The Noviodunum Archaeological Project (NAP)

Kris Lockyear, Timothy Sly, and Adrian Popescu

Introduction

Noviodunum lies on the river Danube in Romania, near Isaccea, Tulcea. It lies on the last easy crossing point of the river before it starts to braid to form the Danube delta. It was an important strategic point: defences from the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, 19th and 20th century are all visible. During the Roman period it was the base of the lower Danube fleet, the Classis Flavia Moesica, and in the 4th century the commander of the Legio I Iovia was stationed here. The site is mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum and by Ammianus Marcellinus, as well as other sources. Around the important military base was a sizable civilian settlement. The roads which run south from the site are lined with tumuli, some of which have been excavated revealing sarcophagi, marble statues etc. attesting to the wealth and importance of the site. Four small scale pilot seasons (2000, 2002-04) took place undertaking a variety of survey work on the site (topographic, pick-up and geophysical surveys).

Overview of the site looking across the river Danube to Ukraine Team photo from the second session, August 2006

Overview of the site looking
across the river Danube to Ukraine

 Team photo from the second
session, August 2006

Activities

On receipt of a large AHRB (now the AHRC) grant five seasons of excavation and the continuation of other fieldwork were planned, starting in 2005. The aims of this sixth, and last (post-AHRC grant), season of excavation (2010) are as follows:

  • To excavate, in its entirety, our fourth, and last, rural site.
  • To continue to characterise and identify ceramics from the site, from the pick up surveys, as well as from previous and current excavations of the site.
  • To continue environmental work: flotation sieving, and work on the human and animal bones.
  • To continue date entry, and digitising of plans, into the IADB from previous excavation seasons, and from this season.
Overview of the site looking across the river Danube to Ukraine July--August 2006 session students during a game of football

Team photo from the first session,
July - August 2006

 July - August 2006 session students
pausing during a game of football
at the local town's pitch

Logistics

NAP is directed by Kris Lockyear (London), Timothy Sly (Southampton) and Adrian Popescu (Cambridge). There are places for five students from Southampton who will join another five students from the Institute of Archaeology (UCL) and the University of Cambridge; you must commit to coming for the full 6 weeks of the excavation. The total team of staff and students will be circa 20 people for the 6 week period of the excavation (half staff, half students). Students are reminded that the Project is in Romania, and that facilities may be basic, and entertainment limited! The weather may be very hot (we work from early in the morning, to early in the afternoon); easy going attitude and tolerance a must. All students will be trained in the use of all relevant equipment. Visits to local archaeological sites, and museums, in the region will be organised (generally on a Wednesday, after work). Accommodation will be in the local school in Isaccea, close to the site. For more information about the project have a look at this work in progress.

Students will be shown all aspects of the work and the site, and will be expected to complete their own record sheets, draw, excavate, and so on. All necessary training will be given. The excavations will be supervised by professional field archaeologists, using the MoLAS single context recording system. Opportunities to undertake geophysical survey may exist, although it is not guaranteed that everyone will be involved in this activity.

We will be looking to take a mix of people including students with limited experience, mature students and so forth. A willingness to get on with the rest of the team, an ability to entertain oneself in a relatively remote location, and sensitivity to the local population and culture are all essential.

Accommodation will be at the local school and is basic (we will not be camping). All food is provided and we can cater for vegetarians. (Vegetarians: we have plentiful access to fresh fruit and veg, but we cannot, however, buy things like lentils easily in Romania, so you might like to bring your own supplies of those.) In previous years we have had some lovely meals prepared by volunteers, so if you have a good recipe bring it with you.

We start work at 6am to avoid the heat of the afternoon, and finish digging at 12:30pm. Finds processing, or data entry (or any work that is not physical, and can be undertaken in the shade), is undertaken after lunch, and is compulsory. We work a five and a half day week, although this works out as working six days and having one day off, then working five days and having the full weekend off. Particularly on the full weekends there is the opportunity to travel, and visit Constanta on the Black Sea coast, the Danube Delta, Bucharest or even Brasov in Transylvania!

3D view across the surveyed area, looking from West to East

3D view across the surveyed area,
looking from West to East (image from ArcMap)

 

Student contribution

A financial contribution of £350 will be required from students to participate in this project, which will go towards the costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence.

The dates are as follows:

  • Excavation: 17-07-10 to 28-08-10 (inclusive, Saturday to Saturday, which are travel days)