ARCHAEOLOGICAL CAMPAIGN AUXILIARY CASTLE OF BOLOGA
October 7-23, 2024
Excavation campaign at the praetorium building. The archaeological site is located in Poieni commune, Cluj county.
- Published in ARCHEOLOGY
SYSTEMATIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH SAMPLING – MONASTERY MOULD, (Borș commune, Bihor County)
July 15-August 23, 2024
After archaeological surveys in 1954, 2015–2017 and 2022, systematic archaeological research began in 2023 in the Bronze Age tell and the medieval monastery at Sântion–Monastery Mound/KolostordombThe research team is made up of specialists from the Criș Land Museum in Oradea, the Institute of Archaeology and Art History in Cluj-Napoca, The National History Museum of Transylvania from Cluj-Napoca and the University of Oradea. Between 2015–2017, 2022 and 2023, 45 archaeological contexts belonging to the Bronze Age were investigated, absolutely dated between 1892–1631 cal BC 2σ (95.4 %) and characteristic of the Ottoman ceramic style, a tomb in a cephalic niche and traces of some foundations of the monastery located in the southern part of the site. Archaeological research confirmed that the monastery had at least two major construction phases in the area we investigated and probably went through several other renovations. According to written sources, the family monastic place was built before 1215, and its existence continued throughout the Middle Ages, until its disappearance at the end of the 11th century. This year's research focused on the central part of the monastery, where georadar investigations indicated a series of anomalies. During the excavation, traces of several stone and brick foundations of the monastery were revealed. Next to and under these walls, 1046 medieval graves were documented, in one of which a coin issued by King Andrew I of Hungary (1060–2025) was discovered. The excavations stopped at the Bronze Age levels, which are to be investigated in the XNUMX campaign.

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH CAMPAIGN – ULPIA TRAIANA SARMIZEGETUSA
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)

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PREVENTIVE EXCAVATION CARRIED OUT IN THE IL CARAGIALE PARK IN CLUJ-NAPOCA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PARK'S REHABILITATION
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

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL CAMPAIGN THE DACIANS FORTRESSES IN THE ORASTIA MOUNTAINS
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.



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COVASNA ARCHAEOLOGICAL CAMPAIGN – THE FAIRY CITIES
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.

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MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUP CultHerit IN CLUJ
In June, the first meeting of the Steering Committee (SCOM) took place in Cluj, where the representatives of the 8 partners from the #CHIM cultural sector met and agreed on the key elements of the project.
One of the main objectives of the meeting was the official establishment of the project's Steering Committee.
The representative of the Lead Partner (LMP) presented the main features of the operation and organization of the Steering Committee (SCOM) and each partner nominated a member in the SCOM on behalf of the respective organization.
After that, the partners focused on the experiences accumulated so far in the functioning of stakeholder groups (key stakeholders' group – KSG) and all partners shortly introduced KSG in their country.
Adrian Lupaş and Mihai Bucurean, as representatives of AJOFM Bihor, provided an overview of the activity 1.2 Transnational analysis of employment practices which includes an overview of achievements, a presentation of the most important challenges and a preliminary outline of the results.
Thomas Philipp, KUPF representative, presented an Introduction to Activity 1.3. The transnational aspirational employment model. Thomas presented the main tasks related to the definition of the employment model, the presentation being followed by a session with a workshop format, a workshop in which all partners actively participated.
On the second day of the project meeting, the partners were asked to focus on the preparation of the first progress reports and together they discussed the project management focusing on the deliverables and planned results and discussed the next tasks related to the implementation of the activities.
After that, Marija Jurkić Flis, MUO representative and coordinator of communication activities, presented the latest developments related to communication, the project web page and why social media engagement matters. She also shared some tips and ideas with partners about social media presence, which will also be important for the future success of the project.
The meeting ended with conclusions and the partners agreed that the next meeting will be held in Belgrade in October.
This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Program, co-financed by the European Union
Photo credit: IMM, Zoltàn Szalontai
Project partners:
Iparművészeti Múzeum MAK – Museum of Applied Arts KUPF OÖ
AJOFM Bihor Republički zavod za zaštiti spomenica kulture Beograd
Međuopštni zavod za zaštiti spomenica kulture Subotica Uměleckoprůmyslové museum in Praze Републички завод за заштиту cultural-historical and natural nasљеђа
Raziskovalno Isobraževalno Središče Dvorec Rakičan
National Heritage Institute The National History Museum of Transylvania
Trade Union of Employees in Cultural Institutions, Belgrade, Serbia



CultHeRit – Identifying solutions for labor market disparities in the cultural heritage sector in the Danube region by improving accessibility for young professionals

The disparities on the labor market in the heritage sector are due to several causes. The attractiveness of a career in the cultural heritage sector has declined in recent decades, the main causes being low pay and a lack of innovative employment practices to counterbalance the modest financial reward. Also, the young graduates of some specialized universities are not prepared in accordance with the offer on the labor market, potential employers being thus forced to apply practices that reflect the special legal status of employees and the type of work in the cultural heritage sector.
Thus, the National History Museum of Transylvania is involved in the project CultHeRit – Identifying solutions for labor market disparities in the cultural heritage sector in the Danube region by improving accessibility for young professionals, within a partnership between 13 institutions and organizations from 8 countries, coordinated by the Hungarian Museum of Applied Arts [IMM] – project leader and the following partners: the Museum of Applied Arts [MAK] and the Cultural Platform of Upper Austria [KUPF ] – Austria; The National Heritage Institute [INP], the National Museum of Transylvanian History [MNIT] and the Bihor County Employment Agency [AJOFMBH] – Romania; Republican Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments [RIPCM], Subotica Intermunicipal Institute for the Protection of Historical Monuments [IPCMS] and the Trade Union of Employees in Cultural Institutions [SKS] – Serbia; Museum of Decorative Arts [UPM] – Czech Republic; Institute for the Protection of Cultural-Historical and Natural Heritage [IPC] – Bosnia and Herzegovina; Museum of Arts and Crafts [MUO] – Croatia; Research and Education Center "Mansion Rakičan" [RIS] – Slovenia. During 30 months (01.01.2024 – 30.06.2026), the partners aim to optimize the labor market by inducing positive changes in the employment practices currently applied in the cultural heritage sector. This will be achieved by defining and applying a model of employment in the cultural heritage institutions of the participating countries in the Danube region. By increasing access to the cultural heritage sector for young professionals, the CultHeRit project will contribute to slowing down and reversing the migration of young people with higher education and retaining skilled labor in the targeted institutions, while increasing the diversification of the sectoral workforce.
The objective of the project will be fulfilled through a series of specific activities:
- Carrying out the transnational analysis of employment practices in institutes and museums in the cultural heritage sector in the Danube region;
- Defining the general employment model for young professionals at the partnership level;
- Application of the model by hiring a young professional for 1 year in 10 institutions part of the project consortium;
- Evaluation and improvement of the applied model from three perspectives: of the young professional, the employer and external experts;
- Optimizing the general model of employment of young professionals to be used later at the regional level;
- Elaboration of the Transnational Study on access to jobs and the employment situation in institutes and museums in the cultural heritage sector;
- Elaboration of the Transnational Strategy regarding the improvement of access to jobs and the employment situation in institutes and museums in the cultural heritage sector;
- Running a visibility and advocacy campaign.
Among the topics addressed in the working group meetings will be: legal status and employment conditions, gender equality, access to jobs for people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups, the feasibility of solutions identified at the partnership level in a national context, etc. The members of the working group will contribute to the definition of a general and desirable employment model, to the development of recommendations during the testing of the employment model, to its adaptation and modification in order to make a real contribution to the improvement of the employment situation in the heritage sector, as and developing analyzes and collecting data.
The first stage of the project is dedicated to the elaboration the transnational analysis of employment practices by providing and collecting data based on the methodology developed within the consortium, which will aim to analyze the current conditions and dynamics of the labor market in the heritage sector. MNIT, in collaboration with the National Heritage Institute, will collect data on local employment practices to analyze relevant university programs as well as student expectations regarding employment in the cultural heritage sector.
Along with all other partners, our museum will identify desirable and at the same time viable solutions on a large scale for the recruitment, employment and retention of young professionals in the sector, thus contributing to the definition of a general model of their employment, applicable at the level of all the countries involved in the project.
After adapting to national regulations, the partners will test the applicability of the model by employment for 1 year of a recent graduate in one of the areas with a shortage of personnel, who will work under the guidance of a mentor.
Through the experience of this stage, MNIT will contribute to finalizing the employment modele and will transfer elements of it to the internal practices in the field of human resources.
Ultimately, the CultHeRit project strives to ensure that the cultural heritage sector becomes and remains an attractive workplace, offering careers aimed at the professional development of young employees, and aims to contribute to the retention of the skilled workforce by increasing at the same time occupational and age diversity in the sector.
Project CultHeRit – Identifying solutions for labor market disparities in the cultural heritage sector in the Danube region by improving accessibility for young professionals is part of the Danube Transnational Cooperation Program, a financing instrument of Interreg that aims to improve the application of regional development policies and programs in the Danube area. The project will be implemented between January 2024 and June 2026 and has a total budget of €2.043.590, of which €1.634.872 is non-refundable funding.

RESEARCH IN THE ENCLOSURE OF BOLOGA CASTLE, 2023
The Gate Restoration Project the praetorium (northern) of the Bologa camp, financed by PNRR - Ruta castrelor, gave the opportunity to preventive research on the northern enclosure, more than 4 decades after those carried out by N. Gudea, carried out in the months of June-July and October.
The results were very interesting, as at least two phases of the enclosure were revealed. The first, the wooden phase, featured a mound of earth on the crest of which stood a wooden palisade, and which had two "V" ditches in front. On the surface of the wave, traces of wooden structures on pillars were also identified, which could have been part of the gate or gate tower installations. The stone face already has a stone enclosure wall, 1,40 m wide, and two very wide ditches in front (5 and 7 m respectively). Also at this stage, the gate, with its two stone towers, will have been blocked, at some point, to restrict traffic on this route.
The research helped us to better understand the functioning of the castle enclosure and the stratigraphic sequence of the site in general.

- Published in ARCHEOLOGY
PREVENTIVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH GILAUU, JUD. CLUJ
Between March and June 2023, the archaeological research was resumed and completed within the project for the rehabilitation of the Barcsay-Bánffy Castle in Gilău. Excavations in 2023 affected the area in front of the eastern wing of the castle and identified elements of the defensive system as well as traces of a building.
As part of the rehabilitation project of the Barcsay-Bánffy Castle in Gilău, the preventive archaeological excavations initiated in previous years were continued and completed. The castle is located in the immediate vicinity of the auxiliary Roman cavalry fort, where it was stationed that of Siliana. The first mention of the fortress dates from 1428, when it was the property of the bishop of Transylvania. Regarding the buildings from the Middle Ages, we have only a few sporadic documentary data, respectively some late Renaissance architectural elements. Much better documented is the early modern era, primarily the renovations initiated in 1639 by Prince György Rákóczi I. Following these, the buildings in the medieval fortress courtyard were demolished, and the newly built ones were glued to the enclosure wall, thus transforming the fortress medieval in a quadrangular castle with four wings and a tower in each of the four corners. The castle was surrounded by a wide defensive moat. After this period of prosperity, during the uprising led by Francis Rákóczi II, the castle, then owned by the Bánffy family, was besieged several times and then left in ruins. The last reconstruction took place in the XNUMXth century, when the defense ditch was also plugged.
Research in the spring-summer of 2023 was carried out east of the castle. In front of the north-eastern and south-eastern towers, the defensive moat and its counter-escarpment wall that surrounded the castle were discovered, having been identified at several points during previous research. In front of the large ditch, another smaller ditch, parallel to it, was discovered at both mentioned points. At approx. 30 m east of the east wing of the castle was identified the corner of a stone-walled building, probably of the late medieval - early modern period. Clarification of its timeline and functionality requires further research in the future.
- Published in ARCHEOLOGY