Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 31/1. (2011)
Articles
Preliminary Report on the Aerial Archaeological Survey in Transylvania (2009-2010) 11- seem to attest that there are more graves on the upper parts of the hilltop (Berecki 2009,9-24), just where the excavations from 2011 revealed the Early Iron Age (Scythian?) graves.4 Crop marks were totally absent in the valley of the Somes River, in the Ciuc Basin and in the valley of the Olt River, while, the research of the Tárnave Rivers’ valley as well as the middle and lower part of the Mures River was fruitful. At Gligoresti (Hu. Sósszentmárton, Cluj County) we found the traces of a larger settlement, while at the junction of the Mures and Arius Rivers, near Luncani (Hu. Aranyosgerend, Cluj County), at least 9 sunken-featured buildings and a number of pits were observed (PI. 3). According to the topographical field surveys, they belong to the Early Migration Period. At Lunca Muresului (Hu. Székelykocsárd, Alba County) similar structures were found, but in this case their chronological framing is not known. Presumably traces of Prehistoric settlements of smaller extents were found in the valley of the Mures River in many places: Decea Muresului (Hu. Marosdécse), Teius (Hu. Tövis), Alba Iulia (Hu. Gyulafehérvár), Vinerea (Hu. Felkenyér), Vintul de Jós (Hu. Alvinc), Tártária (Hu. Alsótatárlaka) and Luna (Hu. Aranyoslóna). One should mention that the observation conditions were far worse north to Ludus (Hu. Marosludas) in the Mures valley, due to the properties of soil and the types of cultivation. Traces of habitation in that section of the valley were only found at Batos (Hu. Bátos) and Cristesti (Hu. Maroskeresztúr). Earlier agricultural cultivation marks (medieval or Early Modern) or the boundaries of plots could be found at many places; the best example was observed at $áulia (Hu. Mezősályi, Mures County). Double ditches which would have belonged to roads were also identified, for example at Lechinta (Hu. Maroslekence, Mures County). A linear structure, possibly a road, found at Pogáceaua (Hu. Mezőpagocsa) is stretching over a distance of 500 m; some other similar patterns were observed at Bandul de Cámpie (Hu. Mezőbánd), Grebenisu de Cämpie (Hu. Mezögerebenes), Ceuasu de Cämpie (Hu. Mezőcsávás) in 2009 and at Oroiu de Cämpie (Hu. Székelyuraly) and Decea Muresului (Hu. Marosdécse) in 2010. Roman buildings appeared in many - mainly known - regions. The castrum and its vicus could be documented west to Sighisoara (Hu. Segesvár, Mures County). This particular Roman fortification - although subject of studies since 1847 - is mainly unknown. It seems to be clear that it had no masonry phase, it was protected by a palisade and a double trench, and its buildings were of timber framed construction. Two altars have to be mentioned, as well as the stamped bricks of the legio XIII Gemina which indicate that the garrison was formed from the troops stationed at Apulum. The fortification was quite short-lived, built under Hadrianus or Antoninus Pius and apparently abandoned in the time of Marcus Aurelius. After being abandoned, the fortress was replaced by a Roman settlement, houses and workshops were erected there. The cemetery near to the fortification was used for a longer time (Lazar 1995, 235-236, with further bibliography). Many current plots cover its area, thus the camp and the vicus were partially visible only. We have observed the negative crop marks of masonry at two already well-researched Roman villages at Cigmáu (Hu. Csigmó, Hunedoara County) and Rázboieni-Cetate (Hu. Székelyföldvár, Alba County). The plan of the camp and settlement at Cigmau-Germisara (PI. 4/2) is nearly completely known due to the recent aerial research of I. A. Oltean and W. S. Hanson (Oltean-Hanson 2001, 127-129, fig. 3-4; Oltean 2007, 158, fig. 5/29). 4 The authors would like to express their gratitude to Lucian D. Vaida for the friendly communication of these data.
