Condition Ruined Address Covasna, Romania | Reference no. CV-I-s-A-13058 | |
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Alternate name Cetatea Zânelor, Fairies Fortress Location Dealul Florilor, Covasna, Covasna, Romania Excavation dates 1942 - 1943
1949
1998 Archaeologists Al. Ferenczi
Constantin Daicoviciu
V. Sârbu
V. Crișan Similar Costești‑Cetățuie Dacian fortress, Dacian fortress of Tilișca, Dacian fortress of Bănița, Keleti Kárpátok Nemzeti, Dacian fortress of Căpâlna | ||
The Dacian fortress of Covasna County served as a Dacian fortified town and is rated to have been built in the 1st century BC. It sits on a mountain in the Orastie Mountains above the town of Covasna, which is 227 km from the capital of Bucharest. The fortress is also known by the name of the Fairies Fortress, sitting atop of the Valley of Fairies.
Contents
Construction
The fortress consisted of a number of terraced fortifications sitting at an altitude of about 900 m above sea level with a command of the areas around south-east Transylvania, south Moldavia and east Wallachia. In all the fortress covered an area of 10,000 m2. A number of defensive buildings were built as well as religious sites and the terraces had the effect of blocking and hampering advancing armies as they were bolstered by 1.5 m to 2 m high and 2m to 2.5 m thick solid sandstone slab walls.
The first terrace was 3,000 m2 while the second was 3,700 m2 and the third 150 m2. Each was fortified by walls. Excavations lead to the possibility of other terraces further down.
The main acropolis was situated at the base of the plateau was a 700 m2 circular solid stone building.
Conquering
The fortress is assumed to have been a Dacian haven for over two centuries until the Roman-Draco wars of the 2nd Century AD.
Excavation
Three major excavation works have happened here through the last century: