Secrets of a 1,800-Year-Old Roman Watchtower Unearthed in Croatia—What Did It Hide?
Discovering The Watchtower In Croatia
The site of the watchtower was first discovered along the banks of the Danube River in Croatia during field surveys between 2003 and 2023 by the Institute of Archaeology in Zagreb. Geomagnetic surveys in 2022 provided further evidence about the existence of Roman fortifications in the country, and physical surveys confirmed the presence of the watchtower in 2025.
Udruga Dolina Mamuta/FacebookExcavations in 2025 confirmed the presence of the Roman watchtower.
The structure, located in the Croatian town of Mohovo, measured roughly 130 by 100 feet and was strategically positioned alongside deep ravines. Some 1,800 years ago, it was heavily protected with ditches and a fence, and it was just one in a chain of Roman watchtowers that stretched along the river.
At the site, archaeologists also uncovered fibulas (brooches), ceramic pottery, iron arrows, and other artifacts, suggesting that the watchtower operated from the second century well into the third century. During that time, it likely played an important role in the Marcomannic Wars.
The Watchtower During The Marcomannic Wars
H. Jambrek/Institute of Archaeology, ZagrebAn iron arrow that was discovered during excavations at the Roman watchtower in Croatia.
The Marcomannic Wars, which lasted from roughly 166 C.E. to 180 C.E., began under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. During this time, the Romans were forced to defend their northern border, known as the Limes, against tribes like the Germanic Marcomanni and the nomadic Sarmatians.
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