Balgarianovinite.com Twenty years ago, remains of the principia – the headquarters building of the Roman army – were discovered during archaeological excavations of the Roman fortress of Sexaginta Prista in central Ruse. The building was in use from the first quarter of the 4th century, probably until the first decade of the 5th century.
According to museum specialists, few principia have been discovered along the Roman Danube limes. Similar buildings in the Bulgarian section of the ancient Roman frontier have been found at the forts of Novae and Iatrus, but the structure at Sexaginta Prista is all the more significant because it is located within the boundaries of a modern city.
Sexaginta Prista is an ancient Roman fortress built on the site of an earlier Thracian settlement. The fort was destroyed in the late 6th or early 7th century.
The discovery was reported in BTA’s Home News bulletin on July 26, 2006:
Archaeologists Discover Remains of Roman Army Headquarter in Ruse
Ruse, July 26, 2006 (BTA correspondent Stoyan Rusev) – Archaeological excavations at the Roman fortress of Sexaginta Prista in central Ruse have uncovered remains of the principia – the headquarters building of the Roman army, which was in use from the first quarter of the 4th century, probably until the first decade of the 5th century. The discovery was announced by Regional History Museum Nikolay Nenov and archaeologist Varbin Varbinov.
The dating of the principia was based on 145 coins and pottery finds. The military building measures 16.5 by 25 metres. It contained a shrine for the military standards.
“Not many principia have been discovered along the Roman Danube limes,” Nenov said. Similar buildings at the forts of Novae and Iatrus have been studied in depth for 40 years.
In the area of Sexaginta Prista, archaeologists also found around 30 steps leading to a stone-lined tunnel dating from the Ottoman period. It is believed to have connected the defensive structures of the Ottoman fortress three to four metres underground. The tunnel will be studied this year and later adapted for tourist visits.
The principia – the army headquarters at Sexaginta Prista – was built over a Thracian pit sanctuary where human sacrifices were probably performed, experts suggest. July 26, 2006: Archaeologists Discover Remains of Roman Army Headquarters at Sexaginta Prista Fortress in Ruse 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-26 14:52:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
