A fragment of a Roman altar dedicated to Jupiter has been recovered from the Danube near Dunaújváros, Hungary, after exceptionally low water levels exposed sections of the riverbed that are normally submerged.
The discovery was made by archaeologists from the Intercisa Museum during a field survey around Szalki Island, undertaken with the assistance of diving archaeologist Attila J. Tóth. The team took advantage of the unusually low water level to investigate areas of the river that are rarely accessible.
Archaeologists had initially hoped to locate remains associated with the presumed site of the medieval Pentelic Monastery. Instead, they uncovered a fragment of a limestone altar dedicated to Jupiter, the chief deity of the Roman pantheon. A few days later, the survey also yielded a Roman limestone tablet, adding to the assemblage of finds recovered from the area.
The artefacts are expected to provide new information about Intercisa, the Roman settlement that occupied the site of modern-day Dunaújváros. Situated on the frontier of the Roman province of Pannonia, Intercisa developed around a military fort established along the Danube, forming part of the empire’s frontier defence system known as the Limes.
According to the Intercisa Museum, the discoveries expand the corpus of Roman monuments from the region and may contribute to a better understanding of the settlement’s history and religious practices.
The survey also revealed the continued presence of more recent historical hazards. Museum staff identified what is believed to be an unexploded Second World War munition in the exposed riverbed and immediately alerted military bomb disposal specialists.
The museum has warned members of the public against searching for artefacts in the exposed areas of the Danube. In addition to the risk of disturbing archaeological deposits, unexploded wartime ordnance remains a serious safety concern. Anyone encountering suspicious objects is urged to leave them in place and notify the appropriate authorities.
Periods of unusually low water on the Danube have increasingly exposed archaeological material along the river’s course, creating valuable opportunities for research while highlighting the importance of protecting cultural heritage and ensuring public safety.
Header Image Credit : Intercisa Museum
Sources : Mult-Kor
