Arcobara (castra)

Arcobara
The plan of castra.
Location within Romania
Known also as
  • Castra of Ilișua
  • Castra of Uriu
Founded2nd century AD
Place in the Roman world
ProvinceDacia
Administrative unitDacia Porolissensis
Administrative unitDacia Superior
LimesPorolissensis
Directly connected to
Structure
— Stone structure —
Size and area182 m × 182 m (3.3 ha)
— Wood and earth structure —
Size and area140 m × 135 m (1.8 ha)
Stationed military units
Legions
Cohorts
II Britannica
Alae
I Tungrorum Frontoniana
Location
Coordinates47°12′38″N 24°05′43″E / 47.210528°N 24.095361°E / 47.210528; 24.095361
Altitude267 m (876 ft)
Place namePlatoul Măgura
TownIlișua
CountyBistrița-Năsăud
Country Romania
Reference
RO-LMIBN-I-s-A-01354
RO-RAN35303.02
UNESCO
Part ofFrontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia
CriteriaCultural: ii, iii, iv
Reference1718-184
Inscription2024 (46th Session)
Site notes
Recognition UNESCO World Heritage Site
National Historical Monument
ConditionRuined
Excavation dates
  • 1836
  • 1980
Archaeologists
  • Jozsef Torma
  • Karoly Torma
  • Dumitru Protase
  • Corneliu Gaiu

Arcobara (previously identified as Arcobadara ) also known as Castra of Ilișua was a fort in the Roman province of Dacia in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. It was unearthed in the village Ilişua (commune Uriu, Romania) in 1978. The fort was garrisoned by Ala I Tungrorum Frontoniana. On the site 27 stone ballista projectiles were discovered of diameters between 7 and 13.5 cm and weighing up to 2 kg indicating the presence of ballistarii.