Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Remains of Roman military facilities shed new light on life near Bulgaria's town of Lom on the Danube

Photo: BTA

Archaeological excavations in the Kaleto district of the Bulgarian town of Lom situated on the Danube River have revealed remains of Roman defensive facilities dating back to the 1st century AD
The excavations, led by Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Vladislav Zhivkov from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, reached a depth of 7.5 meters, where a fortress wall and three ditches were discovered. They were part of a camp of a Roman military unit from the first half of the 1st century AD

Later, a new camp was built on top of them, in which a building was studied, which is assumed to have been a barracks for soldiers or a stable. Imported ceramic vessels, mainly from Southern Gaul, as well as bronze objects and coins, were found in it. ‎


Archaeologists have established that the military camp was burned down during an attack in the 80s of the 1st century. At that time, Lom was a border point of the Roman Empire with Dacia, and the fortifications played an important role in defense. 

After the conquest of Dacia in the 2nd century, the city retained its importance as a port on the Danube. During the Middle Ages, the fortress walls were repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.


During the excavations, a clay floor from the 11th century BC was also discovered with broken pieces of ceramic vessels associated with the Baley-Orsoia culture. This confirms that at the end of the Late Bronze Age, a settlement with an adjacent necropolis existed in the area of ​​today's Lom.

In 2024, some 400 finds were discovered during the excavations, including ancient objects such as horse ammunition, ornaments, crosses and ceramic vessels. All artifacts will be transferred for storage to the Historical Museum in Lom, said Dr. Vladislav Zhivkov in an interview for the Hristo Botev channel on the Bulgarian National Radio.



Read also:



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Felix Kanitz (1829-1904)

Felix Kanitz – the cartographer of Bulgaria’s National Revival

There is a map which helped usher in the birth of modern Bulgaria during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The Austro-Hungarian researcher Felix Kanitz (1829 – 1904) was the first West European to have travelled to more than 3,200 towns and villages..

published on 3/3/25 7:25 AM

Bulgaria celebrates freedom on 3 March

On 3 March, Bulgaria celebrates the 147th anniversary of its liberation f rom five centuries of Ottoman rule. The day was declared a national holiday in 1990 by a decision of the National Assembly. The Treaty of San Stefano, signed on 19 February..

published on 3/3/25 6:15 AM

Cheesefare Sunday prepares the faithful for Great Lent and repentance

Today is Cheesefare Sunday. According to Orthodox tradition, this day is observed on the eve of Great Lent, when Christians seek and give forgiveness to each other . It is also known as Sirni Zagovezni because it marks the last day before Lent, when..

published on 3/2/25 7:15 AM