Romanian archaeologists uncovered the eastern gate of a massive Roman legionary camp buried beneath Alba Carolina, revealing new insights into ancient military architecture.
Roman camp entrance found
In late September 2026, the National Museum of the Union of Alba Iulia announced a significant archaeological discovery in the center of Romania. The excavations identified the eastern entrance of a legionary camp buried beneath the citadel of Alba Carolina. Until now, only its southern gate, discovered in 1986, had been identified. Ancient clues uncovered
Researchers had also had access to some ancient chronicles, but the location of the other entrances remained a mystery. The gate of the Roman camp at Apulum now provides new clues thanks to the foundations of a tower, found several meters underground. Tower foundation reveals layout
The key lies in the foundation platform of one of the towers of the gate, uncovered at four meters beneath the Capistrano bastion. From this base, archaeologists reconstructed the plan and dimensions of the structure. The entrance was located to the east and commanded the via praetoria, the axis leading directly to the heart of the Roman camp. Camp structure details
Its discovery comes forty years after that of the southern gate, uncovered in 1986 and partially restored. The camp itself resembled a fortified small city. It formed a quadrilateral measuring 480 meters by 432 meters, or nearly 21 hectares, surrounded by a seven-meter-high rampart and a deep ditch five to six meters deep. Gate design revealed
According to Anca Timofan, who coordinated the excavations, the gate featured two solid rectangular towers and two covered passages separated by a wall.
