Geomagnetic scanning reveals 3000-year old tribal centre in northwestern Romania

Geomagnetic scans uncovered a tribal centre of the 1st millennium BC in the commune of Cauas, Satu Mare County. Local archaeologists continue their searches alongside their fellows of the Cologne University of Germany.

Photo credit: Cristian NISTOR / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

A release of the Satu Mare County Museum describes this vast archaeological project focused on the 3000-year old fortified dwelling in Cauas-Sighet. Scanning began seven years ago in several archaeological sites throughout the county.

"Geomagnetic scanning revealed a tribal centre on 56 hectares, in an area naturally fortified by two creeks flowing into the Ierului Valley. The whole area was fortified in an effort that proves impressive possibilities of the community that lived here. A very important thing results now, as the searches are completed: hundreds of buildings on the site are laid out in rows, proving that the dwellings were built following a plan. This complex development defined as proto-urban is known only in the famous tribal centre in Biskupin, Poland. The situation in Cauas proves this could have been an European phenomenon that could be dated in the 10th ? 8th centuries BC, which was preserved and can be reconstituted, however, only in few cases," the release points out.

Another special element found this year consisted in construction plans with a very large curved side (apse).Buildings identically shaped and sized were recently uncovered in Lapus, in a site with obvious cult characteristics.

"The apse buildings in Cauas, dated in the 10th ? 8th centuries BC, generate a temporary link between similar monuments in the late Bronze Age (12th century BC) in Lapus and the apse temples of the Dacian civilization (5th century BC ? 1st century AD),"...