Facing the Enemy: Mapping Military Fortifications in the Hinterland of Moesia Inferior. The Results of GIS Modelling

This article examines the spatial distribution and strategic functions of Roman military installations in the hinterland of the Moesia Inferior province, focusing on forts, fortlets, praesidia, burgi, and surveillance towers. Drawing on archaeological evidence, epigraphic sources, and GIS-based spatial analysis, the study reconstructs the underlying reasons for building these fortifications and their relationship to ancient road networks. It demonstrates how such structures operated within a hierarchical, road-based system, with many fortifications positioned along Roman roads, mountain passes, or near key economic and geographic nodes. While the Danube line represented the primary frontier, the research highlights the existence of an internal network of surveillance and logistical support that extended deep into the province, particularly in vulnerable areas such as the southern mountain border, resource-rich regions like the regio Montanensium, and along key routes linking Moesia with Thracia. GIS analysis confirms the close association between fortifications and communication routes, although fortifications along the provincial axis also reveal enduring surveillance roles. Chronological data indicate an intensification of activity during the 2nd–3rd centuries, reflecting the need to control both external threats and internal mobility. Overall, the study underscores the importance of internal movement and control within the Roman defense system of Moesia Inferior, as a response not only to external invasions but also to domestic economic and logistical demands. It proposes a new framework for understanding Roman military logistics in a frontier province under continuous pressure.