„Măgura” Uroiului (Hunedoara County, Romania). An Archaeological Site from the perspective of Landscape Archaeology

The archaeological site of “Măgura Uroiului” (Hunedoara County) is one of the most complex sites in Romania due to its geomorphologic qualities and continuously habitation from prehistory through the Middle Ages. It is a hill with volcanic origin and a series of natural platforms. It was a favorable place both for military fortifications, for civil settlements, and also for quarrying stone. In 2008 a wide-landscape archaeology study was started that includes a detailed digital cartography of the terrain and a 3D reconstruction of the whole archaeological complex and a paleomorphology study. Integrated remote sensing methods (satellite images analysis and geophysical prospects) were used. The first step was a detailed topographical measurement of the site’s surface with the help of a total station (over 100 hectares) in order to reveal all micro-relief details, both natural and manmade. The second step was the editing of GIS spatial data, 2D and 3D graphic reconstructions. The third step was the analysis of the geomorphologic evolution of the terrain, the identification and interpretation of man-made features, the recognition of the ways of human intervention in the environment and of the causes and effects generated in the local ecosystem. The fourth step was a interdisciplinary analysis combining remote sensing and geophysical prospects in order to establish the exact inhabited areas, fortification system, road network, etc. Our study is meant to be a multidisciplinary analysis and aims to establish the relationship between man and environment, the difficult part being the extraordinary complexity of this site and its dimensions.Măruia Liviu, Micle Dorel, Cîntar Adrian, Balos Angelica, Pescaru Adriana, Stavilă Andrei, Bolcu Lavinia. „Măgura” Uroiului (Hunedoara County, Romania). An Archaeological Site from the perspective of Landscape Archaeology. In: Annales d'Université "Valahia" Târgovişte. Section d'Archéologie et d'Histoire, Tome 12, Numéro 1, 2010. pp. 85-96