geographia - Studia

I. A. IRIMUŞ, F. FODOREAN, D. PETREA, I. FODOREAN
Mean annual air temperature is about 8,5º C (-3 0 C being winter’s mean temperature,
while summer’s mean temperature is 16 0 C); the annual rainfall exceeds 700 mm/year, over
140 rainy days being registered each year.
Total solar radiation ranges between 115 and 175 Kcal/cm 2 /year. The mean
number of sunshine hours is about 1900 to 2000 hours per year, while the mean duration of
cloudiness is below 100 days/year.
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2. THE MORPHOLOGY OF POROLISSUM GEOSITE
The morphology of the mountainous area of Pomet and Citera, where the buildings
of the Roman settlement are placed, is defined by large interfluvial hilltops, having a
bridge-like structure, also called podirei by the local population, that contrasts with the
valleys of Ortelec, Lunca Brazilor, Pomet, Jac, Ursoaia, and Agrij by a relative altitude of
80-250 m. The altitudes in the interfluvial area exceed 500 m , that being more specifically
the case of Moigrad – Pomăt (BisericuŃa Peak, 502 m) – Citera interfluve, ( Moigrad knoll
having an absolute altitude of 513, 9 m).The average altitude of Agrij Depression is 250 m.
The geographical features of the location of Roman settlement of Porolissum have
certain common elements with the north-eastern part of Meseş Mountains, defined by a
high degree of fragmentation (ranging from 2,25 to 3,0 km/km 2 ), a medium declivity of 27,
5 ‰, terraced slopes, structural terraces and cultivation terraces, that appear locally in the
basins of Ortelec, Ursoaia, Pomet, Lunca Brazilor, Jac and Agrij valleys. Flood plains and
interfluvial areas, favoured by the reduced slope (3- 7‰), are among the most important areas
in terms of development of human activities. Terraces have appropriate features in terms of
tectonic and neo-tectonic stability, hydro-geological resources, favourableness in designing
extended rural settlements and of clear opening to the neighbouring areas, allowing them to
be monitored and observed, thus recommending themselves as appropriate to developing
communal activities (urbanistic, agriculture, tourism and transport).
Both favourableness and restrictiveness of the geographical area of Sălaj were considered
by the Roman builders and geodesists when placing castra, roads or customs (pieces of the Roman
camp’s walls are still well preserved on the top of third left terrace of Agrij river at Buciumi and
Românaşi, while the Romita camp was settled on the second terrace of Agrij valley).
Most of the buildings of Porolissum settlement, both civil and military, are
concentrated in the interfluvial area of Pomet, that covers an area of over 100 ha. The
relative altitude of 200-250 m, the absence or presence of forests where artificial clearings
were created, offered a large open view to the south, for the soldiers of the Roman camp,
reaching up to Vlădeasa Mountains to the west and north west, through the “Meseş Gate”
up to Şimleu Knoll and Cosnici Knoll, and towards east and north-east to the valley of
Someş and Agrij Depression. The quasi-horizontal levelling surfaces of Pomet or Citera
favoured the settlement of large buildings, such as the amphitheatre, the Roman custom,
and houses for about 25 000 soldiers and civilians.
The declivity of this area (ranging from 20 to 45 %) offers appropriate conditions to
ensure the defensive role of the Roman camp at the northern border of the Roman Empire, by
building strong fortifications at reduced costs.
3. THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF ROMAN SETTLEMENT
OF POROLISSUM
Porolissum is the northest Roman city of Dacia, situated on the north-western
limes of the province. Its name comes from the one of the Dacian settlement of Porolisson,