The "Alburnus Maior" National Research Program

           The site [1] was discovered by chance when an access way was cut to the plateau as to allow the execution of drilling works; the access way broke into the northwestern perimetric wall of the edifice courtyard [2] and partially destroyed the access- area. It was resolved that the plateau should be investigated; the digging revealed an edifice conventionally named as T II. At the moment when the rescue excavations started [3], the site was already invaded by woods on almost Ľ of its area.
           In ancient times, the site where the edifice lies now had a view to the valley of the Găuri river or the mining exploitation at Cetate, as well as to the Carpeni hill. It was located outside the mining area, yet close to the Roman road probably going parallel to the riverbed of the Găuri river.
           On the North-East of the edifice, a few tens of meters away, there is a natural water spring with a considerable constant flow, also indicated on the maps drawn in the last century [4].
           Knowing the orientation of the perimetric wall of the edifice, further to its intersection by the modern vicinal road, the sections and cassettes (Figs. 1-2) were located as follows: SI (24 x 2 m) followed the stratigraphy of the edifice, approximately along its longitudinal axis (Fig. 3); SII A and B (40 x 1 m), South-East North-West oriented, perpendicular on SI, in an attempt to clarify the stratigraphy of the plateau- arrangement for the construction of the edifice and spatial organization in the area of the porticos and on the northwestern and northeastern sides of the courtyard; SII A allowed a checking of the draining system from the slope onto the southeastern side of the edifice courtyard; in SII A in C21 we found the stone foundation of a building out of which only the first row is preserved (Fig. 2); it is oriented to the South-East North-West, approx. 17.5 m away from the edifice T II; SII B could not be further extended to the North-East, i.e. the edge of the plateau, South of the Găuri valley, because of the wooded areas in the region (Fig. 2); SIII (14,5 x 2 m), parallel to SI. Cassettes C1-C9, of varying sizes, were thus located as to cover the entire area of the edifice and the exterior spaces for circulation (Fig. 2).
           Two transversal sections of the edifice were cut based on the profiles in C5, SI, C3a and C3b and C8, SI, SIII and C1, respectively. (Figs. 4/1, 5). A profile of the access-area (destroyed by the construction of the current vicinal road) in the edifice was reconstituted by removal of the waste from the eastern side of the modern road (Fig. 4/2).
           When excavations were finished, the entire area of the edifice was uncovered and archaeologically investigated, except for a small area at the southwestern corner and a small part of the area of vicinal access.
           Approx. 55-60 m South of the edifice, on the hill at South-East, SIV and the other sections were opened and the graves from the funerary area T I-T II were thus investigated.
           In plane, the construction is trapezoidal with the long sides (measured on the outside) x1 of 23,50 m and x2 of 23,35 m; the dimensions of the short sides range between 11.35 m (y2) and 12.90 m (y1).
           The difference between the two dimensions of the short sides y1 and y2 is due to some errors or adaptations of the project to the shape of the terrace on which the edifice was built, and also to the landslide occurring down the slope of the walls. Significant deformations took place in case of the x1 wall, especially in the northeastern corner of the edifice (Fig. 2).
           The edifice was built on the edge of the plateau, very close to the low area of the slope, which involved a thorough endeavor as to rearrange the ground. From the results of the digging, we can state that for the arrangement of the terrace on which the edifice is located we uncovered a very vast area of the ancient ground, sometimes reaching down to the level of sedimentary rock it overlapped. The terrace was also built outside the construction, up to 17 m away from the perimetric wall y2, the point in which the hill slope descends very steeply to the North-East and the rock shows at the surface. From the preserved configuration of the land and based on the arrangements found in the current access way, we assume that the former road would climb to the sacred area (Fig. 4/2).
           Because of the preliminary layout, the walls do not have a very deep foundation; they are either built in the foundation-ditch filled with pebbles mixed with yellow slimy clay, or built on the very natural rock, in stones bound in clay.
           From the quota of the last treading level N2 (sondage in C6a and C3b), the level from which the foundation of the walls starts in different compartments of the edifice is the following:
           - outside the entrance, on the northeastern side (y2) the quota from which the foundation starts is +778.78 m as compared to +779.19 m treading level (N2) inside the courtyard: the foundation pit cuts into the natural rock;
           - outside the F space, to the East where the treading level in courtyard A is +779.21 m (N 2), the foundation of the wall starts at +779.12 m, going deeper at least 0.70 m;
           - outside the perimetric wall y1, the quota from which the foundation starts is +778.47 m as compared to the +779.62 m treading level in the second stage (see also Fig. 4/1).
           The tests undertaken in order to check the foundations in all the spaces of the edifice (Figs. 12/1-3; 13/2-3) indicate that at the upper level of the foundation, their thickness was almost equal to the thickness of the first row of the elevation, considerably smaller than the one recorded in the survey at the higher part of the walls preserved in situ.
           In the preserved elevation, the drafting of the empty walls made of stone bound in clay is of the sheer polygonal type [5], with a tendency to render the rows horizontal (Figs. 10/1-2; 11/4-6). The walls are built in stones of different shapes and sizes, which do not show any other shaping traces but the natural form; on the level of the same row of the elevation we can notice that straight plans and volumes alternate in pairs, producing an "interweaving" of the rows. Both in the foundation and in the elevation we can find small rocks in the clayish binding material as to make it more resistant. Such rocks are sometimes placed in a 45° angle. On the exterior side of the perimetric wall y1 we can see larger stones usually found at corners or intersection of walls (Fig. 12/1).
           The thickness of the perimetric walls of the edifice is the following: on the y2 side (sondage in C7) = 1.00 m; on x2 side (sondage C7) = 1.10 m, with a slight narrowing to the southwestern area of the edifice, where the ground was firmer; in C5 the thickness of the perimetral wall is approx. 0.90-1.00 m; on the y1 side, the width of the wall is 0.80 m in C6a and 0.72 m in C6b, growing thicker to the northwestern corner, up to 1 m in C4; finally, the perimetric wall on the x1 side is 1.00 m thick in C4. The values are 1.10-1.12 m in C3b (at the cella platform) and 1.15-1.20 m in C2, as they were recorded in the survey of the edifice (Fig. 2), because of the stones dislocated from the wall and the landslide; in the two sondages in C3a we could see that the "out-flaring" of x1 wall is of 0.35 m min.
           From the archeological research we could not detect the existence of any appendix to the edifice.
           In Edifice T II we found two treading levels, both in the inside and the outer circulation space; they correspond to two stages defined as N1 and N2. The foundations of the edifice are dug straight into the rock or in the layer of compact yellow soil. The treading level N1, corresponding to the first stage of the construction and the first stage of operation of the edifice was archaeologically evidenced in space C (the +778.72 m level: clay flooring laid on small rocks, yellow clay fixed in small rocks).
           Above level N1, we can see a filling layer of approx. 0.30-0.40 m thick, of a brownish-yellow color, mixed with pebbles and sand (Fig. 5), cassettes C3a, C3b, SI, C5.
           Over the filling layer we can see the last treading level, N2, represented by a pavement consisting of small round rocks 0.05-0.07 m in diameter, bound in sandy yellow clay, mixed with pebbles, well compressed: the level quota ranges from +779.22 m-779.26 m and +779.64 m in space E.

           We would like to emphasize that the destination of the edifice compartments was never changed from the very beginning, though certain modifications occurred in the circulation courses inside the building.
           On the x2 and y1 sides, outside the edifice, we could see a perimetric platform; its width ranges from 1.40-1.50 m (Figs. 5, 10/2).
           The platform is made of large stones bound in yellow clay. The spaces between the large stones were filled in with small stones. The platform which extends on the perimetric wall x2 is situated at +779.77 m in SII A and descends onto a mild slop to the South-West. In the southwestern corner, the platform quota is +779.51 m. On the y2 side, the slope is more accentuated. In SI and the cassettes C8, C5, C6, C4, at the end of the platform, 1.50 m wide, we noticed a stone alveolation of the ground, purposefully dug, with quota below the platform level; we assume that it used to function as a ditch meant to collect the waters running down the hill and drain them on the other side of the exterior circulation platform. The level quota of the platform is +779.68 m, and the level quota of the ditch is +779.56 m (Figs. 2, 5, 10/2).
           The perimetric wall closed a peristylium expanded on three sides x1, x2, y2,around a courtyard of 12.30 m in length, along the longitudinal axis of the edifice and 6.50 m wide at the platform of the cella. Judging by the immense quantity of stone found while digging, we can infer that the external wall was filled up to the level of the porticos roofing.
           The columns of the wooden portico would lean on a continuous socle (empty wall) approx. 0.65-0.70 m wide, rising approx. 0.35-0.40 m above the courtyard level; the circulation corridor ranges from 1.20 and 1.30 m in width (Figs. 3, 5).
           We would like to indicate that on none of walls a, b, c we could find marks for the placement of columns. Their foundation is approx. 0,25-0,30 m higher than the perimetric walls (Fig. 5).
           The difference between the treading level inside the courtyard and the one in the portico is +0.40 m (the quota of the treading level in the ancient edifice court is +779.21 m). During both construction stages of the edifice both the courtyard and the gallery of the portico were covered in a pavement made of small and medium rounded stones bound in the yellow clay of the solum festricatum type [6 ]. This type of pavement was very common for grand edifices [7] of the Greek or Hellenistic world.
           In the edifice courtyard, halfway between the gallery and its opposite side, we found 6 complete votive altars (well preserved) and seven or eight altars in a fragmentary state.
           The edifice plan consists of a central space, court C, surrounded on three sides (space B) by the porticos a, b, c. At the entrance, outside the courtyard, we have a very narrow vestibulum, A, and on the opposite side, between the perimetric wall y1 and the courtyard, the closed spaces E and F. Space F has steps all over the length of the eastern side. On both sides of room E we have the spaces D and G (Figs. 2, 6, 13/1-4).
           At the center of the courtyard, to the South-East there is space F (cella) consisting of the access steps and the platform of the statue or the altar of the protecting divinity of the edifice. The three steps are very narrow, which is characteristic for other grand monuments; the difference in level between the highest step and courtyard A is approx. 0.50 cm. Dimensions of the access steps on the longitudinal axis and of the platform are extremely small (2.55 m); the width of this space is 5.05 m.
           Behind space F we have space E (opisthodom?), having the interior sizes of 3.80 x 4.90 m in the first stage and 3.50 x 4.72 m in the second stage. The maximum preserved level of the wall between spaces E and F is +779.89 m, at least 0.30 m higher than the quota of N2 level inside room E (+779.62 m), which makes us assume that the two compartments did not communicate through an opening dug into the treading level. Also, we did not see any access or opening of the D and G spaces to room E at the level quota of the preserved elevations.
           In cassettes C5, C3 and in SI we found several semi-faceted blocks, 10-16 pieces, of a trapezoid shape in section and approx. 20-26 elongated rectangular stones with a smooth front side. All were concentrated inside the edifice courtyard, in the area between the alignment of the votive altars and the steps. Though we did not find any indication in situ, we assume that they were part of the wall facing the courtyard of the cella front side.The absence of any trace of mortar, even in this area of the edifice, indicates that the same building technique was used, i.e. stones bound in clay for all the elevations of the walls.
           During the first stage of existence of the edifice, the circulation space which was limited by the portico to the inside, would communicate with the two rooms D and G, located on each side of room E:the interior sizes of the two spaces are 2.75-3.50 x 5.20 m (in C3a) and 2.50 x 5.10 m, respectively (in C5).
           During the second stage of the edifice, the passageway through the lateral portico on the right in the space corresponding to D was blocked by a transversal wall d. In C3a we discovered the 0.45 m wide substruction preserved at the level of one row (solin of middle-sized stone of irregular shape) of a wooden wall-door which closed the space of the right cubicul (Fig. 2). In that space of 15.34 sq.m in area, we discovered many ceramic fragments on the pavement, below the debris (especially of the food-vessel category [8]).
           During the second stage, access to the left lateral portico was blocked, as well: the foundation discovered in cassette C7 (Fig. 2) indicates the course to take from the very entrance to the courtyard.
           Space G is smaller than its counterpart on the opposite side, i.e. 13.41 m to 15.34 m (5.20 x 2.85 m) [9], respectively 14.82 sq.m. Access (observed at the level of the foundations in C6) was free both from the gallery and from the courtyard [10].
           The construction of the vicinal road which cut into the exterior perimetric wall y2 and the portico foundation on that side destroyed most of the edifice vestibulum; traces of the foundation could only be seen in C7 and C9.
           In SII B and C2, where digging could only be undertaken after the 15-20 year old trees had been cut down, we could not see the course of the foundation of the wall corresponding to that side, the current quota of the being below that of the actual foundation.
           The thickness of the foundation wall of the vestibulum a1 is 0.65 m; the foundation base of the wall was found at the +778.94 m quota; a treading level (N1?,N2?) in space A, was found at the +779.30 m quota, approx. 0.10 m higher than the treading level in the courtyard during the N 2 stage; the width of the space, estimated in conformity with the traces found in C9, was 0.98-1.03 m; assuming a symmetrical development from the façade, the vestibulum width would be of minimum 4.75-4.90 m and maximum 6.21 m, i.e. the width if the courtyard between the a and c porticos. A reconstitution of the longitudinal profile of the access area indicates that most probably there were steps leading to the sacred area of the edifice (Fig. 4/2).Thus, 17 m away from wall a1, the natural rock was leveled on the vertical axis. The quota of the ancient treading level on which we found the layer of debris is +775.42 m. At 13.70 m and 15.50 m quota, on the southern profile of C9 we stratigrafically identified the quotas of the steps from the access way. From the 15.50 m quota and to the entrance into the vestibulum we can distinguish, from the profile, the supporting layer of the pavement at the entrance area. Except for some larger stones, rectangular in section, in the vestibulum area we could not find any items which might confirm the hypothesis that stone columns existed on the entrance façade.
           As for the dating of the edifice, the coin from Hadrian's reign [11] (Fig. 14/1a-b) which was found on the exterior platform of wall x2 is a terminus post quem for the first stage of existence of the place of worship (sacred place). We could not find any indication of destruction or fire [12] which might have arisen between the two stages of the edifice. Moreover, stage 2 can be especially noticed in the stratigraphy of the circulation areas inside the edifice and in the central space E, where we could see that the walls grew approx. 0.15-0.20 m thicker on the inside.
           In spaces D, E, F, as well as in the spaces of the porticos, we could discover traces of burn and coal on the N2 pavement, probably from the burnt fire roofs in the respective spaces. The votive altars B, C, D, E, H, almost intentionally placed with their inscriptions down, yet preserving an approximately equal distance in their alignment, suggest that they collapsed simultaneously (Fig. 14/2), while other altars seem to have collapsed afterwards (Fig. 14/3). The archeological data determined in the spaces D, F, G indicate that they ended in fire, which makes an exact dating impossible. The movable ceramic inventory argues for the first half of the 3^rd century; according to the names of the dedicators- which we consider as a reliable indication - we believe that the period when the building functioned cannot be extended beyond the year 212.
           We could not find archeological evidence that the building functioned after the Roman period.