PPT Slide
The ruins from the former island Bisericuța (Garvăn, Tulcea county) were firstly identified in the first half of the XIXth century, in 1868 being also published a sketch by E. Desjardins. But, the archaeological research had been started only in the summer of 1939, by the National Museum of Antiquities, under the direction of Gheorghe I. Ștefan. It's purpose was initially to uncover the fortress' precinct. During the archaeological research, there have been identified several levels of settlement, the most important being those belonging to the Roman period (Ist- IIIrd centuries AD) when Dinogetia was a part of the Roman province of Moesia Inferior, the Later Roman Empire (IVth-VIth centuries), when it belonged to Scythia Minor, and Middle Byzantium (Xth-XIIth centuries), when it was a part of the Byzantine thema Paradunavon/Paristrion. Since 1965, the excavations were carried on under the coordination of Professor Ion Barnea and, from 1974, until the present day, of Professor Alexandru Barnea.
Located in the center of an arch made by the Danube around Măcin, Galați and Gura Prutului, the Roman fortress of Dinogetia-Garvăn had initially been a castellum (a small fortress), having its' role in the defensive system on the Lower Danube. Some other important Roman fortresses were those from Barboși (Galați county), Troesmis (Tulcea county), the siege of legio V Macedonica until AD 168 and Noviodunum (Isaccea, Tulcea county), the siege of Classis Flavia Moesica (the Roman fleet on the Lower Danube). In the same order of ideas, there are stamped bricks that certify the presence at Dinogetia of some Roman military units: legio I Italica, legio V Macedonica, cohors II Mattiacorum, cohors I Cilicum, Classis Flavia Moesica.
But, by the end of the second century AD, when the great barbarian invasions had begun, Dinogetia increased its importance, especially after the abandon by the Romans of the Dacian province. Its' strategic position in the north-western corner of Dobrudja, gave the fortress an important role in the defensive system of the province.
Even since AD 170, in the context of the great invasion of the Costoboci in the Balkans, the fortress was seriously damaged. Then, after a period of rebuilding during the Severan period, in the IIIrd century Dinogetia was again a target for the barbarian invaders. After the abandon of Dacia, the strategic importance of the site had increased, Aurelian, Probus and Diocletian thus initiating a policy of fortification of the entire Danubian limes, Dinogetia included.
From the Later Roman Empire there are registered at Dinogetia bricks stamped with the mark of legio I Iovia Scythica and the presence of Gothic federates as well. Also, the IVth century witnessed the building of "the house of the commander" (domus), as well as the baths, the last perhaps built even earlier, according to the last archaeological finds. Also, the written sources, such as Notitia Dignitatum, certify some milites Scythici (NDOr, XXXIX, 24), thus a confirmation of the archaeological evidence. In the ecclesiastical sources there are registered Christian martyrs dated in the reign of Licinius, especially from the army, thus certifying the Christianization of the area.
The fortress had been inhabited until the end of the VIth or the beginning of the VIIth century when, in the context of Phokas' rebellion, the entire limes of Lower Danube had collapsed under the pressure of Slav tribes. In this context, Dinogetia also was abandoned as a military strongpoint.
The fortress was rebuilt and became the siege of a Byzantine garrison after the successful campaigns of the emperor Ioannes Tzimiskes (969-976) against the Kievian Russians, when Dobrudja was again incorporated to the Empire. The presence of Byzantine troops is certified until the XIIth century, when Dinogetia was gradually deserted and finally abandoned perhaps in 1186.