Roman brick kilns in the area of ancient Viminacium, Moesia Superior

Abstract

This study will analyse the brick industry of ancient Viminacium, the capital of theRoman province of Moesia Superior and military camp of the VII Claudian legion.Extensive archaeological excavations have unearthed 19 kilns used for brickmaking,located south and east of the civil settlement and the military camp. The majority of thekilns were found in the area of the southern necropolis, and seemingly belong to one,large manufacturing centre, which was used for making various ceramic products.Further, recent excavations have identified another manufacturing centre, located to theeast of the city. Both centres were active during the 2nd and the 3rd centuries AD, andshould be attributed to the VII Claudian legion. Additionally, finds of a few stampedbricks suggest that several private workshops existed in the territory of Viminacium.