Castra Arutela

About

It was constructed between 137 – 138 AD by Surri sagittari (Syrian archers) by the order of Titus Flavius Constans, imperial procurator of Dacia Inferior, according to inscriptions on the front of two of the castra's gates.

The last coins discovered and dated at Arutela were issued by Elagabalus between the years 220 – 223 AD.

Arutela also hosted a Dacian settlement, which enjoyed a prolonged existence under Roman rule.

The first excavations at "Poiana Bivolari" were made in 1888–1889 in order to capture sulfurous thermal water. The excavation uncovered metal objects and Roman coins of Hadrian, Septimius Severus, Iulia Doamna and Caracalla. Between 1890 and 1892, Grigore Tocilescu and Pamfil Polonic continued with partial excavations, completely uncovering Roman baths and partial ruins of the castra. These discoveries remain the only epigraphic materials found on the site. Between 1897 and 1902, the Arutela ruins were partially covered by the construction of a railroad between Râmnicu Vâlcea and Râul Vadului, while the baths disappeared completely.

In 1967, the National Military Museum reopened the research site until 1970, and opened it once more in 1978. The opening led to the complete exposure of the ruins which were not destroyed by the railroad construction.

The archaeological excavations uncovered weapons, coins, pots and inscriptions, on display today at the Bucharest National Military Museum. After the excavations finished, the Arutela castrum became a historical monument of the Vâlcea County Committee of Culture and the Museum of History in Râmnicu Vâlcea. In 1982–1983, the castrum was renewed in a project by the architect Aurel Teodorescu, following references prepared by Cristian Vlădescu, the coordinator of research previously performed by the Military Museum. The construction work was executed by C. Panco. The first "Praetorian gate" ( porta praetoria ) in Romania was reconstructed on the site.

- Ptolemy, Claudius (1843) [c. 140 AD]. Geographia [ Geography ] (in Ancient Greek). Sumptibus et typis Caroli Tauchnitii.

- Olteanu, Sorin. "Linguae Thraco-Daco-Moesorum - Toponyms Section". Linguae Thraco-Daco-Moesorum (in Romanian and English). Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2010.

- Vlădescu, Cristian M. (1986). Fortificațiile romane din Dacia Inferior. Craiova: Ed. Scrisul Românesc.

- Zusidava Cities/fortresses with unknown names Aghireșu Ardan Ardeu Arpașu de Sus Augustin Băile Tușnad Băleni-Români Bănița Bâzdâna Beidaud Bocșa Boroșneu Mic Boșorod Botfei Breaza Bretea Mureșană Bucium Căpâlna Cernat Cetățeni Cioclovina Clopotiva "Costești-Blidaru" "Costești-Cetățuie" Cotnari Coțofenii din Dos Covasna Cozia Crăsanii de Jos Crivești Crizbav Cuciulata "Cucuiș - Dealul Golu" "Cucuiș - Vârful Berianului" Cugir Cârlomănești Dalboșeț Densuș Divici Drajna de Sus Dumitrița Eliseni Feldioara "Fețele Albe" Grădiștea de Munte Iedera de Jos Feleac Jigodin Liubcova Mala Kopania Marca Mataraua Merești Moinești Monariu Monor Moșna Ocolișu Mic Odorheiu Secuiesc Olteni Orăștie Mountains Petrila Petroșani "Piatra Roșie" Pietroasa Mică Pinticu Pisculești Poiana cu Cetate Polovragi Ponor Popești (Călărași) Porumbenii Mari Praid Racoș Racu Radovanu - Gorgana I Radovanu - Jidovescu Roadeș Rovinari Rușor Sacalasău Satu Mare (Harghita) Satu Nou Sânzieni Seimeni Socol Sprâncenata Stâncești Stoina Șeica Mică Tășad Telița Teliu Tilișca Timișu de Jos Turia Unip Uroi Valea Seacă Viișoara Moșneni Zemplín Zetea

- Dacian fortresses, settlements, sanctuaries and tombs (Google Earth Community post)

- Troglodytae Kings Culture and civilization Settlements and Fortresses

- Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains

- Thracian warfare Wars with the Roman Empire Roman Dacia / Free Dacians Research

- 1 Dacian kingdoms succeeding Burebista's state and preceding Decebalus' state

45°16′36″N 24°18′43″E  /  45.276667°N 24.311944°E  / 45.276667; 24.311944