Structuri arhitectural-arheologice din centrul istoric București
Archaeological Structures in the Historical Center of Bucharest

Summary/Abstract: The archaeological research undertaken on the occasion of the rehabilitation project for the infrastructure of the Pilot Area of the Historic Centre in Bucharest has brought to light elements of built structures or features dating to medieval, modern and contemporary times, either transformed along the centuries or radically retrofit following the destructive events of the fi rst half of 19th century or consequence of the intense building activity of the end of 19th century.The important information brought by the research undertaken between 2007 and 2009 can be divided in two major categories.On the one hand, it has provided archaeological evidence of the transformations to the street network which had been partly recorded by building regulations and it has precisely located important inns (commercial buildings called han) and other edifices recorded by cartographic documents drawn at the end of 18th century and during the 19th century. It has also documented detail elements, previously known by written evidence, such as the structure of the wooden street decking (on Smârdan, Lipscani or Gabroveni St.) On the other hand, the archaeological research has provided new information regarding the limits of important urban ensembles (the north side of the enclosure of Curtea Veche – The Old Court, the main residence of the rulers of the country from Mid-15th century until the end of 18th). The same research made the reconstruction of street segments decked with wood possible (the south stretch of Smârdan St., the middle segment of Gabroveni St.) or unveiled previously unknown medieval structures (the palisade of the north side of the precinct of the Old Court, the 17th century building on Tonitza St., the 18th century building on Zarafi St. or the cellars of Șerban Vodă Inn) I. Smârdan St. The archaeological excavations have unveiled important evidence to the history of the Center: streets paved with wood (the medieval decks), a street paved with cobblestone (modern), buildings dating back to the 18th century or to the turn of 19th century, or elements of the sewage system from the end of 19th century. II. Lipscani St. The segment between Calea Victoriei and the National Bank (area of Zlătari Inn). The archaeological research, focused mainly on the surface at the intersection of Lipscani St. and Calea Victoriei, unveiled structures of Zlătari Inn which defi ned the south front of the old street, and a series of foundations which indicate fragmentarily the north front of the street, to which another inn, Filipescu, might have belonged. III. Lipscani St. The segment between Carada and Smârdan St. (the area of Greci Inn). The archaeological research resulted in the discovery of structures belonging to Greci Inn, which used to define the south front of old Lipscani St. and the west front of Smârdan St. Structures of Șerban Vodă Inn (the inn of Voievode Șerban, named for Șerban Cantacuzino, who ruled over Walachia between 1678-1688) which used to stand in the north front of the street, have also been discovered, as well as a series of foundations, structures and features previous to the building of the inns, along with important traces of the wooden street decking. IV. Franceză St. The archaeological vestiges discovered on the segment of Franceză St. (French St.) between Calea Victoriei and Poștei St. (Post St.) give an impression of the urban ambiance previous to the building, at the end of 19th century, of The Post and Telegraph Palace (1894-1900). The archaeological structures discovered across the segment between Post St. and Smârdan St. draw the outline of the street previous to the present configuration and describe, fragmentary, the course of the wooden deck which survived probably down to the first half of 19th century. V. Poștei St. The segment between Franceză and Sf. Dumitru St. The archaeological research on Poștei St. – between Franceză and Sf. Dumitru St. – were meant to excavate the building situated at the intersection with Poștei St., which had been identified but partly during the excavations on Franceză St. In the space between this building and the intersection of Poștei and Sf. Dumitru St. no archaeological vestiges have been found to attest any building activity. VI. Sf. Dumitru and Pictor N. Tonitza St. During the excavations in the area of Sf. Dumitru church, important evidence of the historic urban layout of Bucharest turned up. It appears that on this spot the radical transformations of the first quarter of 20th century – the opening of Poștei St. and the extension of Sf. Dumitru St. through to Poștei St. – have been preceded by changes of the urban structure at least as important. VII. Pasajul Francez St. The archaeological structures discovered here describe at least two important sequences from the existence of this area before the opening of the passage, at the end of 19th century, between 1871 and 1895. VIII. Gabroveni St. The archaeological vestiges discovered indicate clearly the configuration of the north side of Curtea Veche, the Old Court, along successive centuries and prove how the medieval urban structure and functions have influenced the urbanistic transformations of the modern times. IX. Lipscani St. The segment between Smârdan St. and I.C. Brătianu Boulevard. The archaeological research on this segment of Liscani St. has added to information previously known in broad outlines from cartographic documents dating from the end of 17th century to mid-19th century. X. Lipscani St. The segment between Carada and Smârdan St. (the area of Șerban Vodă Inn). The archaeological excavations carried out in 2008 and, sporadically, in 2009 under the sidewalk in front of The National Bank Palace, revealed the structure of the south side of Șerban Vodă Inn. In the middle of this side a large cellar has been found, made of three bays, with fragments of fresco murals preserved. XI. Zarafi St. The structures which turned up on the surface of Zarafi St. are older than the opening of the street (18th century cellars), and structures belonging to the urban structure of the first half of 19th century.

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