Asseria is the name of an ancient hillfort settlement located at Podgrađe, Benkovac around 30 kilometres east of Zadar in Croatia.
.jpg) City walls of Asseria | |
  Shown within Croatia | |
| Location | Croatia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°00′36″N 15°40′05″E / 44.00995°N 15.66792°E |
| Type | Hillfort / City |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age / Roman |
The hillfort has traces of human residence from prehistory to the late Roman period.[1] In pre-Roman times Asseria was an important centre in south Liburnia for the Asseriates tribe.[1] In the 1st century AD it became a Roman military post which then developed into a market centre.[2] It is mentioned by Pliny the Elder as being exempted by Rome from the payment of tribute.[3] It was probably granted municipium status under Claudius and enrolled in the tribus Claudia.[2]
Parts of Asseria's city walls have survived, as well as a triumphal arch erected in 113 AD during the time of Trajan.[4] The city walls are ashlar work, predating Roman occupation.[2] Excavations have uncovered the 1st-century Roman forum, as well as a likely basilica. Finds from the excavations are at the Archaeological Museum in Zadar.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b Grammenos, Dēmētrios V. (2003). Recent research in the prehistory of the Balkans. Archaeological Institute of Northern Greece. p. 134. ISBN 9602140720.
- ^ a b c d Stillwell, Richard; MacDonald, William L.; McAlister, Marian Holland (1976). The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites. Princeton University Press.
- ^ Pliny, Hist. Nat. iii. 143
- ^ Curtis, Benjamin (2010). A Traveller's History of Croatia. p. 33.