ON PREHISTORIC PATHS AND MOUNTAIN ROUTES: METAL ARTEFACTS FROM THE HILLS AND MOUNTAINS OF CUGIR
ON PREHISTORIC PATHS AND MOUNTAIN ROUTES: METAL ARTEFACTS FROM THE HILLS AND MOUNTAINS OF CUGIR

Summary/Abstract: This study examines five prehistoric metal artefacts recently discovered using a metal detector in the pre-mountainous and mountainous areas of Cugir. The oldest piece is a fragmentary flat copper axe discovered at Mugeşti-Dealul Hodinilor (found at 635 m), associated possibly with the Coţofeni culture. On the Cugir-Piatra Pleşii rock (550 m altitude), a fragment of a socketed axe (debitage) was found, alongside a ceramic fragment, likely of the Noua type. Two bronze artefacts come from Cugir-Vârful Brădetului, a knife (Griffzungenmesser) and a socketed axe (found at 538 and 631 m altitude respectively). Another bronze knife (Griffplattenmesser) was found isolated in Bucuru-Creasta Văiţii (630 m). The piece found at the highest altitude is a sickle fragment discovered at Goasele, on Sasu mountain (1060 m), in the vicinity of a spring, not far from a salting area. The bronze artefacts indicate two stages of the Late Bronze Age (Ha A1 and Ha A2/Ha B1, respectively). One of the objectives of the study was to overlay the site of the discovery of the metal pieces over the oldest historical maps. The result was either the discovery of their presence on ancient mountain ridges or on hard-to-reach crests, which helps to trace prehistoric pathways that were previously unknown. The authors’ approach opens the subject of defining the concepts of prehistoric paths and plains, where archaeology is still deficient.

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