TUESDAY-TUESDAY, August TUESDAY

Archaeological research campaign – Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa (entrance gate to the forum – Propylene / the financial prosecutor's palace – Procurator's House / entrance area to the archaeological site of Sarmizegetusa)

until August 30, 2024

Following the rehabilitation works concerning the areas IL Caragiale Park and the streets in its vicinity have been surveyed from an archaeological point of view. Following the investigations started in January 2024, several historical masonry structures belonging to the Roman, medieval and modern eras have been revealed.

For the Roman era, in addition to the ceramic material and reused architectural fragments, we can mention that a large building and the enclosure wall with part of the elevation at one point were partially discovered. The medieval wall overlaps the Roman one, but also notable is the partial discovery of a gate on the northern side mentioned in documents in the 15th century, but at the time of the discovery, later restorations were also found. For the modern era, we can mainly mention the partial discovery of the walls of a brewery and a correctional school that were located in the park area in the 19th century. The latter are documented and also appear in photographs of the time. Portions of the Roman and medieval walls, given the very good state of conservation, will be restored and put into historical and archaeological value within the park, and they can be visited by the interested public.

 Scientific manager of the construction site, Dr. George Cupcea, in collaboration with Dr. Cosmin Onofrei and Dr. Viorica Rusu-Bolindeț (MNIT), Dr. Sorin Cociș (Institute of Archaeology and Art History, Academy Branch, Cluj-Napoca), Dr. Radu Lupescu (Sapietia University, Cluj-Napoca), Todika Raul, Necșe Karina, Csaba Danél. Beneficiary: Cluj-Napoca City Hall, contractor: construction company SC NordConForest SA. For additional information see:https://www.rfi.fr/ro/rom%C3%A2nia/20240313-zid-din-perioada-imperiului-roman-descoperit-la-cluj-napoca

June – September 2024

During this period, systematic archaeological research was carried out at Grădiștea de Munte – Sarmizegetusa Regia, Luncani – Piatra Roșie and Costești-Cetățuie.

At Sarmizegetusa Regia, excavations continued on the 9th terrace, part of the sanctuary, discovering vestiges of various constructions erected here in Dacian antiquity (the temple of the alignment type, the retaining wall, structures with a delimiting role, etc.).

At Piatra Roșie, research targeted the fortification plateau, to document the temple and the building, identified during the excavations coordinated by Constantin Daicoviciu, in 1949.

At Costești-Cetățuie, the resumption of excavations had a remarkable result, with the limestone foundations of a cult edifice unknown until now being discovered on one of the southeastern terraces of the hill.

The research was funded by the Ministry of Culture and the Hunedoara County Council, and the team was composed of archaeologists and students from the National Museum of Transylvanian History, Babeş-Bolyai University, the Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilization, the Mureş County Museum, and the "Vasile Pârvan" Institute of Archaeology.

August-October 2024

Archaeological site Covasna – Citadel of the Fairies is located on the outskirts of Covasna, on the Citadel Hill. The most numerous discoveries at the site belong to the Dacian Kingdom era (a fortified fortress with stone, clay and wood walls, organized on at least four terraces), but materials dating back to the Bronze Age or the Middle Ages were also discovered. The 2024 campaign took place both inside the fortified area, on Terrace II, and outside it, on the saddle connecting the Citadel Hill with the neighboring peaks, where the ancient access road probably passed.

On Terrace II, near the wall and the bastion here, two Dacian edifices with a roof supported by wooden pillars arranged in three or four rows were identified in previous campaigns. Neither of these edifices has been fully outlined, as a result of which their functionality remains uncertain for the time being. The two edifices could be temples, of the type with alignments of columns, but another functionality, civil or military, cannot be ruled out. In 2024, the western area of ​​Edifici II was investigated in particular in an attempt to establish its limit, which was successful. The edifice was delimited here by a vein of native rock, probably visible in antiquity as well, to the west of which no traces of pillars were identified. As a result, until now Edifici II has been delimited on three sides, to the south (the wall of Terrace II), east (rock) and west (rock). Research will continue in the next campaigns to the north, to establish the limit of the building here as well. Given that the excavation was mainly in the foundation of the building, few materials were found, especially ceramic fragments.

A new research sector was opened in 2023 along the route of the possible access road to the fortress, where excavations continued in 2024. So far, no ancient complex has been identified and no archaeological materials have been discovered, but the research is just beginning.