Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.52064/vamz.59.2.2
The last legion on the Limes Delmaticus: VIII Augusta
Željko Miletić
Silvia Bekavac
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Recent archaeological research has provided arguments supportingthe thesis that Legio VIII Augusta, or one of its vexillations,was stationed at the military centre of Burnum on theLimes Delmaticus after Legio IIII Flavia Felix left Dalmatia duringDomitian’s Dacian War. In the layers belonging to the firstconstruction phase of the military training ground (campus),dated to the reign of Claudius, tegulae stamped LEG XI CPF havebeen found, while those from the second phase bear the stampLEG VIII AVG. Such tiles also occur at other sites along the Delmatianlimes. The intensive production of bricks and the associatedconstruction activity of the VIII Legion suggest that the unit’sprimary role at Burnum may have been the logistical preparationof Trajan’s expeditionary army on its way through the provinceof Dalmatia towards the theatre of the Second Dacian War.During Trajan’s reign, a water-supply system was constructed atJader with funds from the imperial fisc. At the same time, a militarybuilding was erected in the municipium of Asseria, the roofof which was covered with tiles bearing the stamp of the VIII Legion.The military training ground at Burnum was also repairedat that time. Burnum is the setting of one of the few sceneson Trajan’s Column depicting a journey through Dalmatia. Thescene shows officials and guests welcoming Emperor Trajan ashe arrives from the direction of the municipium of Asseria. Thetwo soldiers depicted in the stylised fortress, interpreted hereas the castra legionis, may be identified as legionaries of LegioVIII Augusta. Immediately after the end of the Second DacianWar and the departure of the VIII Legion, Dalmatia became aprovincia inermis.
Keywords
Burnum; Legio VIII Augusta; Limes Delmaticus; Trajan’s Column; Roman military logistics
Hrčak ID:
352006
URI
Publication date:
23.10.2026.
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