Archeological objectives

The fortification

The Dacian ramparts are defending a surface of almost 1 hectare and it was situated approximately in the middle of the settlement. The walls were built according to a technique of Hellenistic inspiration: two paraments of limestone blocks filled with earth and mica schist (local rock). Later, during the Roman period, the fortification was extended and reached the nowadays observable dimensions. It has the shape of an irregular trapeze covering an area of 3 hectares. The walls are preserved on a height of 1-1.5 m and generally are 3 m wide. Numerous architectonic pieces, originally parts of previous Dacian religious buildings were reused in their structure. During the last stage of development the access was possible through three gates, on the western, eastern and southern sides.


Cult edifices

The archaeological research led to the discovery of seven temples (two round and five rectangular temples), some of them with several stages of construction, an altar and a road paved with limestone slabs that provided access from the fortress to the sacred area. They are grouped on two large terraces, the Xth and the XIth respectively. The two terraces are supported by walls sometimes 10 meters high.

Today, only the foundations of these temples were preserved, as they were destroyed during the Roman wars. Nevertheless the architectonic elements left speak volumes on the monumental religious architecture, unique in the Dacian world. Most of the temples were provided with bases (plinths) of limestone or andesite supporting wooden columns. The large andesite temple on the Xth terrace would have had stone columns, but the conflicts in the beginning of the IInd century AD prevented its completion. The column cylinders remained scattered in different parts of the sacred area or were reused in the extension of the fortress.

The most important religious ritual, the sacrifice, performed on the andesite altar on the XIth terrace. Unique in Dacia, until now, the altar impresses by its monumental size, and because of the complexity of its structure.


Civilian constructions/ facilities

Both in the eastern and the western civilian areas traces of houses were identified, as well as annexes and workshops, mainly forges.

The habitations discovered at Grădiştea de Munte are outstanding through their blueprint and the particularly rich inventory. In this sense can be mentioned the polygonal house, composed of a ground floor and a first floor, in which were found numerous iron tools, painted ceramics with floral and animal patterns, bronze objects as well as the famous vessel bearing the seals DECEBALUS / PER SCORILO.

In the eastern civilian section was identified the biggest metalworking shop known to Ancient Dacia. On a terrace of approximately 800 m2, were found the traces of a burnt wooden construction which had two forging facilities. Inside were found blacksmith tools (anvils, tongs, sledge hammers etc.) as well as unfinished metal pieces. Near the workshop the archaeologists found dozens of iron blooms, with a total weight of almost 1 tonne.

The discovery of water supply facilities illustrated in its turn the high living standard of the capital city residents in the Dacian kingdom. The water was often transported on long distances through terra-cotta pipes, similar to those found in the Greek and Roman world.