Diggings have been resumed in Valea Zanelor (The fairies valley), Covasna county to reveal an alleged ancient Dacian temple discovered three years ago.
The fortress’ walls have accidently come to the light in 1995 after a strong storm that pulled up all trees and brought them to the ground.
The director of the Transylvania History Museum, Viorica Crisan, recounted that when the storm brought down the forest, several walls, pots and other items have come to the limelight. “Following searches in 2013-2015, a Dacian temple was revealed (…) We have for now seven pillars, but they might be 15 or 17 of them,” the museum head told Agerpres.
According to her, the temple is similar to the ones of Sarmizegetusa Regia and is a rarity for the fortresses outside the Orastie Mountains. The archaeologists believe that Dacians might have used this temple to bring sacrifice to their gods, as inside of it they found a lot of animal bones and pots, especially rush light cups but also beads and jewelry items made of glass and amber, fibula, pendants, buckles, arrowheads, etc.
The fortress was allegedly erected almost 2,000 years ago, being surrounded by four fortified terraces, 2-metre high stone walls, very well preserved.
The museum manager also says that the Dacian architects and constructors used to have a pretty unitary vision when they designed these fortresses, as they chose to hide them in the mountains to be hardly accessible and defend them against storms and unwanted visitors. The fortress in Covasna provides a wide view over Targu Secuiesc depression, over the entire valley of the Black River and a good view over the other fortresses in the neighborhood, to Tusnad and to Brasov depression.
The legend says that the fortress in Covasna would have been the last King Decebalus’ hideaway and a treasure would have been hidden here. Yet, archaeologists have no prove either on the hideaway or the treasure.
The first diggings here have been made with the help of the army until 2003 when the local youngsters passionate about history took over the researches.