Trajan ' s Wall Trajan ' s Wall ( " Valul lui Traian " in Romanian ) is the name used for several linear earthen fortifications ( valla ) found across Eastern Europe , in Moldova , Romania , and Ukraine . Contrary to the name and popular belief , the ramparts were not built by Romans during Trajan ' s reign . Furthermore , the association with the Roman Emperor may be a recent scholarly invention , only entering the imagination of the locals with the national awakening of the 19th century . Mediaeval Moldavia n documents referred to the earthworks as " Troian " , likely in reference to a mythological hero in the Romanian and Slavic folklore . The other major earthen fortification in Romania , Brazda lui Novac ( " Novac ' s Furrow " ) , is also named after a mythological hero . Romania . There are three valla in Romania , in south - central Dobruja , extending from the Danube to the Black Sea coast . While the relative chronology of the complex is widely accepted , the exact dating of each fortification is currently under dispute . Scholars place their erection at different dates in the Early Mediaeval period , in the second half of the first millennium . In what regards the builders , two theories have gained acceptance , with supporters split , to a large degree , along national lines . Thus , Bulgarian historiography considers the fortifications were built by the First Bulgarian Empire as a defence against the various nomad groups roaming the North - Pontic steppes . On the other hand , several Romania n historians have tried to attribute at least part of the walls to the Byzantine Empire under emperors John I Tzimisces and Basil II , which controlled the region in the second part of the 10th century and throughout the 11th . The oldest and smallest vallum , the Small Earthen Dyke , is 61 km in length , extending from Cetatea Pătulului on the Danube to Constanţa on the sea coast . Entirely made of earth , it has no defensive constructions built on it , but has a moat on its southern side . This feature has been interpreted as indicating construction by a population living to the north of the earthwork , in order to protect itself from an enemy in the South . The second vallum , the Large Earthen Dyke , 54 km in length , overlaps the smaller one on some sections . It begins on the Danube , follows the Carasu Valley and ends at Palas , west of Constanţa . Its average height is 3 . 5 m , and it has moats on both sides . On it are built 63 fortifications : 35 larger ( " castra " ) , and 28 smaller ( " castella " ) . The average distance between fortifications is 1 km . The vallum shows signs of reconstruction . The last vallum to be built , the Stone Dyke , is also made of earth , but has a stone wall on its crest . It has 59 km in length , extending from south of Axiopolis to the Black Sea coast , at a point 75 m south of the little earth wall . The agger is about 1 . 5 m in height , while the stone wall on top has an average height of 2 m . It has a moat on its northern side and 26 fortifications , the distance between them varying from 1 to 4 km . The commune Valu lui Traian ( formerly " Hasancea " ) is named after the vallum . Moldova . The remnants in Moldova comprise earthen walls and palisade s . There are two major fragments preserved in Moldova : Upper Trajan ' s Wall and Southern ( or Lower ) Trajan ' s Wall . The Southern Trajan ' s Wall in Moldova is thought to be dated by the 3rd century , and built by Athanaric and stretches from Romania Buciumeni - Tiganesti - Tapu - Stoicani and in after that another 126 km from the village of Vadul in Kagul Region by the Prut River stretches into Ukraine and ends at Lake Sasyk by Tatarbunar . The Coat of Arms of Cagul " uyezd " of Bessarabia , Russian Empire , incorporated Trajan ' s Wall . Some academics like Dorel Bondoc think that it was done by the Romans , because - to be done - it required plenty of knowledge and workforce that barbarians like Athanaric did not have . The Upper Trajan ' s Wall is thought to be constructed in 4th century by Greuthungi Goths in order to defend the border against the Huns . It stretches 120 km from Dniester River by Kitkany in Teleneshty Region to Prut River and exetend till Tiganesti Sendreni in Romania . Fragments of Trajan ' s Wall are also found by Leova . Ukraine . Trajan ' s Wall is located in Podolia and stretches through the modern districts of Kamenets - Podolskiy , Novaya Ushitsa and Khmelnitsky . A part of the Moldavian Lower Trojan ' s Wall ends in Ukraine . See also Serpent ' s Wall . Notes .