A NEW INSCRIPTION FROM ULPIANA: TESTIMONY OF A DEDICATION OR A CIVIC ASSOCIATION

Abstract

This paper presents the interpretation of a previously unpublished epigraphic inscription discovered within the urban context of the ancient city of Ulpiana (Moesia Superior). The study aims to highlight the role of inscriptions not only in addressing archaeological questions but also in enhancing historical reconstructions related to Roman urbanism in Dardania. The methodology of research employs an interdisciplinary methodology that integrates archaeological evidence – namely material culture – with written sources. Comparative analysis has been essential, both in evaluating the stylistic and technical features of the inscription and in contextualizing its content within broader epigraphic traditions. Analytical methods have further supported the effort to reach plausible interpretations. The novelty of the study consists in the publication and interpretation of this inscription for the first time. The text offers new data on the onomastics and socio-cultural dynamics of Roman Ulpiana, contributing to a better understanding of the local population and their integration into Roman administrative and cultural frameworks. Conclusions. The inscription, a dedication to Valeria, provides new information regarding ethnic, political, and cultural elements in the province. The onomastic features suggest a strong Roman influence in naming practices, illustrating the spread of Roman identity in this region and its relation to the process of Romanization. The nature of the inscription, as suggested by its form and content, indicates a funerary function – most likely a family dedication on a grave stele. However, the possibility of a religious or honorific context, while less probable, cannot be definitively excluded. Although the available evidence does not permit precise dating, the style of the engraved letters, the formulation of the text, and the broader epigraphic trends in Ulpiana suggest a chronological placement between the 2^nd and 4^th centuries CE. Importantly, the reuse of the inscription as spolia in the pavement of the city’s main street (cardo maximus) sheds light on cycles of destruction and rebuilding in Ulpiana, particularly after the major earthquake of 518 CE. This event, followed by the reconstruction initiatives under Emperor Justinian I, reflects broader patterns of urban transformation in the Late Antique Balkans.

Keywords: Ulpiana, epigraphic inscription, Roman Empire, city, local population, Late Antique