Balkans: April 2, 2002

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AFP ran a story about a border crossing point on the Slovenia-Croatia border at Obrezje. It turns out the site was an Augustan-era Roman fort. The border crossing point is being expanded to meet European Union requirements, so archeological teams are working quickly to gather data before key portions of the fort are bulldozed. When Slovenia joins the EU the border point will become Western Europes eastern frontier. What made the report particularly interesting was the geographic commentary. The border crossing controls a pass to the Sava River Valley and controls approaches to Zagreb and Sisak (in central Croatia). In Roman times Sisak was named Siscia, in the province of Panonia. At that time the Romans were pushing deeper into central Europe, in other words, extending their border (like the EU is extending its border except in the opposite direction). One archeologist estimated a garrison of 500 to 1000 Roman soldiers were stationed at the camp. 

 

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