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EPHEMERIS NAPOCENSIS 35 (XXXV/2025)

Tile stamps of Optatiana/Sutor. An update

(pages 201-228)

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33993/ephnap.2025.35.207

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Authors:
VLAD-ANDREI LĂZĂRESCU
Institute of Archaeology and History of Art Cluj Napoca, Romanian Academy – Cluj Branch, M. Kogălniceanu 12–14, 400084, Cluj Napoca, Cluj County, RO; e mail: vlad.lazarescu@academia cj.ro; lazarescu_vlad@yahoo. com; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000 0002 4821 154X

KATALIN VÁGÓ
Babeş Bolyai University Cluj Napoca, M. Kogălniceanu 1, 400347, Cluj Napoca, Cluj County, RO; e mail: katalinvago10@gmail.com

SERGIU-TRAIAN SOCACIU
Institute of Archaeology and History of Art Cluj Napoca, Romanian Academy – Cluj Branch, M. Kogălniceanu 12–14, 400084, Cluj Napoca, Cluj County, RO; e mail: socaciu.sergiu@yahoo.com; ORCID: https://orcid. org/0009 0009 5391 5419

SORIN ILIE COCIȘ
Institute of Archaeology and History of Art Cluj Napoca, Romanian Academy – Cluj Branch, M. Kogălniceanu 12–14, 400084, Cluj Napoca, Cluj County, RO; e mail: scocis@yahoo.com; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000 0002 3175 7597

Keywords: Roman Dacia, Dacia Porolissensis, Roman army, numerus Maurorum Optatianensium, tile-stamps.

Abstract
Abstract: This article presents the results of the 2024 archaeological campaign at Optatiana/Sutor, focused on the basilica of the principia from the stone phase of the Roman fort. The campaign yielded 23 additional tile-stamps, bringing the total number recovered at the site to 83. The vast majority (81) bear the stamp of the Numerus Maurorum Optatianensium (NMO), with only two attributed to Cohors I Brittonum. The predominance of NMO stamps confirms the presence and significant role of this Moorish unit in the construction of the stone fort. Historical sources trace the unit’s origins to mid-2nd century AD vexillarii Africae et Mauretaniae cum Mauri gentiles, likely reorganized into a numerus under Marcus Aurelius before their deployment to Dacia. These new finds reinforce the interpretation of Optatiana as a key military site within the Dacian limes and shed further light on its construction phases and garrison history.

References:

[1] COCIȘ/ONOFREI 2019
S. COCIȘ/C. ONOFREI, Cohors I Brittonum on a tile stamp found at Sutoru (Sălaj County). In: G. I. Farkas, R. Nemeny, M. Szabo (eds.), Visy 75 Artificem Commendat Opus. Studies in honorem Zsolt Visy (Pécs 2019), 86–93.

[2] COCIȘ/LĂZĂRESCU/SOCACIU 2021
S. COCIȘ/V. A. LĂZĂRESCU/S. T. SOCACIU, An Overview of the Archaeological Research in the Roman Fort and Vicus at Sutor (Sălaj County). Ephemeris Napocensis 31, 2021, 223–257.

[3] COCIȘ/LĂZĂRESCU/SOCACIU 2022
S. COCIȘ/V. A. LĂZĂRESCU/S. T. SOCACIU, Cercetări arheologice din castrul şi vicus ul de la Sutor (2001–2021). Cercetări Arheologice 29, 1, 2022, 83–130.

[4] COCIȘ ET ALII 2024
S. COCIȘ/V. A. LĂZĂRESCU/M. BĂRBULESCU/C. H. OPREANU/V. BÂRCĂ/SZ. FERENCZ/S. T. SOCACIU/K. VÁGÓ/C. IOV, Sutoru, com. Zimbor, jud. Sălaj Punct: Valea Căpuşului. In: Cronica Cercetărilor Arheologice din România. Campania 2023 (Tg. Mureş – Bucureşti 2024), 374–380.

[5] COCIȘ ET ALII 2025
S. COCIȘ/V. A. LĂZĂRESCU/M. BĂRBULESCU/C. H. OPREANU/S. T. SOCACIU/ SZ. FERENCZ/D. A. DEAC/K. VÁGÓ/M. CREȚU/C. IOV/G. COPOS/P. SIMON/O. U DRESCU, Sutoru, com. Zimbor, jud. Sălaj Punct: Valea Căpuşului. In: Cronica Cercetărilor Arheologice din România. Campania 2024 (Constanța – Bucureşti 2025), 332–338.

[6] JOHNSON 1983
A. JOHNSON, Roman Forts of the 1st and 2nd Centuries AD in Britain and the German Provinces (New York 1983).

[7] KURZMANN 2006
R. KURZMANN, Roman military brick stamps. A comparison of Methodology (Oxford 2006).

[8] OPREANU/LĂZĂRESCU 2016
C. H. OPREANU/V. A. LĂZĂRESCU, The evolution of the civilian settlement at Porolissum in the light of the new research. Ephemeris Napocensis 26, 2016, 107–120.

[9] OPREANU ET ALII 2024
C. H. OPREANU/V. A. LĂZĂRESCU/S. COCIȘ/S. T. SOCACIU, Unraveling the Roman military presence at Optatiana/Sutor. The evidence of the tile stamps. Ephemeris Napocensis 34, 2024, 165–234.

[10] SOCACIU/LĂZĂRESCU/COCIȘ 2023
S. T. SOCACIU/V. A. LĂZĂRESCU/S. COCIȘ, Cercetări arheologice din vicus ul de la Sutor. Campania 2022. Cercetări Arheologice 30, 1, 2023, 85–108.

[11] SOMMER 1984
C. S. SOMMER, The Military Vici in Roman Britain. Aspects of their Origins, their Location and Layout, Administration, Function and End (Oxford 1984).

[12] SOMMER 2006
C. S. SOMMER, Military vici in Roman Britain revisited. In R. J. A. Wilson (ed.), Romanitas: Essays on Roman Archaeology (Oxford 2006), 95–145.

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