The "Alburnus Maior" National Research Program

           The successive discoveries of waxed boards (the famous triptychs, rightfully considered our first legal acts) found during several incursions in some of the former Roman galleries dug inside the Roşia Montană [1] massifs, the fortuitous appearance of epigraphic or sculptural monuments, of mining tools or Roman ceramic items etc., all such findings drew the attention of the scientific community as early as the 19^th century, when the first bibliographical information about the Alburnus Maior antiquities appeared. In time, due to the expansion of mining works (or the resumption, on another scale, of the gold mining operations commenced by the Romans), the number of archaeological findings increased and many of the epigraphic items or some of the provincial sculptural artefacts drew the attention of personalities who visited the place.
           It is only in 1981 that an unusual mining museum [2] could be organized, with the help of local enthusiasts and a team from the Alba Iulia museum; an open air exhibition was set up around this museum, a lapidarium containing over 50 Roman lithic monuments (votive altars, funerary stars, aedicule and sarcophagus lids, mining tools made of stone and wood, items belonging to the national cultural patrimony), all of them located in the area near the entrance of a former Roman gallery under the Orlea massif.
           Sites with archaeological, architectonic and historical importance, such as galleries, shafts and mining facilities (ancient, feudal and modern), typical houses for the mountain mining environment etc., are visible everywhere in the modern settlement; epigraphic and sculptural monuments were embedded into the walls of some buildings (especially private properties), older or newer, where they were seen, duplicated and made public as early as the 19^th century (let us only mention that while visiting Transylvania in 1857, Th. Mommsen, the great historian of Roman antiquity, passed through Roşia Montană and saw its epigraphic monuments; his example was then followed by other great personalities of history and archaeology of the end of the 19^th century and the 20^th century).
           No archaeological investigations - in the true meaning of field research - had been performed in Roşia Montană before 2000. The two or three archaeological excavations [3], carried out after 1981, only yielded votive or other types of monuments and did not bring anything material to support the series of hypotheses about the ancient Alburnus Maior.
           In order to start the work on the investment project of S.C. Roşia Montană Gold Corporation, a team from the Union Museum in Alba Iulia undertook an archaeological survey to all the sites of scientific interest. During the initial visit, have been established the perimeters within which, according to the project, the archaeological excavations were carried out during the 2000 campaign [4].
           The survey [5] started at the Cârnic massif (known as Chernec in the medieval documents), where there are traces of ancient mining works dating from the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries. These are grouped either as "corande", or as subterranean works (galleries), such as those found at Glam (close to the Piatra Corbului crest), Ranta or Ohaba - Sf. Simion, where 25 wax-coated tablets [6] were found. One of these tablets, that from February 6^th, 131 is considered to be the oldest preserved.
           Then followed the area covered by Tăul Cornii (one of the more than 100 ponds, puddles and lakes in Roşia Montană, o.n.) located East and South-East of Cârnic, on a small cape near the lake. The older literature indicates the presence of a Roman necropolis on that spot. It was mentioned that two funerary inscriptions [7], then two funerary sphinxes [8] were found there, thus confirming the existence of the Roman cemetery, as well as the platform of a funerary monument found during the excavations (?) carried out in 1984 [9]. We should mention that in August 2000 a funerary lion head was found (outside any archaeological context) [10]. Tăul Cornii was one of the perimeters subject to archaeological investigations in July-August 2000 [11]. The archaeological investigations [12] were performed on the land owned by Ioan Dumitraş, where a number of Roman funerary monuments had been discovered in the '80s, and then on the property of Letiţia Jurcă.
           We opened a section on the land owned by Ioan Dumitraş. Under the vegetal layer we found incineration tombs, two of them disarrayed by the agricultural works. We also found four incineration tombs, as well as two fragments of crowning.
           East of the above-mentioned land on the property of Letiţia Jurcă, archaeological researches continued by opening two more sections oriented North-South and East-West. The incineration necropolis found on the land of Ioan Dumitraş can also be seen on that location. Also, it was found there four Roman incineration graves, partially affected by agricultural works, as well as traces of stone constructions (possible funerary arrangements?).
           Another research area was located in the Cetate massif. Important mining activity took place there, both at the surface (as it is the case today) and inside underground galleries. The Aurora gallery opens the mining field, followed by those known as Juliana, Trandafir, Şpir and others. At the Zeus location (Borsay area) an ancient gallery carved in chisel and hammer can still be visited. There can be observed [13] certain technical aspects of gold mining in Alburnus Maior. Also in that area (towards South-West) the Găuri site is located. There we can also see the same traces of ancient mining activity. A geological map drawn by the geologist Fr. Pošepny in 1868 (we studied a copy of the map preserved by the Topographic Department of E. M. Roşia Montană), indicates the presence of a cemetery on that place and we can even assume that a civilian settlement used to be on the Hop site. Both areas of archaeological interest and the trajectory of a Roman road which probably used to connect Alburnus Maior to the fortress in Abrud (Cetăţeaua site), providing a communication way to the headquarters of Roman gold mining administration from Ampelum (Zlatna, Alba county) were subsequently confirmed by scientific investigations on site [14]. A point of interest within the area that concerns this study is the Hăbad-Brădoaia site, where, between 1982 and 1983, a sacred area (lucus) was discovered. Roman ceramic fragments were found on that site (among which an oil lamp with the seal of master FAOR, o.n.), as well as a group of 26 votive epigraphic altars. Their inscriptions complete the picture of cult practices and religious life of the colonists involved in gold mining [15].
           Găuri area.The name of this site where archaeological excavations have been made, must be placed in relation to the presence of several mining galleries in the neighbouring area, opened into a very steep mountain slope. South of this slope there is a mound known as "Găuri". In 2000, on its terraces two archaeological sections were opened [16], near an agricultural land wherefrom several modern and Roman ceramic fragments were recovered. That discovery accounted for further investigations on that spot. On that occasion, we identified inhabitancy levels which can be dated to the Roman period.
           Hop area. The local name of the area was given after the two mounds laying South-West of the above mentioned terrace, where different cartographic documents indicate a Roman necropolis. At the base of one of such mounds, approx. 150 m to the South there is another pond known to the locals as "Tăul Găuri" [17]. The archaeological investigations during the 2000 campaign [18] were undertaken right on the peaks of the two mounds known as "Hop", as well as along a natural evacuation cone situated between the two mounds. At the end of this evacuation cone there is a narrow terrace where two tombs were dug in the 19^th century. Their stone crosses (funerary monuments) are still preserved.
           Three sections were opened in this area, to the direction North-South. There we found the four Roman incineration necropolises, thus confirming the old theories about the possible existence of an ancient necropolis in the area.
           Hăbad area. In this area, a series of votive altars were found [19] on the edge of a terrace bordered to the North by a very steep slope. Nearby, the locals indicated the existence of a Roman road the trajectory of which followed, on a relatively vast area, the course of a current forest way, wherefrom several river stone blocks were found during mechanic levelling of the terrain. During the 2000 campaign [20], the six archaeological sections were located on the peaks of small piles in the terrain, following the terrace where the above mentioned epigraphic monuments had been found. Such archaeological investigations only revealed sporadic traces of Roman period.
           Based on the information provided by older documents, in that area supposedly existed part of the Roman road course which would cross the Alburnus Maior area in the ancient times. In the Găuri area, on the current road connecting Găuri area to the exploitation quarry on the Cetate massif, was opened an investigation section [21]. The excavation cut through the current road in an attempt to detect the Roman road connecting the settlements in Alburnus Maior inside that perimeter. At 0.20-0.35 m deep we identified the Roman road made of quarry stones of a volcanic nature. On both sides of the road we detected stone arrangements which were parts of former Roman buildings, thus proving that the road crossed through a settlement (kastellum). The archaeological inventory is represented by common ceramics. The above mentioned section crossed perpendicular on the Roman road, which was 3.20 m wide (except for the draining ditches).
           Another aspect investigated there concerned the Roman road. The locals somehow anticipated its trajectory on the direction North-West South-East. Given that the terrain was extremely rough, the section was opened under a very steep slope [22] on the East-West direction. As indicated above, on the span referred to by the locals as "the Roman road", there is a forest way on which we could notice several river stone blocks of different sizes, dislocated or collapsed from Roman vestiges. The section intersected two Roman roads, yet the archaeological materials found there are extremely scarce. On both sides we can notice two draining ditches filled with a layer of black soil. Next to that clay film, indicating therefore the contour of the first Roman road, we found another trodden clay film, with the same ditches on each side. Subsequently, in the very ditches of the second road supporting poles of river stone were erected.
           Towards the Nan valley, lying in the southwestern area of Roşia Montană, there were several pestles and mine shafts. One of the most famous galleries for its epigraphic findings recorded in time (the end of the 19^th century and the interwar period of the 20^th century) is the Ferdinand mine (the galleries "Ferdinand de Sus" and "Ferdinand de Jos"). Votive altars dedicated to Apollo [23], Ianus Geminus [24], IOM Sacrum [25], Silvanus [26] as well as others are indicated there.
           The Carpeni Hill lies close to that area. Random discoveries were also attested on this site, i.e. votive altars [27], several funerary monuments (an inscription board, a pendant and the base of a platform) acquired in 1966 and taken to the Turda Museum. In 1984, seven galleries dug with chisel and hammer were identified here, close to the Păru-Carpeni gallery, as well as mine ladder carved out of a tree trunk; all these were made during the Roman period [28]. Two years later, in 1986, during the archaeological digging undertaken on the massif's plateau - at the "Bisericuţă" site - it is mentioned that debris belonging to ancient edifices were discovered (?), out of which a brick fragment bearing the Legio XIII Gemina seal was recovered; that finding seems to indicate a small fortification, built for the surveillance of the area [29].
           In 2000 we investigated the perimeter situated in the northwestern part of the Carpeni massif. The archaeological investigations were carried out on the property of Nicolae Coroi. Several sections were opened [30] as to allow the discovery of possible archaeological vestiges belonging to the Roman era, considering that the respective area held a strategic position (opening towards Valea Nanului and Valea Roşiei). Traces of Roman inhabitation were discovered (a hut and a surface dwelling).
           The name Tăul Secuilor refers to the hilly area South-West of the Ghipele hill (1050 m) and North of the Roşia valley, at the Greek Catholic church (the Balmoşeşti hamlet). The pond known as Tăul Secuilor (which is dry nowadays) is one of the accumulation ponds constructed after 1733, in relation to the mining works unfolding in the Orlea area. Although the pond's position is marginal to the richer lodes in the above-mentioned area, the entrances of some mine galleries are still visible to North-West (on the property of Ion Coteţ) and on the terraces North of the pond's dike (towards Zănoaga). The construction of the pond's dike on the East-West axis altered the geomorphologic aspect of the largest part of the wide terrace, over which waters from the settlement's northern basin would flow. From the natural terrace where the pond is situated, only the southwestern part was preserved unaltered by human interaction. The overall integrity of the site was partially damaged by the early medieval arrangements (noticeable only through the inventory - ceramics dating from the 11^th-13^th century), but also by the works carried out in order to super-elevate the pond.
           At Tăul Secuilor there was a Roman necropolis. One of the largest archaeological monuments in Roşia Montană was discovered here in 1976 (on the property of Ioachim Tomuş) - respectively the funerary monument of Alexander, the son of Gaius [31]. The archaeological investigations carried out during the 2000 campaign revealed a tumular incineration grave of Roman period in that area. The above mentioned funerary monument, preserved in perfect condition, is made of several elements (symbols, o.n.) typical for the Roman sepulchral art, completed by an epigraphic text [32]. Another archaeological dig [33] was carried out after that discovery (April 1977). The necropolis was located in the area of the Orlea massif, where an epigraphic altar dedicated to IOM [34] was discovered in 1972. During the same period, i.e. 1971-1972, the mining works at the Sf. Cruce-Orlea gallery allowed the identification and the scientific and touristy valuation of a group of Roman mining works [35]. Subsequently, in 2000 further archaeological excavations were carried out [36].
           Four sections were traced revealing seven tumular incineration graves. Three of them were searched entirely and four were only partially investigated. The tumular arrangements were almost destroyed by modern agricultural works. On this occasion, we discovered a funerary stone pine, the missing fragment from the crowning of the funerary board accidentally discovered in 1976 [37], as well as a key from the Roman period.
           Although the investigations have not been completed, the elements observed in the four sections make us emphasize the analogies with the rite and the ritual observed in the necropolis from Boteş-Corabia [38] and with the rite at Ruda-Brad, Hunedoara county [39]. The movable inventory is rich, especially in ceramics. Although the shapes are Roman, the quality of the paste, of a yellowish-red colour, its porous aspect, the large quantity of grinded stones in its composition indicate that it was made in local workshops. Analogies with the inventory of the tombs at Ruda-Brad [40] or Boteş and Poduri in Vulcoi-Corabia [41] are obvious.
           At 300 m from the property of Ioachim Tomuş, on the property of Alexandru Şoit, the discovery of a monument fragment was reported. The altar of funerary slab (?) - judging by the preserved right corner - had a width of 38 cm, while the width of the epigraphic field was 21 cm. To the left of the epigraphic field the letter P seems to be legible.
           During the incursion, we identified a surface situated in a gentle slope, on which there were earth mounds, suggesting the possible tumular necropolis. That was the reason for drawing two archaeological sections on the respective spot. However, they did not confirm the presence of a tumular necropolis in that area.
           At 200 m South-East of the necropolis at Tăul Secuilor lies the perimeter known under the name Marc I. At this location, a sarcophagus lid was accidentally discovered before 1990 [42]. Three sections were opened here [43]. Debris traces were identified. After clearing the debris (found at approx. 0.38-0.50 m deep) we could see the foundations - preserved in situ - of a building having the interior dimensions 7.80 x 5.20 m (measured at the levels preserved in situ). The walls of about 0.57-0.60 m thick are made of quarry stones bound in clay. The foundations of the walls sit straight on the yellow clay. Outside the foundation wall of the buildings, in the squares 7-8 of SI, we unearthed another sarcophagus lid with the dimensions 0.91 x 0.60 x 0.10 m (thickness measured at the rim of the lid). The sarcophagus lid is preserved complete.
           At the moment of its discovery, in 2000, according to the ceramic inventory of modern age, the building with walls bound in clay was dated to that age. Consequently, the two sarcophagus lids which were discovered, were interpreted as holding a secondary position to the building, having been reused during the modern age.
           Based on the research undertaken during the 2002 campaign, we can assume that the discovery of the two lids at that spot could support a different explanation, i.e. they had been used as protective building material for the elevation of the walls of a funerary enclosure. By analogy with the discovery made at Hop-Găuri [44], noticed during the 2002 campaign, the necropolis found at Tăul Secuilor could be much larger than we initially believed and the southern and southeastern limits must anyway be checked up to the slopes descending to the Nan valley, starting from the Greek-catholic cemetery.
           Balmoşeşti area, Zănoaga-Islaz hill [45]. The area assigned for archaeological investigations situates on the heights which dominate the valley of Roşia rivulet, extending halfway of the distance between Roşia Montană and the point where the rivulet flows into Abrud, tributary of Arieş river. The heights belong to the northwestern side of the Metaliferi Mountains and the right basin of Arieş river. In the small basin of the Roşia rivulet, such heights form the water sweep and also the boundary between the hamlet Balmoşeşti belonging to the commune Roşia Montană and the village Vârtop.
           "Islaz" is a complementary name for the hill, derived from a contemporary function of the place, possibly modern as well. The old toponym, still used by the aged locals, is Zănoaga Hill, a very popular old Slavic-Romanian toponym designating deep mountain valleys which hold snow until late in spring and even as late as the beginning of summer. The respective piedmont of Zănoaga hill - nowadays partially occupied on its flat area by an improvised communal football field - is almost triangular in shape, approx. 200 m at base and 300 m in height, i.e. approx. 3 hectares. A ditch was naturally formed almost on the very altimetric curve of 900 m, on the perimeter of the land strip, the resulting material making a wave and a slight crest to the inside. The base of the piedmont towards Zănoaga hill was also cut by a ditch which is less visible today. This situation may also have been occurred because the piedmont is dominant from the northeastern side on the slope towards Zănoaga peak (altitude: 1009.7 m).
           Starting from the top of that piedmont on the slope, which is now also accessible by cart, one could get to Roşia valley. Under different circumstances, in the absence of vegetation, the position from the piedmont of Zănoaga hill could provide unrestricted surveillance and even control of communication upstream of Roşia valley, to the gold exploitation.
           To North-West, the land strip of the piedmont now is flanked by two basins of former ponds (tö - a word of Hungarian origin). In this area the presence of two old mine shafts which were covered for the cattle brought on the pasture not to fall inside were signalled. In the absence of any research of such mines, we cannot make any estimation of their age or that of the adjacent basins.
           Further to the West, after a hurdle taken by the road to Vârtop village, the crest of Zănoaga hill ends in a monticule known as Brădăţel (maximum altitude: 922 m). It is remarkable how the approx. 900 m altimetric curve was used to reinforce the above-mentioned piedmont, since it also delimitates the plateau below the crest of Zănoaga hill and the monticule Brădăţel.
           The archaeological investigations were based on preliminary incursions in the area [46], on observations made before drawing the sections and also on the discovery of a pitcher during the construction of a spring-water pipe to the house of Dan Cioară, neighbouring to the South-East-South on the piedmont and the football field.
           In order to evaluate the archaeological potential of the area, in the perimeter known today as "Islaz", on the land strip laying South-West of Zănoaga hill we drawn three sections in the central area [47], while a fourth section was drawn to the western extremity of the perimeter.
           In SI "Islaz", right beneath the vegetal soil, we found a large quantity of big stones and also smaller fragments of stones from the debris of a building. The southern wall made of stones bound in clay found in the squares 4-5 is 1.10 m thick. The foundation is approx. 0.70 m below the current ground level, representing either construction material spread on the surrounding area or a rudimentary pavement. The second variant seems more plausible given that the stones were laid on a layer of very hard clay. The northern wall, also bound in clay, 1.40 m thick, is visible in square no. 9. Its foundation is 0.50 m deep in the yellow clay. We have to notice that inside the debris we found many fragments of adobe with traces of twigs, which might indicate that they had been used for the elevation of the building. As archaeological material, a significant quantity of common Roman ceramics was found.
           SII "Islaz" was drawn 10 m South of SI "Islaz" and parallel to the same. Under the vegetal layer we found fragments of walls and stone debris. Inside the square 2, at 0.30 m deep, we found the point of an iron spear, well preserved. This represents an important dating element in the absence of any coins from the investigated archaeological site. The spear point is analogous in shape and size to an item found in the fortress of a vexillatio in Longthorpe (England) dated to the time of the Principate, between the reign of August to Hadrian's period [48]. Therefore, considering the conditions existing in Roşia Montană such an item could even be dated to the very early days of the colonization, under the emperors Trajan or Hadrian. In the square 6 we found the western wall of the building.
           SIII "Islaz" was oriented East-North-East-West-South-West, longitudinal on the building the traces of which can be identified in the shades of the soil on surface. A stonewall without binding material became visible in the squares 1 and 2, at 0.10 m deep. In the square 4, at 0.05 m deep, we can see a second wall of the same type, made of two-three rows. A third wall becomes visible between m. 13.20 and m. 15.10, a wall that seems to have collapsed to the inside of the building. The walls exhibit vague traces of binding material and their foundations are dug inside the same layer of hard clay, the layer where we also found fragments of vessels and iron items. In the square 1, at 0.40 m deep, after we removed the collapsed rocks, we could find many ceramic fragments (lips of pots and plates), fragments of adobe and burnt wood, as well as very small pieces of brick.
           SIV "Islaz" was opened at the ridge of the perimeter for the purpose of cutting the ditch and the wave of the settlement on the hill. The investigation only revealed the digging of the ditch which, to the exterior, resulted into the wave. No archaeological material was found in the section.
           Until the final processing of the discovered ceramic material, we can only indicate that on the land strip located South-West of Zănoaga hill, we found traces of ancient and medieval habitation. The settlement was fortified on its entire perimeter, except for the base of the strip where the ditch was dug on the edge of the land strip at a level below the platform of the settlement, thus resulting in a vallum outside the ditch. A protection ditch also cut through the base of the land strip. During the current stage of investigations, we could not find any supplementary defensive arrangements - a palisade, say - on the wave lip or the edge of the interior platform.
           Inside the perimeter of Islaz Hill we drawn a section marked as SI "Hill" [49]. That was drawn perpendicular on the supposed Roman road. From the investigation we performed, no archaeological material resulted and the existence of the Roman road was not confirmed.
           The "Church" area (Biserică) and the Catholic cemetery. Inside this perimeter two perpendicular sections were drawn (the "Mauer", in the local terminology) in order to separate the property of the church from the other neighbouring areas, East-North-East of the edifice.
           SI "Biserică" and SII "Biserică" [50] were drawn to the inside area of the courtyard, up to the beginning of the cemetery, not to disturb the first graves. In the two sections it was discovered a large quantity of large quarry stones which seem to form a waste dump. The surface stones show traces of hard binding material that could confirm the local legend of the levelling the plateau when the actual church was built. A few ceramic fragments, irrelevant from a typological point of view were found.
           On the South peak of the church we drew two cassettes, CI and CII. In CII it was discovered a construction platform made of stone blocks of a trapezoid shape, 6.50 x 5.90 x 5.90 x 7.25 m in size, with the long side oriented toward the Cârnic massif. Its functionality, as well as its relative age, could only be determined as soon as we have the chance to study the Austrian plans of the settlement from the 18^th century. We can mention here the legend maintained by the catholic community with says about the existence of the big cross, "Calvaria", placed on a pedestal (platform) on the height South of the church. The platform, cleared at the surface, goes down on 2-3 rows, the investigation being restricted to that level for fear that curious visitors might destroy it. We would like to indicate that the toponym "Calvaria" can also be found on the map of the settlement, at 1:5000 scale, 500 m East of the current stadium, at approx. 815 m altitude. In CI, on the spot where we thought there might have been a collapse, we found a layer of quarry stones covering the clay core of the hill's edge, in the shape of a vault.
           SI and SII, being drawn at the edge of the plateau on which the current church is located, attempted to identify a possible old wall of an enclosure surrounding the plateau The situation discovered on site rather indicates that the northeastern side of the plateau was artificially enlarged by filling a drop in level of the terrain containing quarry stones. This might indicate that the old enclosure wall of this plateau laid closer to the current church, an area which, unfortunately, was partially covered by the recent entombing (the 20^th century) or that the enclosure wall was below the 1.50 m level, below the current level that we could reach down to. Given the rescue excavations and the possibility of going deeper inside an instable layer of quarry stones, a deep research is not possible. Judging the aspect and the punctual research, the filling layer (waste dump) extends deep below the level reached by us in sections. We have to consider that the entire hill on which the platform and the current church lie today was used as a cemetery by the local catholic community, at least during the 19^th-20^th century, as indicated by the identified funerary monuments.
           With respect to the topography of such small hills, we should also indicate that between the church platform and the mammelon on which the chapel St. Ann lies today we can see the trace of a separating ditch which is now used as an access way to the Cârnic massif. According to the local tradition, the old church of the catholic community used to be on the place where St. Ann chapel stands now. In order to place our research into perspective according to the possibilities provided by the rescue excavations and the cemetery conditions, it is necessary to make a research around the chapel in order to check the veracity of the local legend.
           We must also take into consideration the fact that the current catholic population, mostly from Austria (the Graz area) and the Upper Hungary, Hungarized as early as the 19^th century, was colonized after the Austrian reign had consolidated in Transylvania and, consequently, such tradition may refer to a church founded after that date (post 1712), most probably as a result of the regime instated by Empress Maria Theresa or Emperor Franz Josef. In this line of judgment, it is important to note that the current church, obviously from the second half of the 19^th c., is dated to 1766 (the dating of its foundation).
           Unfortunately, we are confronted with a caesura of historic information between the moment when the initial mining community was driven away, following the war between Ioan Zapolya and Ferdinand the 1^st of Habsburg (1527-1539), and the new colonization ordered by the Austrian court in the 18^th century.
           Given the current level of information, we cannot identify the medieval site of the 13^th and the 14^th centuries. However, considering the suitable natural conditions and the continuing mining exploitation of Cârnic, as well as the fact that the Calvinist Hungarian community and the Unitarian community - denominations founded during the second half of the 16^th century, which flourished in the 17^th century - have their churches in areas outside the central square of the locality, we can assume that the church of the initial Saxon catholic community, in the 13^th- 16^th c., could have been located in such a central position where the local tradition indicates the former presence of a catholic edifice, before the destructions which took place between 1848-1849. We would like to emphasize that the archaeological excavations around the current catholic church are the first and the last undertaken inside the urban site, the old settlement of Roşia.
           Afterwards, we covered the area known as Ţarina [51], one of the largest - few tens of hectares - in the territory of settlement located in the Metaliferi Mountains (Apuseni). The information preserved on the geological map drawn by Fr. Pošepny indicate at Kapolna the existence of "Roman traces" (inside a quadrilateral space used as a Roman-catholic grave) which seem to indicate another ancient settlement (Kastellum ?, Vicus ?) on the territory of the ancient Alburnus Maior or maybe a fortified site = castrum (?) / castellum (?) / burgus (?), in which military forces had certainly been stationed (troops separated from the Legio XIII Gemina at Apulum or an auxiliary unit - numerus), deployed there in order to guard the peace and the security of a territory where the precious ores represented the patrimony of the Roman emperors (patrimonium Caesaris).
           Ţarina area had in some spots piers, lakes or ponds (most of them are now dry), out of which Tăul Ţarina (Ţarina Pond) stands out with its size of approx. 5000 sq.m. There, during de-clogging works, the roof of an aedicula reused as mouth for a water-basin was found. The monument seems to confirm the existence of a necropolis. Also, some votive epigraphic altars are mentioned, yet without any topographic indications. The first of them (dedicated to Apollo Augustus [52]) had been walled in the house of A. Ivăşcanu, another had been used as a portal pillar in the orthodox church in Roşia Montană (IOM [53]), and the others (dedicated to Silvanus and to Silvanus Augustus Sacrum [54]) were discovered between 1860 and 1960.
           Ţarina-Kapolna area [55]. The perimeter on which we performed investigations lies on the property of the Roman-catholic parish of Roşia Montană, close to Ţarina Pond. There, we drew three sections. The archaeological material is rather scarce, mainly consisting of Roman ceramic fragments, mixed with fragments of varnished ceramics, probably modern.
           On the property owned by David Ioan we drew two sections where we could identify traces of quarry stone and river-stone substructions. When dissembling the arrangements, we also found archaeological material (Roman and modern ceramic, an iron flint, fragments of glass) in fragmentary state.
           The research also advanced to the area Lespedari including the Igren, Lety and Văidoaia massifs where, from a geological point of view, sedimentary and eruption rocks predominate. Also, we can see there traces of Roman mining works consisting of galleries and a surface exploitation. As archaeological-documentary vestiges, we would also like to indicate the discovery of triptychs (wax-coated tablets), as well as the board found in the gallery St. Iosif-Lety attesting the self-dissolution of a funerary association [56], and then the one found in the gallery Laurenţiu-Igren in 1786 [57], and, finally, the set of 11 tablets found between 1854 and 1855 in the gallery St. Ecaterina (Cătălina-Monuleşti) [58].
           Nevertheless, the results of our investigation revealed the existence of a rich and diverse heritage [59] accounting for the metaphoric description given by Vasile Pârvan to the gold-mining centre from Alburnus Maior: "a Californian city of international civilization" [60].