A Roman gladius discovered at Noșlac, Alba County

Abstract

Two years ago, in Noșlac – a locality in the northern part of Alba County – a piece of Roman weaponry was discovered using a metal detector. Based on its typological characteristics, it belongs to a relatively rare type within in Dacia Province. The object falls into the Pompeii type, characterized by the triangular shape of its tip and its two parallel cutting edges. The location of the discovery, now a deciduous forest, lies not far from a Roman settlement. Moreover, the area is well suited for agriculture, and the salt deposit at Ocna Mureș, located a few kilometers away, along with the presence of the Ala I Batavorum fort on the opposite bank of the Mureș River, contributed to dense habitation across a broader area. The relative rarity of pieces of this type required increased attention during the restoration process, which attempted to restore as much of the original shape as possible and stabilize the physical and chemical structure of the metal.