Crivina-Leopoldsberg – A Newly Discovered Iron Age Hilltop Settlement from Southwestern Romania

Abstract

The area surrounding the medieval fortress of Jdioara is known for numerous discoveries of coins dated to the Late Iron Age. This, together with the specific toponym of the fortress encouraged us to survey the area for a possible prehistoric or ancient settlement. We discovered such a site just 200 m north of the medieval citadel on a cape surrounded from three sides by the river Nădrag. In order to better understand the evolution of the site and set the parameters for future investigations we focused on three main objectives. The first objective involved obtaining an accurate Digital Elevation Model of the surface, in order to better understand the anthropic interventions and potential areas of habitation. Our second task focused on geophysical mapping of the main terrace in order to identify the archaeological structures present on this area. Lastly, the gathering of materials from the surface and from a small test-trench allowed us to sketch some chronological landmarks of this settlement. Thus, two main terraces with traces of habitation as well as an access road to these enclosures, guarded by a possible tower-dwelling, were discovered. The material collected from the surface allowed us to identify at least two phases of habitation. The first one dates from the end of the Early Iron Age, while the latest belongs to the Dacian horizon.