On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 17:00 in the Central Hall of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, 1 Atanas Burov Sq. (across the Presidency building), Asst. Prof. Alexander Manev and Asst. Prof. Dr. Alexander Harizanov will present a lecture on a newly excavated fortified Late Antique settlement near the present day town of Dimovo, in the vicinity of the Roman town of Ratiaria (near the modern day village of Archar) – the capital of the Late Roman province of Dacia Ripensis.

The settlement appeared after the middle of the 4th century AD as a military supply depot, on top of a steep hill by the east bank of Archar River. It stands next to the important road between Ratiaria and Naissus, and was probably related to the imperial supply system known as annona militaris. The gathered provisions were protected by a hilltop fortification complex, damaged by an enemy raid in the 5th century AD. The site was reinhabited during the 6th century AD, when it was most probably used as a refuge for the local civilians. This is when a small single-nave church was erected in it, acting as the religious center behind the protection walls.

The archaeological research was carried out in 2021 and 2022 due to the construction of a new road-bed for the E-79 International Route, when the entire area of the fortified site was excavated.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Alexander Harizanov and Asst. Prof. Alexander Manev have an Archaeological degree from the History Department of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. Currently they are members of the Department of Classical Archaeology at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.