Kelemen Imola (szerk.): A Csíki Székely Múzeum Évkönyve 8. (Csíkszereda, 2012)
Régészet - Tibor-Tamás Daróczi: Environmental Changes During the Holocene in Transylvania
TIBOR-TAMÁS DARÓCZI chain consists of folded mountains, also of Neogene origin, and as the limits of the study area are along the drainage divide in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, their existence is only relevant in the southern part of the range. The only river that actually cuts through the volcanic range is the Mureş/Maros River. The upper valleys of some mid-sized rivers (e.g. Someşul Mare, Tárnave) are the only ones disrupting the continuity of these volcanic features. The area has an elevation between 400/500 m to 2303 m above sea level (a.s.l.) (Pietrosul Mare peak). Distinctive features of the eastern range of the Carpathians are the elongated and lower lying depressions. These depressions are also of Neogene origin. The northernmost depression, Maramureş (Map 1), was created by the Tisa/Tisza river and some of its tributaries. It should be noted here that this depression extends further northwards of the main river and is not part of the present study area. The terraces of rivers and some high hills (a.s.l. elevation of 400/500-800 m) form the highland area of the depression. This area is bordered by volcanic (Oaş, Gutái and Ţibleş) and folded (Maramureş, Rodnei) mountains. The Gheorgheni depression (Map 1) is formed by the upper basin of the Mureş/Maros River (running south to north) and it has several terraces on both sides as well as relatively flat (narrow and elongated) areas which link the terraces to the high hills of the area. The northern border of the depression is constituted by the volcanic Călimani Mountains, in the east and south by the folded mountains of Giurgeu and Hăşmaşu massif, respectively, and finally in the west by the Gurghiu volcanic range. Further to the south, the Depression of Ciuc (Map 1) is very similar in geomorphological terms. It has the Olt River running through it from north to south, and the terraces and flat plains associated with the river are the main flat feature of the region. These are followed by high hills (a.s.l. elevation 700-900 m) which link the lowest features (elevation a.s.l. 650-800 m) of the area to the bordering mountain ranges. The northern and eastern limits of the depression are the folded mountains of the Hăşmaşu massif, Ciuc and Ciomatu. The southern border is the gorge between Tuşnad and Bixad, whereas the western limit is the volcanic range of Harghita. The southernmost depression is the one at Braşov. It has two rivers running through it: the Olt and its main left-side tributary, Râul Negru, and it is dominated by these two valleys and their broad terraces. The valley plains are the widest of the depressions and have an elevation of 500-650 m a.s.l. All of the mountains bordering this depression are folded mountains. The northern limit is the Bodoc, Nemira Mountains, the eastern one is the Vrancea and Penteleu Mountains. The southern border is a series of smaller massifs: Podul Calului, Intorsura, Piatra Mare and Postăvarul. Finally, in the east the depression reaches the Măgura Codei, Perşani and Baraolt Mountains. The Southern Carpathian Mountains or Transylvanian Alps (Map 1) is the range running east to west as a continuation of the Eastern Carpathians. As the limit of the study area is the drainage divide, only the northern part of the range enters within the limits of the present research. Their orogeny is mostly Triassic and all of them are folded mountains. These features are part of a group of features within the study area, with several peaks reaching well over 2500 m, and the highest elevation of 2544 m a.s.l. (Moldoveanu peak) is in this range. The only river that cuts through this range is the Olt river valley between the Făgăraş and Parâng Mountains. The western limit is formed by the valley of the Cérna, Timiş/Tamis and Mureş/Maros Rivers. The only larger feature of the region is the area in its western end, around the valley of the Strei River also known as Ţara Haţegului (Map 1). The terraces and hills which link the valley to the surrounding mountains are of low altitude, with an elevation of 250-550 m a.s.l. The region is characterised as an alpine region. The Apuseni Mountains (Map 1) is the westernmost range of the Carpathians from Romania. Some western and southern massifs of these mountains are of volcanic origin (Vlădeasa and Metaliferi), while the rest are folded mountains. There are no distinctive plains/depressions or plateaus within this area. The western-flowing rivers (Crişul Repede, Crişul Negru and Crişul Alb have broad valleys and wide river plains in the middle basins with several terraces belonging to 30
