PRESS RELEASE:
Cluj-Napoca, March 15, 2024: On the occasion of the rehabilitation works of the IL Caragiale park and the streets in its vicinity, the specialists of the National History Museum of Transylvania (MNIT) have carried out a series of archaeological research. On O. Petrovici str., right in the area behind MNIT, the fence of a former bakery was identified.
In the open area on the western side of the park, in the area of the former parking lot of the Faculty of Construction, several historical masonry were identified: in the southwestern area of the archaeological section, the wall of a building that stretched over a good part of the park. "The ceramic material in the upper layers can be broadly classified in the 2th-1th centuries. The place where the section was drawn corresponds documentarily to the water gate, one of the first gates of the medieval fortress. It was partially surprised, embedding in it the 2 m wide enclosure wall, as well as a row of tiles from a road that started from this northern point of the enclosure. The renovations are late, most likely from the XNUMXth century. The gate also has a counterpart on the southern side. The two supposedly worked until the opening of the archeologically identified main gate in the post office area (Photos XNUMX and XNUMX)." says Dr. George Cupcea, Scientific Officer and Deputy General Director of MNIT.
In the open area following the removal of a trench for the introduction of electricity cables, the medieval enclosure wall was identified in the first phase. Below it, starting with the depth of 2,70 m from the current treading level, the northern Roman precinct of the city of Napoca was identified.
The wall that looks like this has several construction phases (Photos 3, 4, 5):
• 0,60-2,00 m the last phase of the medieval enclosure, relatively well preserved, built of large blocks 0,80 x 0,60 x 0,30, with smaller stones embedded among them.
• 2,00-2,70 m probably the first phase of the medieval enclosure with stone of smaller dimensions 0,55 x 0 x 30 fixed with building material.
• 2,70-4,00 Roman enclosure, built in the technique opposite quadratum, with the main blocks of 1,60 x 0,40 x 0,20 as far as can be distinguished from its northern side, towards the Mill canal. From this phase, three assizes can certainly be distinguished, the one in the upper part certainly visible, the stonework being worked much more carefully than the blocks below. The sole of the foundation consists of a row of stones The Roman foundation is identical to the one identified during our research in 2018, on V. Fulicea street, no. 23 (Photo 6).
"Therefore, we are dealing with an overlap of the three historical precincts of the city, which was also confirmed in previous research on the W side (str. V. Fulicea, no. 23). On this occasion, the northern side of the precinct of the Roman city of Napoca was also precisely identified, of which three sides (W, S and N) are known to date (Napoca map 1 and 2)." continued Dr. George Cupcea.
In other researched or researched areas, modern and Roman structures have been identified, dated by archaeological material (Roman tile with the inscription EX(ercitus) D(aciae) P(orolissensis) and a fragment of sealed earth (luxury Roman ceramics) which falls between 170-200 AD). In the main surface, oriented to the middle of the park, in the NS direction, the aim is to identify the enclosure walls and possible adjacent structures (the gate?), with the aim of marking their path on the surface and their possible valorization.
The archaeological research is coordinated by the MNIT team consisting of: Dr. George Cupcea (scientific manager), Dr. Cosmin Onofrei, Dr. Sorin Cociș, Dr. Viorica Rusu-Bolindeț, Dr. Radu Lupescu, Karina Necșe, Raul Todika and Csaby Danel.
"In this way, we remind all Cluj residents, and not only, that the Cluj Histories Exhibition within the MNIT is still open to the general public. The exhibition represents a synthetic and clear presentation of the history of Cluj. Visitors have access to artifacts discovered during the most recent archaeological research in the center, or from previously unpublished lots. This foray into Cluj's past, from the Neolithic to today, is illustrated with goods from the museum's collection, and the themes presented are chosen according to this heritage. We are waiting for you!" concludes Dr. Felix Marcu, MNIT Manager.
For more details:
Adrian B. Gog, PR Representative
adrian.gog@prandmore.ro, 0757355675
