ROMAN RURAL LIFE IN ANCIENT DACIA. A BRIEF HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL OVERVIEW
ROMAN RURAL LIFE IN ANCIENT DACIA. A BRIEF HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL OVERVIEW

Summary/Abstract: This article is meant to be a methodological preamble for the study of a particular theme of the Roman era on the territory of the former province of Dacia. We consider that the importance of a critical approach to sources needs to be emphasized, opting for a qualitative rather than quantitative analysis. The methodology involves categorizing sources into primary sources (literature, epigraphic, and archaeological) and modern historiography, with the latter being classified thematically, as well as chronologically. Ancient Roman authors, such as Cato, Varro, and Columella, provide foundational insights into agricultural organization, complemented by archaeological discoveries of tools, villae, and artifacts that reflect both Roman luxury and local adaptation. Iconographic sources, such as mosaics and reliefs, visually depict agricultural activities and rural architecture, while epigraphic records reveal the identities and beliefs of rural inhabitants. Given the broad spectrum of rural life in Roman archaeology, the article distinguishes between general studies and those focused on specific subjects, while also considering a geographical comparative analysis of foreign and Romanian historiography While earlier scholarship often overlooked rural settlements in favor of urban and military contexts, recent decades have witnessed a growing interest in this field.

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