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Murus Dacicus (Latin for Dacian Wall) is a construction method fordefensive walls and fortifications developed in ancientDacia sometime before the Roman conquest. It is a mix between traditional construction methods particular to Dacian builders and methods imported from Greek and Roman architecture and masonry, and – although somewhat similar construction techniques were used before, during and long after the period – it has peculiarities that make it unique.
Murus Dacicus consisted of two outer walls made out of stone blocks carved in the shape of a rectangularparallelepiped; apparently nomortar was used, thus making them examples ofashlar masonry – but typically done with regular sized, bigger-than-average blocks, due to technological requirements. After each layer of the outer walls was completed, the gap between them would be filled with gravel and rocks cemented together with clay andcompacted (cf. alsorammed earth technique). The structure was strengthened and consolidated at the level of each layer by horizontal, singed/scorched wood tie beams connected to the outer walls by means of adovetail joint at the upper surface of the stone block (hence the need for big stone blocks of the same size). Due to its higher flexibility, this structure had a distinct advantage over the 'classical', soliddry stone wall (as seen, e. g., in thecyclopean andashlar walls inMycenae): a higher capability of shock absorption and dissipation of kinetic energy from an incoming projectile thrown by a siege weapon. However, archaeological and historical evidence suggests that the wall might have been topped by a woodenpalisade instead of stonebattlements, which had the obvious disadvantage of being vulnerable to fire.
A properly built Dacian Wall would be both labor-intensive and time-consuming. A typical wall for the late period, hastily built in the years between the twoDacian Wars (when Dacia had to rebuild, repair, enlarge or reinforce the defenses of many of its key fortresses), would be about 3–4 meters thick and 10 m tall, an outstanding achievement in the given conditions.
TheDacian Fortresses of the Orăştie Mountains,UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites are examples of citadels built using this method. Also the Dacian walls are depicted on theTrajan's column inRome.
Media related toDacia and Dacians at Wikimedia Commons
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