The year 1949 - whether we like it or not - meant, in the language of the Histria epigraphic documents, which we will discuss later, a "second founding" of the Histria archaeological site. Under the guidance of Emil Condurachi (1949 - 1970), a period that included the transformation, in 1956, of the National Museum of Antiquities into the Institute of Archaeology of the Romanian Academy, at present named "Vasile Pârvan", and that became the rightful and actual successor of one of the oldest cultural institutions of this country, the researches at Histria intensified on the acropolis, but extended not only to the west district or tumular necropolis, but also into the territory of the old Milesian colony. Thus the foundation was laid for the understanding the numerous complex historical processes involved in the Histria phenomenon.

It suffices to mention here, in brief, the opening of fresh research areas in one of the sacred zones of the Greek town (that enjoyed the collaboration, among others, of D. M. Pippidi, Gabriella Borderache, Victoria Eftimie-Andronescu, Petre Alexandrescu and Alexandru Simion Stefan), in the residential district of the late Roman city (Iorgu Stoian, Emilian Popescu and Mihai Sâmpetru), at the Christian basilica in the big square as well as in many other parts in the centre of the late city (Grigore Florescu and Aurelian Petre), in the so-called economic district (Ion Iosif Russu), at the late Roman precinct (Nubar Hampartumian and architect Dinu Theodorescu), at the Hellenistic precinct (Vasile Canarache and Constantin Preda), at the extra-mural basilica (N. Hampartumian), at the thermae outside the late precinct (Alexandru Suceveanu), at the archaic, classic and late Roman precincts (Dumitru Tudor and Maria Coja), on the plateau west of the city (Suzana Dimitriu, Carmen Dumitrescu and Catrinel Domaneantu), and, finally in the big tumular necropolis (Vlad Zirra, P. Alexandrescu and Dumitru Vâlceanu).

Now the first excavations are under way in the rural settlements of the Histria territory, like those at Tariverdi (Radu Vulpe, Dumitru Berciu, C. Preda and P. Alexandrescu), Istria village (Vl. Zirra), Sinoe and Fântânele (V. Canarache).

Emil Condurachi supervised also the publication of the first two volumes of the new monographic series on Histria. The first volume, issued in 1954 and comprising significant contributions by Emil Condurachi, Gr. Florescu and D. M. Pippidi, tackles, on one hand, the finds uncovered until 1942, and, on the other, in a preliminary form, some of the new finds. However, the second one, issued twelve years later (1966), reveals in a definitive variant only the results from three research areas, namely those from the west plateau (Suzana Dimitriu), from the tumular necropolis (P. Alexandrescu) and from the Hellenistic precinct (C. Preda and architect A. Doicescu).

It is true that these flaws seemed to have been compensated , at that time, by the publication of bulky preliminary reports in the review "Archaeological Materials and Researches" (also in danger to cease publication). However, that does not affect in any way the worth of the successor of Emil Condurachi as head of the Histria site, D. M. Pippidi (1971 - 1981), to whom we owe not only the present form of the Histria monographic series, but also the publication of no less than four volumes of this series. D. M. Pippidi reduced the number of research areas, and excavations were carried out only into the sacred zone (P. Alexandrescu), the north district of the late city (N. Hampartumian, D. Vâlceanu, and, separately, Catrinel Domaneantu), on the west plateau (Maria Coja), at the thermae in the interior of the late Roman precinct, and, on the territory, at Fântânele (Alexandru Suceveanu). That way D. M. Pippidi ensured the issuing of the following four volumes of the Histria monographic series, namely: III (the coins, by C. Preda and N. Hampartumian); IV (archaic and classic pottery, by P. Alexandrescu); V (pottery workshops, by Maria Coja and Pierre Dupont); VI (Roman thermae, by Suceveanu). That impressive series of publications was followed by the issuing of the collection of Histria inscriptions (brilliantly accounted by the same D. M. Pippidi; the late Histria inscriptions are to be found in Em. Popescu's collection). It is obvious that, for as long as he headed the site, that great scholar made most of the researches at Histria, like never before, and, unfortunately, that tremendous rhythm has not been equalled ever since.

During the time when the leadership of the site was represented by Petre Alexandrescu (1982 - 1988), the excavations at the bishop's basilica were resumed (they had been begun by Suceveanu and Costin Scorpan in 1969, but they were interrupted in 1970; the new team included at first Octavian Bounegru and Crisan Museteanu) and new researches were performed into the territory at Histria-bridge (Konrad Zimmermann and Alexandru Avram) and Nuntasi (Catrinel Domaneantu). At the same time at Kostanz am Bodensee a new miscellaneous volume on Histria (the Xenia collection) was issued by P. Alexandrescu and Wolfgang Schuller.

Worked out in 1989, the new plan for the archaeological researches at Histria was put into practice as late as 1990, since when I have shared the work on the site with P. Alexandrescu. Thus, the excavations at the bishop's basilica were continued (the research team was joined by architect Gordana Milosevici and numismatist Gh. Poenaru Bordea), and other four research areas were reopened either for continuing the researches or ensuring the putting to good use of some older unpublished finds, but unfortunately under the form of a monograph. It involves the area comprising the Greek sacred zone (the team includes K. Zimmermann, Al. Avram and architect Monica Margineanu - Cârstoiu), that of the Greek precincts on the plateau (Mircea V. Angelescu and P. Dupont), and, finally, that of the late residential district (Oct. Bounegru and Virgil Lungu).

Each find uncovered in these areas will have to make up the subject matter of a volume separate from the Histria monographic series. Meanwhile the volume Histria VIII was issued, containing two parts dedicated to the study of the amphora stamps (Thasos, by Al . Avram and Sinope, by Niculae Conovici) . The publications on the Greek sacred zone (Histria VII, co-ordinated by P. Alexandrescu) and on the sculptures (Histria IX, by Maria Alexandrescu-Vianu) are expected in 2000. By then the Ministry of Culture will have issued also the volumes on the early Roman pottery (Histria X, by Alexandru Suceveanu) and on the Hellenistic pottery bearing decorations in relief (Histria XI, by Catrinel Domaneantu). Other volumes are expected to complete this monographic series, including the one by Monica Margineanu-Cârstoiu, dedicated to the study of architecture works (a volume that has reached an advanced stage of elaboration), those regarding the ground researches Tariverdi, Istria-village, Histria-bridge and Nuntasi, which could be followed by the working out of a volume dedicated to the Histria territory) and various others (Hellenistic pottery, the rushlights, the late Roman pottery, metal, glass and bone items).