The "Alburnus Maior" National Research Program

           Vasile Moga, Matei Drâmbărean, Radu Ciobanu

           The archaeological investigation carried out in the "Găuri" area has two stages and took into consideration the results of previous researches in this particular area of Roşia Montană [1]. We have to stress that excavations had to be organized according to the orientation and location of the archaeological research carried out in the summer of 2000. For this reason, we thought it proper to preserve the numbering of the sections and areas which are the subject of this report, continuing the works, started last year; similarly, the squares on the map maintained the same orientation, i.e. from south to north. The excavated sections and areas actually covered two natural terraces located on an ascending slope where traces of former habitation have been found (Fig. 3/1) [2].
           Considering what we have mentioned above, we opened section SIV of 18 x 3 m, continuing section SII/2000 [3] (Fig. 3/2-3).
           At the southern end of this section, up to c 3, a compact layer of debris was removed, at a depth of 0.30 m. This layer mainly consists of river stone, present almost all over section SIV, yet having different density. Below the layer of debris, in squares 1-3 at a depth of 0.50 m we found a very clear rectangular trace of burning, oriented West-North-West-East-South-East (Fig. 4/1).
           We assumed that the respective traces were related to a wooden dwelling which had burned down; this dwelling was marked L1/SIV and indicates, in fact, the first level of Roman inhabitancy at "Găuri". As for the dwelling type, L1/SIV would probably be a partially buried one, with wooden walls. Structural elements are quite visible along the entire contour of the foundation hole. The carbonized floor was afterwards destroyed by another stone building, partially overlapped, further on identified as a stone edifice to which we shall refer in more details (Fig. 4/2; 11). The foundation pit in L1/SIV was completely covered with rocks when the new building was erected on it. In squares 9 - 13 we found another trace of burning, poorly preserved, at -0.60 m, marked as L2/SIV. The respective area was irregular; its edges were partially drawn by a thin line of river gravel, tracing a right angle. Yet, L2/SIV was oriented on a different axis than L1/SIV.
           At the northern end of the section, in squares 14-18 a compact layer of debris was found. This levels up a natural riverbed created by rains. This arrangement, consisting - in fact - of stones taken from Roman walls, was meant to prevent landslides, thus protecting the upper terrace on which buildings had been erected. From a chronological point of view, this happened at the end of the Roman period, after the stone buildings had been erected.
           The materials discovered in section SIV are relatively scarce and of poor quality. Household ceramic fragments prevail (Fig. 15), mainly present in the perimeters limited by L1 and L2, but also in the vegetal layer, mixed here with different fragments of iron and modern ceramics. This situation could be actually found in the entire area due to certain modern agricultural of construction works [4].
           At the southern end of section SIV we opened a triangle-shaped cassette, C1/SIV, of 2.50 x 5.80 x 7.60 m [5], attempting to discharge all the remains of the wooden dwelling and the agglomeration of rocks, which represented in fact a massive layer of debris from a large construction, the stone edifice. The wooden dwelling had at least two rooms out of which only one could be determined. The other was totally destroyed and its remains were found in section SVII, which we shall refer to in what follows. From this particular spot we were able to recover some ceramic fragments, among which we can distinguish a black one, with large lip and striations. We have reasons to assume that not only the stone edifice had been overlapped on L1/SIV, but also the Roman roadway revealed by previous excavations, as well as section SVII. Yet, the orientation of all constructions within the examined perimeter was virtually the same.
           The stone edifice from which a massive wall - 0.80 m thick and 18 m long - was removed; it was made up of stone rows, without plaster, having clay as sole binding material. In the cassette C1/SIV the first uncovered wall, conventionally marked Z1a, had been destroyed down to the level of four rows and the stone had been re-used for making the so-called "Mauer", a recent hybrid structure of stone and wooden underbrush which set the limits of different land properties in the area. Massive fragments of mortars were discovered in the last row of the wall Z1a, as well as in the layer of debris - probably used during one of the restoration campaigns (Fig. 5/1-2).
           Out of the material recovered in cassette C1/SIV we can notice two fragments of brackets from a bronze buckle without any decoration, as well as household ceramic fragments from the wooden dwelling L1.
           About 5.50 m East of SIV, we opened section SVI, measuring 32 x 3 m, in order to clarify the planimetric aspects regarding the stone edifice. This section would virtually cross the entire hill.
           At the southern end of the section, between c. 1 and c. 6, at a depth of 0.60 m, in the yellow clay layer, we uncovered a circular film of soft sand, rimmed by a brown edge. From inside this film we recovered three ceramic fragments without decorations.
           Between the squares 6 and 8, at the same depth of 0.60 m, we uncovered an agglomeration of blocks of river stone, probably from Z1a, indicated in cassette C1/SIV. In the square 8, at the very base of the debris layer, we discovered a red ceramic vase, without any decorations, poorly preserved. Also, a fragment of a mortar with a smooth concave surface was found at the same spot. 1.30 m from the southern end of the section we opened a cassette marked C2/SVI, measuring 4 x 4.80 m, in order to fully relieve the Z1a wall. This was relatively intact, in elevation, measuring 0.60 m, with four rows, as well. Yet, in square 3 an acute angle of approx. 78ş was formed with another wall. The second wall, marked as Z2a, had only two rows and was relieved along 3.60 m in length. We assume that Z2a probably continues westwards, in the direction West-North-West-East-South-East. The structure delimited by the two above-mentioned walls, Z1a and Z2a, part of the stone edifice, had approx. 7.30 x 3.80 m, considering that the other closing angle formed at the southern end of section SIV under the massive debris layer found there. From our stratigraphic observations, we could notice that a structure of rectangular plane had been built on that spot. The respective structure had two compartments and it was probably destroyed after the end of the Roman epoch. Another structure, located symmetrically to the first one, was discovered in the NW corner of the stone edifice. Secondly, it is important to indicate that between Z1a and Z2a there is a difference in elevation: four seatings have been preserved form the former, and only two from the latter. This finding makes us assume that the stone edifice had been transformed and stones taken from its walls had been reused for the cover which can be seen on this site. From inside the space formed by Z 1a and Z 2a, at a depth of 0.40 m we found a bronze coin in an advanced state of deterioration. Considering its diameter, since both sides are illegible, we could only suppose it is a dupondius.
           Between the squares 18 and 20, at a depth of 0.40 m, was outlined the contour of an oval pit, having 2.30 m in diameter, some burn traces inside, as well as another fragment of red ceramic vessel. The edge of the pit, probably belonging to a dwelling, marked L1/SVI, was, in several places, emphasized by a few rocks - among them two mortar fragments, one with a convex surface and the other one with a concave surface.
           Between the squares 22 and 24, at -0.40 m, a longitudinal stone arrangement was discovered, which had the role of consolidating the slope of the terrace, which was probably affected by the landslides that occurred after rains. This arrangement contained several mortar fragments and a few Roman household ceramic fragments were also recovered from this site. Several stone blocks were revealed at the northern end of section S VI, while in the square 32, in the natural bedding of the upper terrace slope, were two seatings of such stones. A similar situation could be observed in section SIV.
           In order to clear up some aspects relating to the items discovered in 2000 noticed upon opening of section SII, it was extended the research section SVI. We opened a cassette marked C1/SVI, of 4.5 x 5 m. This drew the link to the previously excavated section, SII/2000. In this spot we found quite clear traces of three wooden dwellings, L1, L2 and L3/C1/SVI, out of which two had the same orientation, i.e. North-South (Fig. 6/1-3; 7/1-3; 14).
           The third, L1, had a different orientation, i.e. West-North-West-East-South-East, just like L1/SIV and L3/C1/SIV. From a planimetric point of view, all of them had a rectangular plane, yet the uncovered material is very poor (Fig. 15).
           Initially we assumed that on the respective spot there used to be one or several ore-processing workshops, but the absence of distinctive residues, slag and quartz fragments lead us to believe that the evident burn traces - revealed on the site during previous excavations - indicate, in fact, the former existence of dwellings. We found a relatively homogenous wall having the same orientation as the walls found on the upper terrace - Z1a and Z2a. The newfound wall was conventionally marked Zx. It was made of river stone glued with clay and it bore evident marks of burning.
           The wall stretched over 3.20 m. Section SIX of 6 X 2 m was opened 1.10 m West from the cassette C1/SVI, parallel to the section SII, previously examined. We found overlapped traces of floors from three wooden dwellings indicated in C1/SVI. In addition to the situation already mentioned before, on this site there is a small wall made of stone blocks, marked as Zy. It has only one row, at a depth of 0.40 m. Also, the Zx wall in C1/SVI continues to stretch over 0.70 m in the square 2. Therefore, the conclusion we may draw further to the observations relating to SII/2000, on the one hand, and C1/SVI and SIX on the other hand, is that during this campaign we can document three wooden dwellings, L1 - measuring 2.10 x 1.20 m, L2 - measuring 5 x 1.60 m, and L3 - measuring 2.80 x 1.70 m on which a stone edifice was built. This edifice presents severe burning traces and it is made of two parallel walls, Zx and Zy, about which we cannot make any firm comment. Yet, we have two hypotheses in this respect:
           a) Zx and Zy are part of a dwelling with a rocky foundation, overlapped on the wooden dwellings mentioned above, which, in its turn had burnt and had been destroyed probably at the end of the Roman era. Therefore, the burning traces are evident on many of the stones found along the Zx wall.
           b) Zx and Zy were part of ore furnaces, but we do not have the distinctive elements to demonstrate this theory, i.e. burning residues, massive slag and quartz fragments. Even the shape of the two parallel walls does not indicate the former existence of such a furnace since, usually such walls would have a circular or oval shape. The only elements which might account for the second hypothesis are the relatively numerous fragments of mortars with smoothed concave and convex sides which were found on that spot. Besides such fragments, we must indicate the presence of some household ceramic fragments (Fig. 10/1-3).
           Afterwards, research attempted to clear up certain aspects relating to the wooden dwelling in L1/SIV and C1/S IV overlapped by the stone edifice, as well as the relation of the two items with the Roman roadway previously identified in this area.
           Therefore, the section SVII was opened, with the dimensions 9 x 2 m, oriented West-North-West-East-South-East. In the squares 3 and 5 a compact stratum of debris was uncovered and, underneath, a massive layer of well trodden clay. The respective arrangement was found at a depth of 0.10 m and, in fact, it draws the contour of a Roman roadway that was partially used until recently. Near the road, and parallel to it, there is a 0.20 m wide draining gutter for rain waters. This had been already noticed during the previous excavations. The newly discovered elements are, on one hand, the absence of an appropriate gutter on the other side of the road and, on the other hand, the discharge of Z1a wall crossing the gutter (Fig. 8/1; 13).
           Furthermore, the building of the wall resulted into the destruction of the trench in the very spot that we have investigated. Along the direction that we have examined, the Roman road was 3.10 m wide and was parallel with the current forest road. Secondly, beneath the road there were revealed traces of the Roman dwelling L1 indicated in SIV and C1/SIV, on which the stone edifice was subsequently built. With respect to the archaeological material found there, we can mention several ceramic fragments of household vessels, without decorations. Approx. 50 m West from the sections described above, a new one, measuring 24 x 3 m was excavated, been marked as SV. This point was the closest to the neighbouring Roman necropolis [6]. In the squares 1-4 we could see traces of a brown burning hole from a wooden dwelling, marked L1/SV (Fig. 12).
           Unfortunately, the exact route could not be restored because it had been repeatedly destroyed by contemporary agricultural works. Yet, we could still notice three river stones arranged in a somewhat regular pattern on the West-North-West-East-South-East direction, i.e. similar to the orientation of the wooden dwellings, and of the stone one which followed, found in sections SIV and SVI. The burned trace of the pit had a relatively rectangular shape, drawing a contour identical to the contour of the L1/SIV dwelling. Close to its edge we discovered a stone of a handy mortar, referred to as catillus in the literature, 0.32 m in diameter and 0.11 m in height (Fig. 9/3).
           We would also like to indicate that in this particular perimeter several household ceramic fragments and some iron needles were found and documented.
           At the northern end of the section, between the squares 21 and 24, a massive conglomeration of river rocks was discovered, similar to the case found in sections SIV and SVI, probably meant to consolidate the foundation of the inhabited terrace. Such rocks had been arranged in two layers on the natural bedding cut by rainwater at the base of the terrace.
           In an attempt to summarize the discoveries described so far [7], we need to make certain preliminary comments on the nature of the wooden dwellings and the stone edifice which partially overlaps on the former, as well as about the relative chronology of the site uncovered here.
           There are 7 wooden dwellings: L1 and L2/SIV, L1/SVI, L1, L2 and L3/C1/SVI, and, finally, L1/SV. Among the inventory that has been recovered, there are a few household ceramic fragments that cannot be dated very accurately. At least one of the dwellings, L1 in C1/SIV which extends into SVII, had two rooms on which a similar structure of the stone edifice was afterwards built, destroyed after the Roman era. The other dwellings had just one room and, with two exceptions, they had the same orientation, thus proving a homogenous structure which has been preserved and according to which the stone edifice was built. The edifice had been restored twice, as we could infer from the stratigraphy of the walls Z1a and Z2a. Therefore, until now, two levels of inhabitation belonging to the Roman age have been preserved. Yet, they cannot be precisely dated, but only estimated on a relational basis. There is one level corresponding to the wooden dwellings and the other is suggested by the stone edifice restored during the Roman period, as well.
           The two levels of inhabitation observe a unitary concept of space organization maintained unaltered at least during the Roman age. This unitary array of the investigated structures has not been established or conceived in relation to the Roman roadway identified in 2000 and again on this occasion, in section SVII. The stone edifice lies relatively askew from the respective road and it also partially overlaps the road. Therefore, we can infer that the stone edifice was built after the road. Moreover, the road overlaps on the stone dwelling L1 discovered in this perimeter, on which the stone edifice is built, in its turn. Unfortunately, we do not have enough data to perform a chronological evaluation of the situation, but we can only restrict our observations to the location of such structures during the Roman period.
           Considering the previous discoveries, it was necessary for us to open new areas [8]. Their orientation and dimensions were determined by the land configuration and progress of research. Therefore, SVIII-SXXVIII were opened.
           SVII, 9 x 2 m (Fig. 24), parallel to SIII/2000 cleared the Roman road leading to the "Cetate" massif. The maximum excavation depth was 0.60 m.
           SVIII, 18 x 3 m (Fig. 23). From South to North we identified: parts of the stone building located on the eastern side of the edifice; a segment of the corridor connecting the two dwellings located on the eastern and western sides of the edifice; the northern wall of the edifice; part of the Roman road on which another road was built (in the modern age, i.e. during the Habsburg administration). The maximum excavation depth was 0.95 m.
           SIX, 6 x 2 m (Fig. 1). We discovered remains of the floorings from the three wooden dwellings reported in C1/SVI and part of the Roman road. The maximum excavation depth was 1.00 m.
           SX, 14 x 2.5 m (Fig. 1). Traced east of the stone edifice in order to establish whether in that respective perimeter there were signs of human habitation. No level of Roman dwelling was discovered. The maximum excavation depth was 0.90 m.
           SXI, 8 x 4 m; SXI A, 4 x 4 m (Fig. 2). Underneath the 0.10 m thick vegetal layer, we uncovered a stone layer, covering the entire area. The maximum excavation depth was 0.90 m.
           SXII, 12 x 4 m (Fig. 18/2). A similar situation to the one in SXI. The maximum excavation depth was 0.70 m.
           SXIII, 10 x 3 m; SXIV, 6 x 4 m; SXIV A, 4 x 4 m (Fig. 2). Parts of the L2 dwelling were uncovered west of the edifice, as well as parts of the interior courtyard. The maximum excavation depth was 0.70 m.
           SXV, 12.5 x 4 m (Fig. 2). A stone "carpet" covering the substructures of L2 dwelling, as well as a segment from the road passing north and west of the edifice. The maximum excavation depth was 0.65 m.
           SXVI, 8 x 4 m; SXVII, 9 x 3 m (Fig. 24/1). Demarcated as parallel sections, on both sides of SVII, with an earth witness of 0.5 m. The objective in this case was to uncover the Roman road coming down from the "Cetate" massif. The maximum excavation depth was 0.60 m.
           SXVIII, 8 x 4.5 m (Fig. 21/1; 24/2). The Roman road was identified at 0.10 m deep. The section is located 50 m East of SXVII. The maximum excavation depth was 0.40 m
           SXIX, 10 x 6 m (Fig. 21/2). Demarcated at approx. 40 m south of SXVI. We uncovered the Roman road coming down to the "Tăul Găuri". The maximum excavation depth was 0.50 m.
           SXX, 18 x 3 m (Fig. 19/1). The interior courtyard of the edifice. No architectural elements or understructures were identified in this perimeter. The maximum excavation depth was 0.65 m.
           SXXI, 16.5 x 2 m (Fig. 2). At a depth of approx. 0.10-0.40 m, it was identified the course of the Roman road, on which the structure dating from the epoch of empress Maria Theresa was built. The maximum excavation depth was 0.65 m.
           SXXII, 8 x 8 m; SXXIII, 15 x 5 m (Fig. 1). Located towards the North-East, in the proximity of a mining shaft which is currently flooded. The two stages of the road were identified: the Roman stage and the modern stage. The maximum excavation depth was 1.05 m.
           SXXIV, 7.5 x 3 m (Fig. 19/2). Located perpendicularly on SVIII and SXI, at a distance of 0.5 m. The northern side of the Roman road was identified. The maximum excavation depth was 0.35 m.
           SXXV, 15 x 4 m (Fig. 2). Part of the Roman road was uncovered towards South-West from the stone edifice. Also, the Roman road stretched towards the "Hop" location, located in close proximity, where, at approx. 50 m, another Roman stone edifice [9], as well as an incineration necropolis of the Roman period (Fig. 21) were uncovered. The maximum excavation depth was 0.40 m.
           SXXVI, 10 x 5 m; SXXVIII, 5 x 3 m (Fig. 2; 21/3). Parts of the access road way to the edifice were uncovered. The maximum excavation depth was 0.50 m.
           SXXVII, 8 x 4 m (Fig. 1). Located North of SXXII, in order to establish the course of the Roman road in this area. The maximum excavation depth was 0.90 m.
           In order to uncover the sites, the team started to dissemble the witnesses existing between open areas. We identified the understructures of an edifice, made of stone bound with clay. The construction dates back to the Roman age, 2nd century AD and it has the shape of an irregular parallelogram with the sides oriented towards the cardinal points (Fig. 2; 16/1-2). The north-eastern corner of the edifice is slightly pointy, approx. 80°, which accounts for the differences in the dimensions of the parallelogram sides. The building was located in a junction of Roman roads. The sizes of the edifice are: 16.60 m (Z1), 18.60 m (Z2), 14.60 m (Z3). Only small parts of the south-eastern and south-western corners were preserved of the southern side; the remaining walls were transformed into "Mauri" during the modern age, in order to demarcate properties or roads. The walls thickness ranges between 0.60-0.80 m. The quadrilateral edifice has two dwellings (L1, L2), located on the East and West sides, which communicate through a 1.30 m wide corridor. There are enough elements preserved from the South and West sides to reconstruct their track. The dimensions of L1 are: 8.40 x 5.00 m, probably separated into two rooms (Fig. 2). The walls have been made without any foundation, directly in the clay layer, which insured a good stability. Looking at the overall plan, we can notice deformations (deviations) of the walls trajectory due to landslides and also to the growing vegetation (trees). The former aspect can be easily noticed on the eastern side, proving once again that tree roots cast a negative effect on the substructures. The archaeological inventory is poor and ceramic fragments represent the main material found here; it is in a poor state of conservation because of the poor quality of the paste (of the burning) and because of the acid soil. The ceramic artefacts found here are: pitchers, jugs, plates, bowls (Fig. 22).
           The uncovering of the L2 dwelling provides further information, from a planimetric, as well as material point of view. The dwelling is separated into two rooms marked as chamber c1, chamber c2 (Fig. 17/1). Room c1, located at the south, has a quadrilateral shape, sized: 4.30 x 3.40 m. The western wall is slightly deviated because of landslides. Communication with c2 is insured through a entrance (0.80 m wide) with a threshold identified on the northern side. Approximate dimensions of the room are: 3.75 x 2.80 m. When uncovering the foundations, we noticed that they were at an inferior depth and the east side (oriented towards the interior courtyard of the edifice) was built after room c1. (Fig. 17/2). We can distinguish two items of the archaeological inventory:
           1. The votive altar dedicated to the god Ianus (Fig. 25/1). Discovered outside the east side of L1 in the interior courtyard of the edifice, the monument was in a secondary position, next to a circular stone arrangement used as a base for the altar. The monument is sized: 50 x 21 x 20 cm; it was crafted in limestone. The inscription is completed with a stylized representation of the god Ianus Geminus brought out into bold relief. This is the fourth epigraphic indication of this ancient Italic divinity in Alburnus Maior. Previously, two monuments (the third was discovered in 2001 in the TII perimeter - the property of Rozalia Drumuş) [10] were known here: one dedicated to Ianus Geminus by the Illyrians Aelius Baebius and Beus Plator (Platoris) discovered in 1885 in the Ferdinand mine area [11] and the second in the set of inscriptions found at Hăbad, representing a collective dedication to the same Ianus Geminus from a local colony - K(astellum) Ansis [12].
           The new attestation of Ianus comes from a group (castellans patrons ?), the Illyrians Dasas, Verzo (having correspondents among the Illyrian-Dalmatian colonists Alburnus Maior) [13] and Nevatus who appears for the first time in Alburnus Maior. Equally unique for Dacia is the depiction of the god who was regarded as the protector of gates and all entrances. The god was represented as a "two-face figure" (we must note that in this particular representation the god is clad in a robe with oblique folds). The representation of the god comes to emphasize the determinant Geminus in the text of the epigraphy. A curious aspect is that the representation Ianus bifrons is known in our country from the numismatic materials "with Janiform head" found in the mints in Dolj, Vâlcea, Mehedinţi and other counties [14] dating back to the 3rd- 2nd centuries B.C.
           Worshiped mainly in Dalmatia [15], Noricum [16] and other regions of the Roman Empire [17], the name of the god is qualified by epithets such as: Ianus Pater, Ianus Augustus Sacrum, Ianus Pater Augustus Sacrum, Ianus Geminus. Considering the abbreviations of the letters in the last line of the inscription, the three Illyrianswho worship him could have been im(munis) p(atroni) Ka(stellani), which makes us think that in the area Găuri-Hop-Hăbad there used to be a kastellum, maybe Kastellum Ansis, also mentioned in other sources [18].
           2. The sanitary item (the latrina) of a circular shape, exterior diameter: 0.30 m, made of stone, found in a secondary position outside the south-western corner of L1 (Fig. 25/2).
           Also considering the other inventory items discovered (household ceramics [19], grinders, oil lamps, needles, spikes) we think that the edifice had been built as a reinforced dwelling of a kastellum type [20]. Another argument for this theory is provided by the orientation of the complex to the south, which insured light and warmth during the day. The absence of an inventory specific to mining activities (axe, chisel, hammer) makes us believe that such tools used to be kept in the proximity of mines. An answer to the question who would live in such an edifice was provided before, when we mentioned the presence of communities of Illyrian origin attested epigraphically in the wax-coated tablets [21]. The technique of binding stones together using clay was rather rarely used by the Romans and it is another ground to attribute such edifices to Illyrian communities: Pirustae, Baridustae, Sardeates [22].
           It must be noticed the preference for quarry stone with sharp edges, abundant in the area, since, when bound with clay, it insured a better stability and resistance to the wall than the river stone. On the other hand, river stone would be used for the infrastructure to which we shall refer next.
           The course of roads was determined by the land configuration and location of the other edifices positioned at Găuri, Hăbad, Tăul Ţapului. Therefore, roads were adapted to the relief, a mid-slope arrangement being preferred (military peak).
           SIII/2000 (Fig. 2) was reopened, exposing the profile and dimensions of the Roman road passing SE of the edifice. The technique and construction materials were adapted to the resources existing in the region. Building roads was relatively simple: a 20-30 cm artificial stone bedding was placed in the terracotta soil and river pebbles bound with clay were placed over it; thus, the actual pavement had a slightly convex profile, insuring water drainage to the sideways trenches. The edges of the road are well contoured. These are the best-preserved parts. Though simple, this construction technique provides good resistance to roads - as proven by archaeological researches.
           We encountered vicinal roads in Alburnus Maior. The roads investigated in the Găuri area have different widths: 2.60-2.80 m in SXVI - S XVII; S XXI - S XXVIII and 3.40-3.55 m in SXIX (Fig. 19/2; 20/1-2; 21/1-3; 24), which corresponds to the standard 10-12 steps width used by the Empire for vicinal roads [23].

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           During the archaeological excavations undertaken in the "Găuri" area, at the base of the mountain opposite to the hill that we investigated, a new access way to the rock quarry was being built. On this occasion a new epigraphic piece was revealed. The conditions and place of the discovery make us believe that the piece was dislocated from the initial archaeological context and reused for the mining galleries nearby, wherefrom it was once more moved away. The basalt piece has a parallelepiped shape, sized 1.71 x 0.25 x 0.21 m. Towards the end of one side there is an inscription: the number XXVI.
           The inscription surface measures 0.19 x 0.07 m. Towards the end of that side there are three circular orifices making a triangle, probably used for the attachment of another piece about which we cannot advance any hypothesis. On the opposite side there is a prominent spur (Fig. 8/2; 9/1-2).
           We have two hypotheses about the nature of this item:
           a) It used to be a marker post, possibly military or for demarcation of a certain property. Since there is no additional evidence and we have the grounds to believe that it had never existed, we are prone to assume that the piece use to be a marker post for a property, some kind of terminus augustalis, relating to the neighbouring habitation [23]. If we consider the possibility of a miliarium, also in relation to a neighbouring discovery, i.e. the road located on the upper terrace at "Găuri" location, then we don't have any reference point for the indicated distance. Also, we don't have the specific abbreviation m.p. indicating "thousand of steps" from one marker to another. It is important to notice that we don't have any indication relating to the accidental destruction of the carved surface, we could not find any fragment of it which might account for a certain completion of the same kind. The number is carved symmetrically to the left and right edges, and there are no incision marks at the upper or lower edges.
           b) The piece was a mining marker post indicating a mining gallery, just like many other similar pieces, which could be found in the area. The absence of valid analogies, not only for Dacia, but for the entire Roman Empire, makes this theory rather weak. There are instances when epigraphic boards indicate details about owners or the commencing of works in a certain mining gallery, but this is not our case [24].