Traces of a lost Roman-era city found beneath a Hungarian town

During a preventive archaeological excavation in Zalaszentgrót, researchers have uncovered more than 1,800-year-old wells and Roman-era remains. According to experts, the discovery may be linked to the ancient settlement of Maestriana, which was one of Pannonia’s important waystations for nearly three centuries.

The findings and excavation details were reported by Műemlékem.hu Magazin, while the work was carried out by specialists from the Göcseji Museum in Zalaegerszeg. The purpose of the preliminary research was to assess the archaeological significance of the area before a planned construction project begins.

Remarkable finds from the Roman period

Archaeologists had long suspected traces of a Roman settlement in the area, but this is the first time that remains connected to everyday life — such as water wells, household structures, and craft activities — have been discovered.

“Our most important find consists of three Roman wells from the 2nd century, all located within a single excavation unit. The internal wooden framework of two wells has survived,” said archaeologist Lívia Simmer from the Göcseji Museum.

The wells had already been filled in during antiquity, but the artefacts found inside suggest lively trade connections. Among the finds was pottery likely produced in Gaul, indicating that the region maintained contact with the western provinces of the Roman Empire.

The lost city of Maestriana beneath modern Zalaszentgrót

Researchers believe that the newly discovered wells once belonged to Maestriana, a Roman-era settlement that existed between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. Historical sources describe it as a stop along the road connecting Savaria (modern-day Szombathely) with Fenékpuszta, near Lake Balaton.

At the time, the region was still inhabited mainly by Celtic-origin communities, who gradually adopted Roman lifestyles, architecture, and material culture.

Maestriana is thought to have been inhabited for roughly 300 years, but little of it has survived. One reason is that modern Zalaszentgrót was built directly over the Roman site, and centuries of urban development have largely erased or covered the ancient remains. The recently unearthed wells are therefore of exceptional value — a rare moment when the Roman origins of the town become tangible once again.

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Other Roman traces around the town

Archaeological research in Zalaszentgrót has revealed Roman traces before. According to László Vándor, retired director of the Göcseji Museum, earlier excavations in Szabadság Street uncovered several Roman building fragments and a brick-built grave typical of the period.

The tomb, dating from the very end of the Roman era, contained the remains of a “barbarian-type man,” buried with a decorated jug and a long dagger.

Taken together, the wells, tombs, and smaller artefacts all point to the same conclusion: that centuries ago, a vibrant, multicultural community lived here — on the frontier of the Roman Empire.

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