Systematic Archaeological Investigation of the Site of Ćetaće – Radujevac (Laccoburgus?), near the Confluence of the Timok and Danube Rivers, within the Roman Limes
Partners
Institute for Balkan Studies of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (project lead)
Museum of Krajina, Negotin
Project Leadership and Coordination
Dr Vladimir P. Petrović, Principal Research Fellow
Gordan Janjić, MA, Senior Curator
Researchers
Ivan Ilić, MA
Aleksandar Tasić, MA
Konstantin Janjić, architecture student
Project Description and Objectives
Given its exceptional position along the Roman frontier (limes), in close proximity to the confluence of the Timok and Danube rivers, as well as indications of an early phase of construction, the site of Ćetaće near the village of Radujevac provides significant evidence for a more precise characterization of the wider area of Roman Prahovo (Aquae) in terms of its military, communication, economic, mining, and customs functions. Although the ancient name of the site (Laccoburgus?) may be tentatively identified in Procopius’ De aedificiis, five consecutive archaeological campaigns (2021–2025), together with extensive field surveys in the broader region, enable a new understanding of this location as a multi-layered site dating from the proto-historic, Roman, and Early Byzantine periods, which retained its intrinsic military and strategic significance well into the modern era.
The existence of the northern and western ramparts of the fortification—forming a right angle—as well as the north-western tower, has been confirmed. Based on stylistic and technical characteristics of the masonry, dating to the late first century AD, it has been established that the site once contained a Roman quadrangular castellum, which underwent several modifications and additions until the Early Byzantine period. The newly established chronology of the settlement has been corroborated by movable archaeological finds. According to the available archaeological data, the site should be interpreted as a smaller military installation on the Danubian limes, comparable to well-documented and researched examples such as Mora Vagei/Mihajlovac (Clevora), Ljubičevac, and Rtkovo–Glamija.
The site of Ćetaće is currently listed on the Preliminary List of Danube Limes sites in Serbia proposed for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List, which may potentially ensure continuous archaeological research and the conservation of architectural complexes in the coming years, Frontiers of the Roman Empire – UNESCO World Heritage Sites – see: https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6475/
Support and Duration
Funding for the project has been secured through the Call for Financing or Co-Financing of Projects in the Field of Discovering, Collecting, Investigating, Documenting, Studying, Evaluating, Protecting, Preserving, Presenting, Interpreting, Using, and Managing Archaeological Heritage, issued by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, with additional co-financing provided by the Museum of Krajina in Negotin.
The duration of the project is open-ended; it commenced in 2021 and has been carried out systematically on an annual basis.