Barracks of the Roman Garrison in Olbia

The author has identified some new locations of the Roman garrison within previously known architectural objects, based on the mappings of the finds associated with the Roman troops. These are seven barracks (contubernia) adjoining the defensive wall and tower in the Lower City of Olbia, which were studied in 1930s. In a lateral premise, which should belong to the Roman officer according to the Roman military planning, a few marble bases of the internal columns were found, with the name of the centurion M. Emilius Severinus of the legio I Italica. The layout of the architectural complex located to the south of the barracks resembles some administrative buildings of the Roman camps like a principia - the officers' house, which consisted of a number of rooms located along the perimeter around the courtyard: with a separate kitchen, a dining room, a central sanctuary room (aedes principiorum), where legionary signs (signa militaria) were stored, altars, and statues of deities and emperors. This can be evidenced by the architectural details found during the excavations, terracotta in the form of eagles and Roman soldiers, Roman weapons and equipment. A similar arrangement of barracks in Olbia is known on the citadel, under the northern defensive wall. The problem of interpretation of the praetorium building in Olbia is also considered, some quarters of which could serve as Roman barracks. The construction of the barrack blocks and headquarters buildings can be attributed to the second half of the II century AD - the time when a regular Roman garrison appeared in Olbia

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Excavation · Tower · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeology and Historical Studies · History

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  Open Access•Roman Kozlenko•Arheologia•2022

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