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The Institute of Archaeology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS) is continuing one of the largest archaeological investigations ever carried out in Slovakia. Researchers have already explored more than 150 hectares within the planned Šurany Industrial Park, with excavations currently underway across an additional 5 hectares in cooperation with MH Invest.The most significant discovery to date is the remains of a Roman military marching camp dating to the second half of the 2nd century AD, most likely from the period of the Marcomannic Wars (166 to 180 AD). Located in the southern part of the future industrial park, the camp covers approximately 7.4 hectares.

“This discovery has significance far beyond the borders of present-day Slovakia. It is the first Roman military camp discovered in the Nitra region. It fills an important gap in our understanding of Roman activities north of the Danube during the final third of the second century. The circumstances are also exceptional. We are investigating a site that appears to have been abandoned immediately after a military conflict between the Romans and the Germanic tribes, as demonstrated by numerous archaeological finds.

The strategic industrial park project has given us a unique opportunity to excavate almost the entire Roman marching camp, an extremely rare find in a European context. Without this investment, such comprehensive research would have been virtually impossible due to fragmented land ownership, limited accessibility and the enormous financial demands of such an excavation,” said Matej Ruttkay, Director of the Institute of Archaeology of the SAS.

Unlike most previously known Roman camps, the newly discovered site does not follow the typical rectangular layout. Nevertheless, it contains all the characteristic defensive features of a Roman marching camp, including five entrance gates, fortifications, and a clavicula, a distinctive gate design featuring a curved ditch and rampart that forced attackers into a vulnerable approach. This is the first time a clavicula gate has been identified in Slovakia.

The earliest confirmed evidence of Roman military presence in present-day western Slovakia is the famous inscription carved into the castle rock at Trenčín, dating from AD 179. The Šurany discovery follows the earlier identification of the first Roman camp in the Hron River region near Želiezovce, where it is believed that Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote parts of his philosophical work Meditations.

The excavation has also revealed an extraordinary number of human skeletal remains. Complete skeletons as well as disarticulated bones were found in defensive ditches, storage pits, wells and shallow graves. “Our preliminary findings suggest that many of the deceased were Roman soldiers. Alongside the skeletal remains, we uncovered numerous pieces of Roman military equipment, including spears, arrowheads, fragments of helmets, segmented and scale armour, legionary belt fittings, coins and the distinctive caligae military sandals, identified by the iron hobnails preserved in their soles. We also recovered everyday objects such as an axe, a knife and gaming dice,” explained Marek Vojteček, lead archaeologist of the excavation.

“We now face many fascinating questions. Who were these individuals? What caused their deaths? Why were many bodies discarded in storage pits or wells instead of receiving proper burials? Were disease or combat injuries responsible? Why were so many valuable objects left behind rather than looted? Answers may come from ongoing laboratory analyses, as well as genetic and anthropological research,” added Michal Cheben, member of the research team.

Most of the artefacts recovered from the site are currently being conserved and examined in the specialised laboratories of the Institute of Archaeology of the SAS. Particularly fragile finds will undergo further examination in leading international laboratories once all legal requirements have been fulfilled.

“At the same time, we are preparing the documentation necessary for selected finds to be examined abroad. For now, the most exceptional objects are stored in our climate-controlled repositories. Several artefacts have already been X-rayed, revealing what was hidden inside compact blocks of soil. It is truly remarkable to see the original footwear of a Roman soldier preserved well enough that we can even determine its shoe size,” said Michal Cheben.

The scientific evaluation of such an extensive archaeological site will continue for several years and will involve specialists from numerous countries.

“Archaeology is inherently interdisciplinary. Many of the necessary analyses will therefore be carried out abroad. Radiocarbon dating is being performed in laboratories in Poznań, Poland. Colleagues in the Czech Republic will conduct micromorphological analysis of soil sediments, archaeogenetic analyses by the University of Vienna, and isotope analyses in laboratories in Germany, Poland, and likely South Africa.

Additional institutions will certainly become involved as the research progresses. This is a long-term scientific process, and many of the results will only become available over the coming years,” said Matej Ruttkay.

In addition to the Roman military camp, excavations at the future Šurany Industrial Park have uncovered important archaeological remains from several different historical periods.

Archaeological research at the site began in March 2025 and is financed by MH Invest, s.r.o. The Institute of Archaeology of the SAS is carrying out the excavations.

Source: Press release of the Institute of Archaeology of the SAS

Photos: Petra Chebenová, Marek Vojteček, Matej Ruttkay, Institute of Archaeology of the SAS