Prahova County Research Articles

Research report on Transylvanian traces in Starchiojd commune, Prahova county

This paper puts into perspective documented episodes of migration in Prahova County, shedding light on historically overlooked aspects. It focuses on the demographic, rural, and urban evolution of settlements in Prahova, particularly exploring migrations from Transylvania to the Prahova region beyond the Carpathian arc. The study seeks to understand the impact of these migrations on villages and towns, examining their influence on the local living environment. Utilizing a historical-anthropological methodology, the research aims to present contemporary traces of these migrants, referred to as "ungureni," and their contribution to the culture of the Prahova region, with specific attention to the settlements of Starchiojd. We will try to analyze available sources related to the history of the Starchiojd commune, with a specific focus on identifying historical "fragments". The primary objective is to investigate the presence of Transylvanian elements and examine their impact on the local space and society within the studied area. Once brought to light and arranged chronologically, these episodes will significantly contribute to the reconstruction and deeper understanding of the local past. During the research process, it is crucial not to isolate the particular space from its historical and geographical context. On the contrary, it should be studied through comparison. This approach allows for the identification of aspects such as the presence of a minority integrated among the locals, cultural exchanges, or influences on indigenous products (songs, legends, toponyms, attire, etc.). These findings can highlight the cultural differences that define the respective community in relation to the majority. This paper puts into perspective documented episodes of migration in Prahova County, shedding light on historically overlooked aspects. It focuses on the demographic, rural, and urban evolution of settlements in Prahova, particularly exploring migrations from Transylvania to the Prahova region beyond the Carpathian arc. The study seeks to understand the impact of these migrations on villages and towns, examining their influence on the local living environment. Utilizing a historical-anthropological methodology, the research aims to present contemporary traces of these migrants, referred to as "ungureni," and their contribution to the culture of the Prahova region, with specific attention to the settlements of Starchiojd. We will try to analyze available sources related to the history of the Starchiojd commune, with a specific focus on identifying historical "fragments". The primary objective is to investigate the presence of Transylvanian elements and examine their impact on the local space and society within the studied area. Once brought to light and arranged chronologically, these episodes will significantly contribute to the reconstruction and deeper understanding of the local past. During the research process, it is crucial not to isolate the particular space from its historical and geographical context. On the contrary, it should be studied through comparison. This approach allows for the identification of aspects such as the presence of a minority integrated among the locals, cultural exchanges, or influences on indigenous products (songs, legends, toponyms, attire, etc.). These findings can highlight the cultural differences that define the respective community in relation to the majority. This paper puts into perspective documented episodes of migration in Prahova County, shedding light on historically overlooked aspects. It focuses on the demographic, rural, and urban evolution of settlements in Prahova, particularly exploring migrations from Transylvania to the Prahova region beyond the Carpathian arc. The study seeks to understand the impact of these migrations on villages and towns, examining their influence on the local living environment. Utilizing a historical-anthropological methodology, the research aims to present contemporary traces of these migrants, referred to as "ungureni," and their contribution to the culture of the Prahova region, with specific attention to the settlements of Starchiojd. We will try to analyze available sources related to the history of the Starchiojd commune, with a specific focus on identifying historical "fragments". The primary objective is to investigate the presence of Transylvanian elements and examine their impact on the local space and society within the studied area.

Soil mite communities (Acari: Gamasina) from different ecosystem types from Romania

The study aimed to characterize the distribution of soil mite populations (Acari: Gamasina) from several terrestrial ecosystems, some of them little studied in Romania as well as in Europe. We studied the Gamasina communities in seven ecosystem types from the Doftana Valley, Prahova County: Luzulo-Fagetum beech forest; Medio-European limestone beech forest of the Cephalanthero-Fagion; Pannonic woods with Quercus petraea and Carpinus betulus; Galio-carpinetum oak – hornbeam forests; Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Myricaria germanica; alluvial shrub, characteristic for a hilly-mountain area, with Salix purpurea; adjacent area to an inland cliff ecosystem. A total of 240 soil samples, 63 species and 475 individuals were analysed. The samples were taken from May 2006 till September 2010. The highest numerical abundance and species diversity was found in the area located nearby to an inland cliff, which is an early succession stage ecosystem. Considering the dominance and constancy indices quantified for mites from all investigated areas, the highest percent was recorded by the recedent-subrecedent and accessory-accidental species. Based on similarity index two different characteristic groups of gamasid populations were delimited: one for deciduous forests and one for shrubs. DCA ordination successfully handled the variation in soil mite species communities taking account of the soil type.

TWO INTRIGUING MOMENTS IN IULIU MANIU’S BIOGRAPHY (1919, 1987)

From the letters exchanged between Hortensia and Octavian Goga in the period from the autumn of 1918 until the autumn of 1919, while Hortensia was a refugee in Genova/Italy and Octavian Goga was in Paris in his position as member of the Council of Romanian National Unity, we find out information about the convalescence and death of Iuliu Maniu’s most beloved nephew, Matei Pop, a soldier with the Romanian Legion in Italy which comprised Romanian prisoners from the Austrian-Hungarian army (February 1919). From the memoirs of Ion Traian Șefănescu, the leader of the Council of Student Associations in Romania (1969), minister of Youth and first-secretary of the Central Committee (CC) of the Communist Youth Union (CYU) (1969-1974), an activist of the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) in Prahova county (1975-1982), first-vicepresident of the Committee for Socialist Culture and Education (1982-1984), and first-secretary of the Sălaj County PCR Committee (1984-1987), we find out about Nicolae Ceaușescu’s opinion on the restauration of furniture items belonging to Iuliu Maniu’s parents’ house in Bădăcin, as well as on the opportunity to open a Iuliu Maniu memorial house. The information delivered and the diplomatic suggestion that I.T. Ștefănescu made to N. Ceaușescu, then on a working visit in Sălaj county (1987), highlight the political vision of a genuine intellectual (I.T. Ștefănescu), as well as a moment of contemplation for N. Ceaușescu - then already ill and overwhelmed by political pressures from both the East and the West, as well as from inside the country – on the fate of political figures in general, including that of Iuliu Maniu, in the last days of his life.

The development of wine tourist experience in Dealu Mare region, Romania

The wine tourism developed in a growing manner in the last years contributing to the economic development of the wine regions of the world. The so called wine tourists seek for an authentic experience in the wineries based on the activities they develop during their visit and given by the region attributes. This research aims to emphasize the tourists’ experience in which relates the wine region of Dealu Mare, Prahova county and identifies the main advantages that this tourist area has regarding the agrotourism potential. The data were collected by applying a questionnaire (n=600) and the results were displayed using charts that show the behavior and activities undertaken by tourists during their visit in the wineries. Hence, the tourist’ behavior in which relates wine consumption and winery visitation has been outlined, also their preferences in terms of wine regions of Romania and abroad. The paper presents also some limitations in which relates the study area and the number of the respondents.

“I Like It!” Experiencing Mediascapes in the Artisanship of Prahova County

My text is an attempt at developing the heuristic potentialities in the escapology of video recording of anthropological fieldwork and, based on this, in the museum practice of posting videos via social media platforms. Ethnographic information is provided for various crafts from Prahova County (wind-instrument making, weaving, and painting) to illustrate both the artisans’ views of their own craftwork and artefacts and the online responses elicited by such arguments, evidence, ideas, etc. Distinctive and interrelated cultural scenes and dramatis personae are identified and discussed in regards with: (1) doing ethnography and artisan profiles; (2) the museum policy of posting video fieldwork records and interviews; and (3) feedback in the form of predefined emotions and comments from friends, followers, or simply visitors of video posts. The article will provide a theoretical approach to the interpretive continuum and interactive reflexivity between artisans (as bearers of folk culture), museum specialists (as promoters of curatorial and research projects), and the online audience of folk art traditions and museum programs.

Groundwater Quality Affected by the Pyrite Ash Waste and Fertilizers in Valea Calugareasca, Romania

The aim of the study was to assess the groundwater quality in a rural area affected by the abandoned pyrite ash waste dumps. The abundance of major ions in groundwater depends largely on the nature of the rocks, climatic conditions, and mobility. To evaluate geochemical processes, 30 groundwater samples collected from Valea Calugareasca, Prahova County, Romania, were analyzed for the major anions (NO3−, SO42−, Cl−, HCO3−, and F−) and cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+), which are naturally highly variable due to climatic and geographical location conditions. Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, and K+ varied between 118 and 275 mg/L, 32 and 160 mg/L, 12.2 and 78.4 mg/L, and 0.21 and 4.48 mg/L, respectively. NO3− levels exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) limit of 50 mg/L were identified in 17% of the groundwater samples, mainly as result of fertilizers applied to agricultural activities. The hydrogeochemical study identified dolomite dissolution and halite precipitation as natural sources of ions as well as the presence of pyrite as a source of SO42− ions in 60% of the samples. The sulfate content varied between 125 and 262 mg/L. Bicarbonate and chloride concentrations varied between 202 and 530 mg/L and 21 and 212 mg/L. The saturation index indicates the contribution of Ca2+ ions in the groundwater samples came from some processes of dissolving rocks such as aragonites (values between 1.27 and 2.69) and calcites (values between 1.43 and 2.82). Negative halite values indicated that salt accumulation results from precipitation processes. Only 10% of the analyzed groundwater samples were suitable for human consumption, the samples being situated on the hill, far away from the pyrite ash waste dumps and agricultural land.

CH4 isotopic signatures of emissions from oil and gas extraction sites in Romania

Methane (CH4) emissions to the atmosphere from the oil and gas sector in Romania remain highly uncertain despite their relevance for the European Union’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Measurements of CH4 isotopic composition can be used for source attribution, which is important in top-down studies of emissions from extended areas. We performed isotope measurements of CH4 in atmospheric air samples collected from an aircraft (24 locations) and ground vehicles (83 locations), around oil and gas production sites in Romania, with focus on the Romanian Plain. Ethane to methane ratios were derived at 412 locations of the same fossil fuel activity clusters. The resulting isotopic signals (δ13C and δ2H in CH4) covered a wide range of values, indicating mainly thermogenic gas sources (associated with oil production) in the Romanian Plain, mostly in Prahova county (δ13C from –67.8 ± 1.2 to –22.4 ± 0.04 ‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belmnite; δ2H from –255 ± 12 to –138 ± 11 ‰ Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water) but also the presence of some natural gas reservoirs of microbial origin in Dolj, Ialomiţa, Prahova, and likely Teleorman counties. The classification based on ethane data was generally in agreement with the one based on CH4 isotopic composition and confirmed the interpretation of the gas origin. In several cases, CH4 enhancements sampled from the aircraft could directly be linked to the underlying production clusters using wind data. The combination of δ13C and δ2H signals in these samples confirms that the oil and gas production sector is the main source of CH4 emissions in the target areas. We found that average CH4 isotopic signatures in Romania are significantly lower than commonly used values for the global fossil fuel emissions. Our results emphasize the importance of regional variations in CH4 isotopes, with implications for global inversion modeling studies.

FIRST DESCRIPTION OF Cypripedium AND Cypripedium calceolus var. citrina B. HERGT IN ROMANIA: MORPHOLOGY, POLLINATION AND CONSERVATION STATUS

Cypripedium genus is represented by 59 species and nothospecies (species of hybrid origin), mainly distributed across North, Central and South America, Europe and Asia, but absent from Madagascar and Australia. The most important characteristic of this genus is their showy and large labellum, which transformed into the specific slipper-shaped, vividly coloured, inflated pouch. In Romania, the genus is represented by one species only, Cypripedium calceolus. The article contains the first description of a newly discovered population in Prahova County, as well as a complete illustration of a Cypripedium calceolus flower pollinated by a female bee of the Lasioglossum genus. The flowers are passive traps pollinated by bees of particular type and size. The article describes in detail different mimicry (deceit) pollination strategies employed by the orchid in order to exploit its insect pollinators (generalized food deception mimicry, shelter mimicry, nest/brood-site mimicry, rendezvous attraction). Using advanced techniques of ultra-macro photography, details of floral organs are illustrated in order to describe in great detail the intriguing deceptive pollination mechanisms and mimicry strategies employed by the Slipper Orchids to attract their highly specific and rather scarce pollinating insects. Along with the detailed description and illustration of the common single-flowered plants, we also describe rare Cypripedium calceolus f. biflorum plants in Prahova County and present for the first time in Romania, a unique Cypripedium calceolus var. citrina individual, found in 2019, in Suceava County.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Romanian Tourism. An Explorative Case Study on Prahova County, Romania

Europe stands first in the world ranking of tourist destinations Tourism is at the heart of a huge business ecosystem that contributes substantially to prosperity and job creation in all Member States of the European Union The COVID-19 epidemic puts the EU tourism industry under unprecedented pressure It has led to the suspension of most domestic and international travel, causing a significant reduction in revenue and creating liquidity problems for all tour operators Both travellers and businesses face uncertain prospects The goals of this research focused on the main directions: 1) to assess the main concerns for the tourism industry in Romania in the autumn of 2020 and 2) to identify immediate measures to support the Romanian tourism sector A questionnaire was applied to acquire the viewpoints of the sixteen representatives of eleven prestigious hotels in the mountain region of Valea Prahovei in Romania The outcomes show their considerations on lifting travel restrictions, restoring traveller confidence and rethinking the Romanian tourism sector for the future

Impact of hydrocarbons transport through pipes on placement areas

Contaminants from the geological environment have induced effects specific to each category of compounds. Complex geological and geochemical studies were based on the geological drilling with depths up to 10 m. The area studied in this paper was the area of Prahova County. The paper aims to present some of the results obtained from analysis performed at soil affected by oil contamination and hydrocarbons products transported through pipelines. The maximum depth from which samples were taken was 10 m. This paper shows the need to investigate each area in terms of pollution.

THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL RESOURCES ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN PRAHOVA COUNTY

The research aimed to identify the soil resources of Prahova County and the limiting factorsof the soil, such as: soil acidity and alkalinity, phosphorus supply, humus reserve, surface erosion and deep erosion, landslides and soil pollution withoil residues or dumpsand quarries.The main agricultural crops, the cultivated areas and the obtained productions were analyzed for the 2016-2020 period.The quality of the soils and the lands affected by various limiting factors in Prahova County directly influences the annual productions and their continuous monitoring helps to propose measures regarding their control and soil improvement.

Topoare de silex descoperite în așezările culturii Gumelnița de la Urlați (jud. Prahova), Ciolăneștii din Deal, Țigănești (jud. Teleorman), Surdulești (jud. Argeș) și Uzunu (jud. Giurgiu)

Although flint axes are characteristic discoveries in the settlements of the Gumelnița culture, their approach in specialized studies is rather isolated. This type of piece is the proof of the skill of the prehistoric craftsmen and shows the existence of complex woodworking techniques. In this study, we analysed nine unique pieces coming from three distinct areas, respectively the north of Muntenia (Urlați), south (Uzunu) and the southwest of the same region (Ciolăneștii din Deal, Țigănești and Surdulești). From the Urlați settlement we publish an axe discovered during the systematic investigations in 2018. The five axes from Ciolăneștii din Deal were discovered in the Măgura Țui tell, located in the meadows of the Câinelui stream/rivulet, a tributary of the Vedea River. This site was archaeologically surveyed in 1964-1965 and systematically investigated in 1966 by A. Nițu and Al. Marinescu. From the tell Țigănești comes a large axe representing an isolated find, without no connection to the 19th century researches of C. Bolliac and D. Butculescu. The axe from Surdulești comes from the excavations performed by M. Petrescu-Dîmbovița in the tell settlement called Movila de la Eleșteu. It was located on the right bank of the Burdea River, a tributary of the Vedea River and was surveyed in 1946. The large axe from Uzunu (Giurgiu County) is part of the patrimony of the Prahova County Museum of History and Archeology, being purchased along with other 124 other pieces by the respective institution in 1959.

Between worlds and elites at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age in the Lower Danube Basin: a pluridisciplinary approach to personal ornaments

The territory situated to the north of the Lower Danube represents the ideal space for observing the interaction between local communities, local environment and newcomers who arrived here at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. Thousands of burial mounds and relatively few flat graves present an array of common or exceptional inventories, indicating a very dynamic society. Among these grave inventories, the ornaments, beyond their primary symbolism (religious, social, cultural), generate important information which, properly exploited and systematically treated, allows the exploration of social practices in the context of the development of elites in prehistory. This study highlights the results of pluridisciplinary investigations (anthropological, isotopic, metallographic, technological, traceological, malacological and archaeozoological) of the ornaments discovered in a grave of the Early Bronze Age (the first third of the 3rd millennium BC) from Șoimești, Prahova County, with the richest inventory in Romania. The exploration of various aspects, such as the variety of basic materials used (animal teeth, molluscs, metal), ornamental forms and settings, their large number and their distribution in the burial space, allowed for interpretive assumptions about the deceased individual’s relation with the environment (through the fauna in the grave), and cultural and social identity (including status) analysed from different spatial perspectives, including the Lower Danube, Carpathian Basin and the North Pontic steppe.

Turanici la Dunărea Inferioară – complexe cercetate recent în nordul Munteniei / Turanians at the Lower Danube – recently investigated contexts in the northern Wallachia

The aim of this paper is to present a series of discoveries attributed to the Turkic nomadic populations (11th– 12th centuries), resulting from archaeological research conducted in 2018 and 2019 in several burial mounds placed in the localities of Târgșoru Nou and Inotești from Prahova County, as well as Lunca from Buzău county. It includes descriptions of the investigated archaeological features, the results of the anthropological and archaeozoological determinations as well as those of the physico-chemical investigations of some metal artefacts, and absolute chronology dates. Given that artefacts were part of the archaeological features investigated, we briefly present information regarding their analogies and occurrence. These discoveries highlight a time period which is otherwise scarcely known in this region and at the same time add weight to other materials already published during past years.

Towards a new sustainable economy of Ploiești

Article 35 of the Romanian Constitution guarantees ”the right to a healthy environment”. Looking at the particular case of Ploiești, the most important city in Prahova county, one could say that this article refers to every Romanian, except those living here. Odd things happen in Ploiești, a city under the blessing as well as the curse of the ”black gold” – oil. People are more and more anxious about the high level of air pollution and recent data extracted from the statistics of the Public Health Department in Prahova only came to amplify their concerns. The lack of continuous measurements of air pollution empowers the rumours about dubious arrangements between local authorities and main polluters. Since the communist era, when it was the second city in Romania by the value of the industrial production, the city of Ploiești has changed. Many of the colossal factories are forever gone and with them their huge negative impact on the environment. However, many things still need to change, because the way we see things has changed. Nowadays, the information is easier to access wherever we are, and people learn fast to turn this to their advantage. Many cities in Romania have managed to surpass their industrial grey past and step into a greener future: Cluj, Oradea or Brașov are just three examples. Although problems never cease to appear, the commitment of the authorities to citizens’ interests is very important. Political leaders of Ploiești must acknowledge that a city without oil is conceivable, while a city without people is an absurdity. The simple things that the local authorities need to do is to assure the population about their commitment and good intentions (continuous measurements, studies on the relationship between air pollution and cancer mortality), to control and regulate the potential sources of air pollution (first of all industry, then transport and household activities), and, most of all, hear the voice of the people !

Peisaje şi contexte actuale: un tumul de pământ cercetat în localitatea Coada Izvorului, judeţul Prahova / Present landscapes and contexts: a burial mound excavated at Coada Izvorului, Prahova County

The aim of this study is to provide extensive information regarding the results of the archaeological research carried out during the autumn of 2017 in Coada Izvorului locality, Măneşti commune (Prahova County). Within less than two weeks, the Prahova County Museum of History and Archaeology excavated using mechanised equipment an earth mound with a height of 1.2 m and a diameter of 35 m. It contained a total number of three graves, two of which were prehistoric, dating from the first half of the 3rd millennium BC, while the third was assigned to the Turkic nomad populations from the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD. No grave goods were found in the prehistoric burials, however the later one had two iron items, respectively an arrowhead and a ring, both of which were poorly preserved.

Influence of Anthropogenic Pressures on Groundwater Quality from a Rural Area

During the past few decades, the anthropogenic activities induced worldwide changes in the ecological systems, including the aquatic systems. This work analysed the contamination level of groundwater resources from a rural agglomeration (Central-Western part of Prahova County) by biological and physico-chemical approaches. The study was performed during the autumn of 2016 on several sampling sites (four drilling wells, depth higher than 100 m supplying three villages; two wells lower than 10 m depth and one spring). The water quality was evaluated by comparison with the limit values of the drinking water quality legislation (Law no.458/2002) and the Order 621/2014 (applicable to all groundwater bodies of Romania). The results showed that phenols and metals (iron and manganese) exceeded the threshold values in all sampling sites. Moreover, the anthropogenic factors including agriculture, use of fertilizers, manures, animal husbandry led to an increase of the bacterial load, particularly at wells sites.

General topography of Prahova County, Romania

ABSTRACTThe general topographic mapping of a territory, even at detailed scales, remains a difficult task as it is necessary to select the most representative features for an objective representation. The approach we propose tries to provide an accurate solution for mapping the key features of an administrative unit from Southern Romania (Prahova County, 4917 km2) at the scale 1:150,000. The map combines existing data (EU DEM elevation data, hydrographic network) with adapted data extracted from OpenStreetMap (road, railway and settlement networks), together with field survey data, that bring the specific landmarks together with updated information on other features. This approach attempts to bring an integrated configuration of cartographic features and so provide accurate data for scientists, businessmen and tourists, closer to similar scale remote sensing imagery.

Mathematical Modelling for Micropiles Embedded in Salt Rock

Abstract This study presents the results of the mathematical modelling for the micropiles foundation of an investement objective located in Slanic, Prahova county. Three computing models were created and analyzed with software, based on Finite Element Method. With Plaxis 2D model was analyzed the isolated micropile and the three-dimensional analysis was made with Plaxis 3D model, for group of micropiles. For the micropiles foundation was used Midas GTS-NX model. The mathematical models were calibrated based with the in-situ tests results for axially loaded micropiles, embedded in salt rock. The paper presents the results obtained with the three software, the calibration and validation models.

Mapping Land Cover Using Remote Sensing Data and GIS Techniques: A Case Study of Prahova Subcarpathians

This paper describes a methodology to obtain a land cover dataset for a selected Subcarpathian area from Prahova County, Romania. It proposes a combined Remote Sensing, GIS and Cartography approaches in order to produce an accurate land cover layer at regional and local scales for an area where the land cover features are various and complicated in configuration. The area between Prahova and Teleajen rivers is characterized by complex landforms as hills and depressions with active and dynamic geomorphic processes. This paper presents a model integrating a supervised classification derived from Landsat OLI images with currently available land cover models, as well as GIS processing results of data fusion and cartographic techniques for feature representation on the map, at different scales. Another research direction was to use some normalized differenced indices to separate the spectral classes, and to assess and validate the results from the classification. Land cover map was obtained using: 1) land cover classes derived from supervised classification of Landsat 8 OLI image data, and; b) land cover features extracted from two land cover models (CORINE Land Cover and GlobeLand30), integrated with the classification dataset. The results were confronted and validated with ground truth points generated from orthophotos and other satellite images. The layouts are generated at different scales in order to compare and validate the land cover categories.