Buridava (castra)

Buridava was a Dacian settlement and Roman fort (castra) located in what is now Ocnița, Vâlcea County, Romania. The settlement predates the Roman conquest of Dacia and likely existed as an important Dacian center.

Following the Roman conquest under Emperor Trajan in the early 2nd century AD, the Romans established a military presence in the area. Buridava was strategically important due to its location controlling access along the Olt River valley, a vital transportation route. The Romans built a castra (fort) at the site to control the local population and defend the frontier of the Roman province of Dacia.

Archaeological excavations at Ocnița have revealed evidence of both the Dacian settlement and the subsequent Roman fort. The Roman fort was likely garrisoned by auxiliary troops and played a significant role in the Roman defense system of the Limes Transalutanus, a defensive line built to protect the Roman province from incursions from the north and east. Finds from the site include pottery, coins, weapons, and architectural fragments, providing insights into the daily life of both the Dacian inhabitants and the Roman soldiers stationed there. The site provides valuable information regarding Roman military architecture and the interaction between the Roman and Dacian cultures. The castra was likely abandoned in the late 3rd century AD, during the general Roman withdrawal from Dacia under Emperor Aurelian.