Dacian Fortresses in Orastie Mountains

Built in the style of Murus dacicus, the six Dacian Fortresses in Orastie Mountains of Romania, were high between the first century BC and first century AD for protection against Roman conquest campaigns.

Their extensive and well-preserved remains provide a picture of vigorous and innovative Iron Age. In these days treasure hunters search the area, as Romania lacks legislation laws.

The six fortresses (Sarmizegetusa Luncani - Red Stone, Coste - Blidaru Coste - Cetăţuia Chapel and Băniţa) which formed the defensive system of Decebal, are now part of UNESCO world cultural heritage.

Fortress Sarmizegetusa
Was the Capital of the kingdom, probably built in the mid-century BC. BC, the city contained in its perimeter, the sacred and the civil settlement. On Sarmizegetusa city, we can say that its walls, high technology "Murus dacicus, surrounding a nipple located at 1000 m altitude, following the pattern of land. After the conquest, the Romans rebuilt the city, increasing its surface, but without the satisfying route Dacian walls of their building techniques. At approx. 100 m east of the city, and two terraces, is a sacred area, which leads a road paved with slabs of limestone, road access ending in a little square. In this area were located the plane rectangular and circular shrines, some of which are built of limestone and some of andesite. Civil settlement consists of eastern and western neighborhoods, dozens stretched the terraces, forming the largest Dacian housing complex documented to date. There were groups of houses, workshops, warehouses, barns, plant capture and distribution of drinking water. In one of these apartments have been discovered the famous ceramic bowl stamped "Decebalus per SCORILO.

Fortress Coste - Cetăţuia
Its fortification consists of a wave of earth with palisade, wide at base approx. 6-8 m and a height of 2-2,50 meters, which protect the top of the hill, plateau and terraces. On the plateau are the traces of two towers-house, built at the base, with stone foundations and the top of the bricks (adobe). A monumental staircase, stone carving 3 m wide, leading to one of these towers. On the side was fitted with gutters to drain water and face with a wooden gate. Coste the fort city of residence of some of the kings of the Geto-Dacians. Situated at the entrance to the valley water Grădiştea, Coste was the center of the capital's main avantpost Dacian from Grădiştea Muncelului. Destroyed during the first Dacian War, p. 102 AD, the city is rapidly destroyed and rebuilt and then finally abandoned in 106 p. AD, when the Romans conquered Dacia. Its ruins have served as a stone quarry for the construction camp at Bucium [CP].
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