By Jessica Thorne

Faculty Mentor: Liane Houghtalin

Abstract

Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana served as the capital of the Roman province of Dacia (modern Romania) from 106 CE, when Trajan (r. 98-117 CE) brought the province into the Empire after defeating the Dacians at the end of the second Dacian War, until 271 CE, when Aurelian (r. 270-275 CE) began withdrawing troops due to unrest in the city of Rome and many of the Roman provinces. By looking at the town plan of Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana, its public and private buildings, and the artifacts found there during archaeological excavations, it is possible to determine how this city grew, developed, and functioned as a provincial Roman capital. Sarmizegetusa employed a number of buildings that were standard throughout the Empire, and had six phases of development from its foundation as a Roman military camp in 101 CE through the end of its Roman occupation in 271 CE.