NOI CERCETĂRI PRIVIND MINERITUL ANTIC ÎN TRANSILVANIA (I)
NEW RESEARCH REGARDING ANCIENT MINING IN TRANSYLVANIA (I)

Summary/Abstract: The first part of this study debates the possibility of existence of pre-Roman mines discussing some stone tools which belong typologically to the category “Rillenschlägel” or “Grooved hammer-stones.” Such hammer stones were discovered in Transylvania at Caraciu (Hunedoara County) and in the prehistoric settlement from Petresti (Alba County). Another possible evidence of pre-Roman mining exploitations is offered by the early salt exploitations from Valea Florilor (Cluj County), so far considered to belong to the Dacian period. The 14C date for one of the wooden tools surprisingly belongs to the later Bronze Age (13th century B.C.). A similar date is proposed for the wooden objects found out in 1817 in Valea Regilor, in Maramures. Only one image of these objects was published. The objects preserved in the National Museum of Geology from Budapest disappeared during the World War II. The study also presents a number of 14C dates concerning gold mining in Roman Dacia. We discuss the date (2000+60 BP) given for a hydraulic wheel hub from Ruda-Brad (Hunedoara County), which can be dated cal. 1 σ (68 %) between 75 BC - 45 AD and cal. 2 σ (95 %) between 150 BC-130 BC. Two other dates concern the gold exploitations from Rosia Montană, being collected from Păru-Carpeni and Orlea areas. A sample of a wooden ladder from Păru-Carpeni gave the date 1860+60 BP, which was calibrated 1 σ (68 %) between 90-240 AD and cal. 2 σ (95 %) between 20-245 AD.

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