Castra of Tihău

Castra of Tihău
Location within Romania
Known also asCastra of Surduc
Founded2nd century AD
Place in the Roman world
ProvinceDacia
Administrative unitDacia Porolissensis
Administrative unitDacia Superior
LimesPorolissensis
Directly connected to
Structure
— Stone structure —
Size and area129 m × 144 m (1.85 ha)
— Wood and earth structure —
Stationed military units
Cohorts
I Cannanefactium
Location
Coordinates47°14′33″N 23°20′07″E / 47.242396°N 23.335183°E / 47.242396; 23.335183
Altitude221 m (725 ft)
Place nameGrădiște
TownTihău
CountySălaj
Country Romania
Reference
RO-LMISJ-I-s-A-04971
RO-RAN142836.02
UNESCO
Part ofFrontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia
CriteriaCultural: ii, iii, iv
Reference1718-125
Inscription2024 (46th Session)
Site notes
Recognition UNESCO World Heritage Site
National Historical Monument
ConditionRuined
Excavation dates
  • 1958
  • 1994
Archaeologists
  • Mihail Macrea
  • Dumitru Protase
ExhibitionsCounty Museum of History and Art, Zalău

The castra of Tihău is a historically significant fort in the Roman province of Dacia. Since the 18th century, it has been referred to as the "citadel of Tuhutum". Ruins on the plateau "Grădiște" shows that the Castra of Tihău was a Roman fort of auxiliary troop, pertaining to the northwest sector of Limes Porolissensis.

Its garrison was Cohors I Cananefatium.

Repeated discoveries of Roman archaeological materials (pottery, tiles and bricks, arms, tools, diverse objects, tegular stamps, coins, even stone inscriptions etc.), advanced knowledges in the realm of history and archeology of Roman Dacia. These discoveries confirm the nature, the chronological placement, appurtenance and the Roman military-defensive role of "fort" that formerly erected in this place from the confluence of Almaș and Someș River.

The castra was known and put on contribution in the debate of various military issues of Roman Dacia. However, these facts are based only on a few fortuitous discoveries and some land surface observations of the site.