Project presentation

The assertion of the new paradigms in the archaeological research during the second half of the last century, paved way to new means of analysis of natural and anthropic inhabited in times past, on local or regional level. Their profound and inherently interdisciplinary nature was emphasized by numerous collaborations between archaeologists and scientists from other field of research, many of them designed to underline the interdependence relationship of mankind towards the environment.

Presently, within the scientific milieu dedicated to archaeology, it is universally accepted that the archaeological sites are more than ever being endangered by the natural factor, but, more importantly by the human factor. As a result of their activity, archaeologists are nowadays fully aware of this real problem, acknowledging the necessary use of new investigation methods borrowed from archaeometry. A wise management of the national cultural  patrimony  aligned  to  the  concept  of  CRM-cultural  resources  management, intensely used and applied worldwide, forces the scientific community to employ modern techniques of analysing the archaeological sites, which can be a non-destructive pattern of research suited for all historical cycles.

In other words, the main objective of this project aims at developing and implementing a functional model of applied research based on integrating and improving of non-destructive  techniques,  while  understanding  and  valuing  the  complexity  of prehistoric archaeological sites.

The  choice  in  limiting  the  research  area  at  the  eastern  part  of  Romania,  the Moldavian Plateau, lies in the incredibly rich archaeological potential, which was, until now, rather unequally and insufficiently investigated. This territory, marked by a complex landscape, with diverse forms of relief arranged into a natural and organic geographical unit, represented an auspicious frame for the presence and development of human communities; as a result there is an uninterrupted habitation starting with the dawn of human civilization, from early Palaeolithic (approximately 700.000 BC – 120.000 BC) until present time.

We  consider  that  deciphering  and  analytical  interpretation  of  the  geo-systemic balance from the area through a careful selection of a few prehistoric sites, that are going to be attentively researched using topographic and archaeological cartography, aerial photography, the analysis of spectral images, terrestrial three-dimensional scanning and geo-physics prospections (magnetometry with caesium steams and fluxgate, GPR-ground penetrating radar technology, soil resistivity and electrical tomography) is essential. The unified interpretation of results obtained through GIS, using specific analysis, will decisively contribute to the perception of settlements landscape, as well as to understanding the mechanisms  of  occupying  the  land  in Prehistory, and obviously offer  precious  data regarding the relation between human-environment, inherently to any appropriate interdisciplinary archaeological study.

In  direct  connection  with  the  ideas  mentioned  above,  we  will  consider  the identification, evaluation and monitoring the endangered sites, either by natural or human factors, based on the same unified research model, made up of methods and principles also mentioned above. Moreover, a careful examination of the geomorphological and morphometric features and especially of the dynamics of the erosive processes only completes the obtained information body, which will represent the basis of a predictive model based on coherent and relevant information for this type of research. During the final stage of the project, we will focus on developing a strategy of revaluation and tourism management, mainly in the virtual medium for the prehistoric archaeological sites.