an odd helmet

[Peroni]

The city of VIDIN mentioned in the discussion is located abt 15 km from the roman city of RATIARIA or RATSIARIA. This is the fomer capital of lower moesia province. Location of 2 legions (Dacian war campaign started there). A cultural hub no doubt and one of the most important roman sites on the danube. It was also home to the danube protection fleet which is probably where the name derives from !

Unfortunately this is also the most (publicly known) ransacked and looted place in bulgaria. If you google for ratsiaria or ratiaria you get plenty of info. Check wikepedia too - it mentions that up to 10000 (!) people were looting this place _the entire village of archar was/is living off the site. To get a real impression you should google for archar - there is an integrated google world map which allows you to observe the magnitude of destruction. Effectively the whole city (incl wall foundations) has been ripped to shreds by bulldozers and caterpillars!!!!!!! The site of the old town is east of the village not far from the river.

The probability that this material originates from the site or nearby is fairly high. In the 90s local scientists found dozens of plundered graves - the looters had arranged the skulls into pyramids!!!!

Today the ancient Roman settlement is regularly raided and destroyed by treasure-hunters.

http://news.guide-bulgaria.com/NW/Vidin ... _Ratsiaria