Primarily this site is a late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age flint mining settlement. The vast majority of surface finds from the Piatra Tomii site are associated with the end of the Cotofeni culture (phase 3). Based on surface finds, test pitting and initial excavation trenches, it appears that there was a Cotofeni settlement on the slope of the hill as well as the field at the bottom of the slope.

Much of the project’s work takes place throughout the year in the laboratory. Previous research has included analyses of knapped artefacts from Neolithic to Bronze Age sites in the Mures valley to better understand acquisition and exchange strategies, studies on dietary habits and health in the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age, as well as road construction and mud brick production methods used during the early Bronze age. 

In previous years, the project has excavated at the Bronze Age road and tumulus field at Cetea, the Neolithic adobe huts at Racau settlement, the Bronze Age riverside (port?) settlement at Sebes, and the series of Cotofeni cave settlements in the Ampoita valley. Various field walk surveys have been conducted throughout this region, most notably the investigation and cataloguing of caves in this region for evidence of prehistoric occupation.

Previous Work at Piatra Tomii

- Fieldwalk surveys in 2007 and 2008.
- Mineralogical analysis of lithic artefacts and geological outcrops of chert in 2008.
- Excavations in 2009. 

- Magnetometry and resistivity surveys in 2010.
- Excavations in 2011. 

 

The 2012 field season will take place again at the late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age settlement site at Piatra Tomii (Racatau village, Alba county). The research this year will investigate flint mining techniques used during the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age as well as flint processing workshops at the settlement, particularly related to the methodology and equipment used by the Cotofeni people. This will allow the research team to compare a flint mining settlement to other contemporary settlment types previoulsly studied in this area. Previously ore mining settlments have been investigated but so far, no prehistoric flint mining settlements have been researched in Transylvania. Mineralogical analyses of the flint from Piatra Tomii will help establish possible trade relations with other settlemnts.

 

 

Most team members will stay at the temporary campsite. There will be a military base tent for afternoon classes or hanging out in when the weather is bad. Participants receive three cooked meals per day. There are ecological toilets at the site. Each day water reserves at the dig site are refilled, so there is no shortage of water for drinking. There is running water at the campsite and dig house. There will a roofless shower tent with an electric water heater. The campsite is located next to a homestead at the edge of the village of Racatau and has electricity. Food is prepared by a cook at the homestead. A typical Romanian breakfast is usually ham or sausages, eggs, pickles, sheep cheese and home baked bread. Typical lunch and evening meals are more substantive and are traditional dishes.

Participants who prefer not to stay in a tent may stay in a room of one of the houses next to the camp site. They will have their own room in a traditional home with a Romanian family. Rooms are heated by a ceramic wood furnace and furnished with a bed, wardrobe, table and desk. Although houses are very traditional, all have electricity and water.

The campsite is located at a homestead at the edge of Racatau village, about 20 km from Alba Iulia. There are several daily buses that run between Blandiana and Alba Iulia. Cell phone coverage varies in this area. At the excavation site (which is on a hilltop) reception is good. At the campsite, it's poor but by walking around a bit, it's possible to find a spot with an usable signal. If participants need to charge their phone battery or other batteries, they can do so at the camp site.

Daily program

7am - breakfast at the campsite
8am - head to the excavations
12pm - lunch break (1 hour) - lunch will be delivered to the excavation sites or we will return to the campsite
2pm - artefact processing
4pm - return to the excavation sites
6pm - dinner at the campsite
7pm - evening classes (field school students) and daily progress report meeting (research members)
8pm - free time

Note: The daily schedule is not always fixed. The afternoon schedule is largely influenced by the heat and weather. On cooler days we might eat a light lunch at the excavation sites and then continue on until 3pm, return to the campsite and not return to the excavations that day. On very hot sunny days, we might stay at the camp site longer until it's not as hot. When it unexpectedly rains, we usually have to run out to the excavation sites and cover them with plastic sheets and then spend the rest of the day in the military tents or in town.

Weekly program

Sunday - arrival in Alba Iulia for orientation followed by transport to the project's field camp.
Monday to Friday - excavations and classes
Saturday - excursion
Sunday - free day for guest participants (possible hiking trip in the nearby mountains)
- morning excavations for fieldwork students; afternoons are free
- If this is your last day, we will arrange for transportation back to Alba Iulia.

The following field training courses will be held in the evenings:

-history and pre-history of the region
-artefact drawing
-plan and profile drawing
-excavation planning (where to dig and why)
-project management skills related to an excavationExcursions

Contact for more info.

We can visit the following locations on the weekend excursions.

The Vaubahn fortress of Alba Iulia
Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains
Ulpia Triana Sarmisegetusa (Roman capital city)
Roman baths and castrum of Germisara
Hunedoara castle (15th century)
Deva Citadel (13th - 19th century fortress)

Several caves of the regions

None.

 Weather and what clothes you'll need

- Clothes suitable for August. Participants should keep in mind that it can get cold at night in August.

Equipment (what we'll provide and what you'll need to bring)

The following equipment will be provided by the project:

-Excavating equipment such as shovels, trowels, buckets, hoes, etc.
-Cooking and eating utensils such as pots, plates, bowls, knives, forks, etc.
-Each participant will be given an excavation journal which should be turned in to the director at the end of the course.
-Course notes and handouts for the classes.
-First aid equipment
-Food

Participants are expected to bring the following equipment:

-Classroom supplies such as note books, pencils, erasers, etc.
-Tent (or borrow one of ours) and sleeping bag
-Personal hygeine products such as soap, toothpaste, towels, etc.
-Flashlight (if you feel it is necessary)
-Detergent for washing clothes and a rope to use as a clothes line

If you wish to participate in the 2010 field season as a guest participant, you must contact the project director. As places are limited, you are encouraged to contact the director as soon as possible before all places are taken. In order to plan accurately for the excavation, we ask that participants pay 20% of the excavation fee in advance. Please ask Cristian Popa for details on this. The remainder can be paid in advance or upon arrival. Please do not send us money for the homestay fee. This is directly between participants and their host family.

[1] - [2] - [3] - [4] - [PDF]

 

Universitate 1 Decembrie 1918 Alba Iulia Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca

- About the Cotofeni culture http://cartproject.22web.net/docs/CIPopa_Cotofeni_en.pdf - More about the Cotofeni culture http://www.uab.ro/seepast/muzeu_virtual/Cotofeni/index.html - Cotofeni Metalurgy http://cartproject.22web.net/docs/COTOFENI_COPPER_METALLURGY.doc The late copper age Coţofeni culture of south-east Europe by Petre I. Roman Published in 1977, B.A.R. (Oxford)