Beneath the Renaissance complex and the 19th-century gardens of the Wass-Bánffy Castle in Gilău, lie the remains of a Roman military fortification—the Gilău auxiliary fort—and the civilian settlement that developed around it. The fortification was originally constructed of earth and timber in the early 2nd century AD and later rebuilt in stone, remaining in use until the second half of the 3rd century AD. Located just 16 km from the Roman city of Napoca, the fort was the nearest military base to the city and played a direct role in its protection.
The initial garrison was most likely an infantry unit consisting of approximately 500 soldiers. At this stage, the fortification covered an area of about 1.5 hectares. Early in Emperor Hadrian’s reign, the infantry was replaced by a cavalry unit, necessitating an expansion of the enclosure to approximately 3 hectares. In the final phase, the enclosure was rebuilt in stone, featuring a wall 1.20 meters wide.
The archaeological discoveries are remarkable: military diplomas, inscriptions, numerous pieces of weaponry and military equipment – notable among them is a cavalry helmet mask used in parades – glass and bronze vessels, luxury ceramics, brooches and ítems of adornment, as well as medical and surgical instruments
