Systematic archaeological research at Potaissa, in the V Macedonica legion camp and related civilian settlement, has been ongoing since 1971 to the present. The research team is made up of specialists from Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, the National History Museum of Transylvania, the University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology GE Palade Târgu Mureș and the Turda History Museum. Between the years 2017-2021, a type edifice was researched house, a house in the civil settlement (cannabis) appeared near the legion camp. During the 2022 campaign, the research contributed to completing the planimetry of the civil settlement.
FORTRESS OF THE V MACEDONICAL LEGION FROM POTAISSA (TURDA)
For the defense of northern Dacia, after the Marcoman wars, the V Macedonica legion was brought to Potaissa from Troesmis (Moesia Inferior). The legion was deployed on the Marcomannic front, but it is likely that a construction vigilance had already chosen the location of the new fort near vicePotaissa, on the banks of the Aries river. After the peace at the beginning of Commodus' reign, the legion camped at Potaissa, from where it would leave only with the withdrawal of the Roman army and administration from Dacia during the time of Emperor Aurelianus (270-275 BC).
Systematic archaeological research began in 1971 and continues today, with 50 annual campaigns being counted. Those responsible for these researches were, in 1971-1972, Constantin Daicoviciu, in 1973-2013, Mihai Bărbulescu, and from 2014 until now, Sorin Nemeti.
Thus, successive campaigns led to the discovery of several archaeological sites: between 1971-1974 the barracks and the complex of horror from latus praetorii sinistrum (M. Bărbulescu, Z. Milea),
between 1975-1977 the barracks, the north-west corner bastion and porta decumana, between 1978-1986 the headquarters building (principia), between 1987-1992 the cohort barracks milliaria from latus praetorii dextrum (M. Bărbulescu, A. Cătinaș, C. Luca).
Several archaeological campaigns in the years 1993, 1995-2007 aimed at researching the baths of the castru (thermae). In 1994 and 2008-2011, research continued at the headquarters building, revealing the porticoes, respectively the courtyard of this building. Between 2012-2016, the area was researched foreshadowing sinister where the complex was identified centuriae (S. Nemeti). In the years 2017-2021, research focused on the civilian residential area northwest of the castro, in what is supposed to have been cannabis-the.
From the research carried out so far, it appears that we are dealing with a typical legionary camp for those built in the era of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The long sides of the castle measure approx. 573 m, and the short sides 408 m. With an area of 23,37 ha, the Potaissa camp falls within the usual dimensions of the legion camp. Research has been published in monographic works, articles and studies dealing with various materials discovered in the legionary fortification and annual archaeological reports.
