Archaeological Excavations in Cuca, Galați county. Tumulus no. 8
Archaeological Excavations in Cuca, Galați county. Tumulus no. 8

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the results of excavations conducted in 2022-2023 at Tumulus no. 8. It was located on the Piscul Fântânilor Hill, approximately 2.5 km south of the village of Cuca, Galați County. It had been heavily affected by agricultural work and, at the time of excavation, preserved a height of 0.40 m above the current ground level. It had an oval shape, measuring 18 × 15 m. The archaeological excavations led to the discovery of three inhumation burials, all located in the southwestern quarter of the tumulus. These had been arranged in successive stages. The novelty of this monument lies in the questions raised by the chronology of the primary burial (2562-2142 calBC). Taking into account contemporary discoveries as well as the limited funerary ritual elements, it could be attributed to at least a very late Yamna horizon or to the early KMK period. Grave no. 2 can be easily attributed to KMK, as the vessel deposited as grave goods and the identified ritual elements have numerous analogies in the North Pontic area. The existing radiocarbon dating indicates a chronological interval (1876-1537 calBC) that confirms the partial overlap of KMK with the Monteoru culture and probably with the beginning of the Noua culture. The most recent grave (no. 3) can be chronologically related to the interval 710-994 calAD. It has numerous analogies in the steppe area of the northwestern Black Sea and may be attributed to the Turanian migratory populations, most likely the Pechenegs attested in this area in the 9th – 11th centuries AD.

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