EARLY POTTERY PRODUCTION IN APULUM (PARTO????) – AN OVERVIEW OF RECENT RESEARCH

Abstract

Apulum, the modern city of Alba Iulia (Romania) became one of the largest conurbations north of the Danube during the early Severan times. This com- plex urban settlement included a legionary fortress, canabae and two separate towns: Colonia Aurelia Apulensis and Munici- pium Septimium Apulensis. The rapid de- velopment of this conurbation is due to a number of factors: the military presence, the proximity of the goldmines from Alburnus Maior, the economic potential of Mures Valley and its location on the imperial road axes. Furthermore, Apulum was the center of the imperial adminis- tration in Dacia and the residence of the governor.