Page 51 - Kavur, Boris. Everything counts (in small amounts) … Koper: University of Primorska Press, 2015.
P. 51
On the borders of an empire 51
Roman occupation of the territory
of Ptuj
From the middle of the 2nd century BC we can observe a strengthening process of a political and econom-
ic formation which we based on writtings of Roman authors know as the Norican Kingdom. Due to its
strategic position we can assume that the influence of the later reached all the way to the territory of to-
day’s Ptuj and that the settlement on Grajski grič was most probably one of the kingdom’s strongholds.
History of minor conflicts and confederate relations with the Roman republic led to a quite peaceful annexa-
tion of the kingdom during the reign of the emperor Augustus in year 15 BC. In years that followed the territo-
ry was incorporated into the province of Illyricum and the Roman military presence increased. Most probably
during the great Pannonian-Dalmatian rebellion between years 6 and 9 AD a major military unit camped in its
territory – the legio VIII Augusta. Present archaeological data suggest that the major military camp was located
on the right bank of river Drava.
This was the period when Illyricum was divided into its southern and northern part - provinces Dalmatia and
Pannonia into which the territory of today’s Ptuj was included. It seems that in the earliest period of occupa-
tion, when the settlement patterns remained unchanged in the landscape, Roman army occupied three strate-
gically most important areas. Large military camp was positioned on the right side of river Drava facing the pre-
historic settlements, controlling the crossing across the river and the access to the densely settled left bank. At
least at the beginning military units were positioned on both Late La Tène settlements on Panorama and Gra-
jski grič. It seems that they instantly occupied both elevated and in case of Turnirski prostor with a defensive ar-
chitecture protected locations.
Among the metal finds, originating from Turnirski prostor, that could be linked with an early Roman military
presence we should emphasize the iron holder for a plume which was most probably a fragment of the military
Roman occupation of the territory
of Ptuj
From the middle of the 2nd century BC we can observe a strengthening process of a political and econom-
ic formation which we based on writtings of Roman authors know as the Norican Kingdom. Due to its
strategic position we can assume that the influence of the later reached all the way to the territory of to-
day’s Ptuj and that the settlement on Grajski grič was most probably one of the kingdom’s strongholds.
History of minor conflicts and confederate relations with the Roman republic led to a quite peaceful annexa-
tion of the kingdom during the reign of the emperor Augustus in year 15 BC. In years that followed the territo-
ry was incorporated into the province of Illyricum and the Roman military presence increased. Most probably
during the great Pannonian-Dalmatian rebellion between years 6 and 9 AD a major military unit camped in its
territory – the legio VIII Augusta. Present archaeological data suggest that the major military camp was located
on the right bank of river Drava.
This was the period when Illyricum was divided into its southern and northern part - provinces Dalmatia and
Pannonia into which the territory of today’s Ptuj was included. It seems that in the earliest period of occupa-
tion, when the settlement patterns remained unchanged in the landscape, Roman army occupied three strate-
gically most important areas. Large military camp was positioned on the right side of river Drava facing the pre-
historic settlements, controlling the crossing across the river and the access to the densely settled left bank. At
least at the beginning military units were positioned on both Late La Tène settlements on Panorama and Gra-
jski grič. It seems that they instantly occupied both elevated and in case of Turnirski prostor with a defensive ar-
chitecture protected locations.
Among the metal finds, originating from Turnirski prostor, that could be linked with an early Roman military
presence we should emphasize the iron holder for a plume which was most probably a fragment of the military
