Page 28 - Județul Sălaj - prezentare

Sălaj County Council
www.cjsj.ro History

Part of the coveted Roman province,
Dacia Porolissensis, of the exciting
Transylvania, Sălaj - the Land of Silva-
nia, has a long history with elements
of cave art discovered on today’s te-
rritory of the county (the cave from
Cuciulat), placing the existence of
living on these lands from the Paleo-
lithic. Historians have also identified
traces of more than 200 Neolithic
settlements, as well as numerous dis-
Porolissum - Moigrad Archaeological Complex
Zalău County Museum of History and Art
fortified settlements and fortresses or numerous treasures of money or
mixed (coins and jewels) discovered on the present territory of the coun-
ty, the central point being represented by the complex of discoveries from
Şimleu Silvaniei - Măgura Şimleului .
2
Over time, Sălaj has proven to be a transit and connecting area, this as-
pect being best supported by the existence of “Poarta Meseșană”, the
main northwest access to and from Transylvania and an important way of
communication frequented by both merchants and anyone who sought to
come out or enter Transylvania. This point was taken advantage of, espe-
cially by Roman strategists who, following the Dacian-Roman wars (101-
102 and 105-106) and the conquest of Dacia, built an impressive system
coveries dating back to the Bronze of defense that marks the boundary of the Roman Empire - limes, made of
Age when, in open settlements, stone walls, waves of earth, ditches and defense towers. The importance
the need for security determines given to the area is also highlighted by the seven Roman castles known in
the appearance of the first fortified the territory of Sălaj .
3
settlements located in tall, hardly
accessible places. Both were hav- Porolissum - Moigrad Archaeological Complex
ing a protective function and to
highlight the prestige of the com-
munity and military leaders, but
also to control passers-by or man-
datory crossing points .
1

Second century BC - 1 century AD
st
represents the period of maximum
development of the Dacian civiliza-
tion very well represented on the
territory of Sălaj County, witness
being dozens of settlements, 13

Zalău County Museum of History and Art
Located at a distance of about 13 kilometers from Zalău Municipality, the
fortification and the Roman city from Porolissum was the strongest de-
fensive fortification in the north-west of the Roman Dacia province and
the most important Roman settlement in northern Dacia. Being popula-
ted by a multicultural community coming from all over the Roman Empire
and mixed with the indigenous, the Roman civilization at Porolissum has
steadily developed into an important pole of Romanization and urbaniza-
tion of this area of Dacia. Today, Porolissum is an archaeological site of
major importance both from a scientific point of view and its potential for
tourism development.

1
1, 2, 3 Muzeul Județean de Istorie și Artă Zalău - Noi despre noi, Elemente reprezentative ale patrimoniului cultural sălăjean