by The Djerdap Archaeological Museum in KladovoArcheological Sites of Serbia
The archeological site of Diana is located on the left side of the road Belgrade - Kladovo, visible from the same road, some 300m towards the Danube. During almost 600 years of existence, the fortress changed its appearance, but also its name.
In addition to the name Diana, characteristic for a larger period of ancient history of this locality, the name Zanes was recorded in the 6th century, which is in fact only a corrupted form of an older term. The fortress was built on a hill above the shore, across from group of islands in the riverbed, suitable for crossing the river.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by The Djerdap Archaeological Museum in KladovoArcheological Sites of Serbia
Some 2 km upstream on the place where the Djerdap hydroelectric power plant was built today, there were rapids that have made river navigation difficult since ancient times. An inscription speaks of the difficulty of sailing Roman ships, on which, in addition to the name of this Roman fortification and the settlement of Diana, a statio cataractarum was added - a station on waterfalls.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by The Djerdap Archaeological Museum in KladovoArcheological Sites of Serbia
In ancient times, the Danube was compared to the Nile, hence the name Cataractae for underwater rocks in the Danube riverbed near Diana. For that reason, a canal was dug in antiquity upstream from the fortification, which was also used in modern times, known as the Sipski canal.
On one of the river islands opposite Diana, which is still visible today, there was also a fortification, called Transdiana. Control of crossings and river navigation, ie the coastal hinterland are the reasons for building military stations at this location. The fortification near Karataš is one of the largest in the part of the Danube which passes through the former Roman province of Moesia. The first mentions in the modern age about Diana date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, and in 1964 the first research within the project of studying archeological remains endangered by the construction of a dam for the needs of the hydroelectric power plant Djerdap 1 has begun.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade and Maja DjordjevicArcheological Sites of Serbia
Excavations organized by the National Museum in Belgrade, intensified since 1978 last until today, which currently makes this site one of the most fully explored Roman fortifications in this part of the Danube bank. Most of the discovered architectural remains were preserved in the 1980s, and presented to the public.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade and Maja DjordjevicArcheological Sites of Serbia
Diana was founded at the beginning of the new era, as an earthen-palisade fortress, measuring 115 x 100 m, surrounded by a double ditch. The first stone fortification built by Emperor Trajan around 100 was larger than before (140 x 136 m) and had 22 towers.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade and Maja DjordjevicArcheological Sites of Serbia
Great works on the repair and strengthening of the fortress were carried out at the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century, and also during the great renovation of fortifications and cities in the Balkans during the reign of Emperor Justinian , in the 6th century.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade and Maja DjordjevicArcheological Sites of Serbia
During this period, the protected area of Dianae was enlarged by building ramparts that closed the space between the fortress area and the bank of the Danube, so that in its largest volume Diana occupies an area of 3ha. This site, as well as the entire Roman border on the Danube, was abandoned after the invasion of the Avars and Slavs at the beginning of the 7th century.
During the archeological excavations, all 4 entrance gates were discovered, one on each of the 4 ramparts. The southern part was intensively explored, as well as the area with the north - south communication. Most of the discovered objects belong to the late antique period of the fortification. Thus, the principium (the seat of the commander of the fort), two buildings - residences, as well as military dormitories, the so-called barracks. A grain warehouse and a public toilet were found in the northwest corner of the fortification. The buildings were decorated with frescoes and stone decorative elements, pillars and capitals, as well as white, gray and green marble slabs. The floors in the buildings are formed of hexagonal or butterfly-shaped brick tiles.
The buildings had windows, as evidenced by the multitude of pieces of flat glass found. Certain architectural obejcts were supplied with a heating system that could also heat the bathing rooms, which was enabled by a regulated water supply. A settlement was developing in the west of Dianae, which, unfortunately, remained unexplored.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade and Maja DjordjevicArcheological Sites of Serbia
To the south and southeast, as well as to the east of the fortifications, necropolises were formed along the route of the roads, where the population was buried from the 1st to the 6th century AD. Thousands of finds of various materials were found at the site during the excavations.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by The Djerdap Archaeological Museum in KladovoArcheological Sites of Serbia
Sculptures made of marble which decorated the private and public spaces of someone from the ranks of a higher command rank or the commander of a unit stationed in the fortress, could be mentioned. Also smaller bronze figures which were part of the private inventory of some of Diana's well-to-do residents.
Various objects such as ceramic vessels or bronze lamps were imported from different parts of the Mediterranean world of Tunisia, Egypt or Italy, or eastern France, which testify to the integration of this area into the general flow of economy and exchange of goods of the greatest economic power of antiquity.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by The Djerdap Archaeological Museum in KladovoArcheological Sites of Serbia
From the trade point intended for import, Diana very quickly became a production center of construction materials, ceramic dishes, bone and metal products used for fastening the clothes - fibulae, and as such it remained until the end of Roman civilization in this area. As an important center, Diana was also a important stop on the way for the emperors during their frequent travels from one end of the empire to the other.
Archaeological site Diana (2 th to 6th century) by The Djerdap Archaeological Museum in KladovoArcheological Sites of Serbia
Hence, the number of inscriptions on imperial buildings from the first centuries of Roman rule in this area is not surprising. Parts of imperial sculptures have been found also, such as the head of Emperor Claudius Albinus, which also testify to the importance of the Moesian part of the Danube bank in Roman times.
Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia
The Archaeological Museum of Đerdap
Republic Institute for the Protection of the Monuments of Culture – Belgrade
The narration was provided by: Vujadin Vujadinović - curator, adviser.
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