Asseria

Asseria is the name of an ancient hillfort settlement located at Podgrađe, Benkovac around 30 kilometres east of Zadar in Croatia.

Asseria
City walls of Asseria
Asseria is located in Croatia
Asseria
Shown within Croatia
LocationCroatia
Coordinates44.00995°N 15.66792°E / 44.00995; 15.66792
TypeHillfort / City
History
PeriodsIron 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
  1. Grammenos, Dēmētrios V. (2003). Recent research in the prehistory of the Balkans. Archaeological Institute of Northern Greece. p. 134. ISBN 9602140720.
  2. Stillwell, Richard; MacDonald, William L.; McAlister, Marian Holland (1976). The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites. Princeton University Press.
  3. Pliny, Hist. Nat. iii. 143
  4. Curtis, Benjamin (2010). A Traveller's History of Croatia. p. 33.
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