Is Anybody out there? Viminacium Legionary Fortress in Late Antiquity

Abstract

Viminacium was an important military base, located at the confluence of the Mlava and the Danube rivers, within the province of Moesia Superior and Moesia Prima in the later period. During most of its history, it was the home of the Legio VII Claudia. According to recent archaeological excavations in the North-western part of the fortress and broader area of the principia, it was possible to define two main phases of the construction, as well as layers and features that date back to the late Roman period. This paper deals with the appearance of the legionary fortress in Late Antiquity. Based on destructed walls and ramparts, the filled V-shaped ditch, graves and buildings from the late Roman period, it is possible to suggest that the fortress was abandoned during the 4th century AD. In this paper, we will discuss the reasons for its abandonment, while we will also tackle the question of the plausible location of the legion in Late Antiquity.