Asseria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Asseria is the name of an ancient hillfort settlement located at Podgrađe, Benkovac around 30 kilometres east of Zadar in Croatia.
Location | Croatia |
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Coordinates | 44.00995°N 15.66792°E / 44.00995; 15.66792 |
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]