INFORMATION LIBRARY
We invite you to discover the information library with us, the platform of questions, resources and information with close connection to the project, with the archaeological research area and the way of life of the Dacians.
In these workshops, the Dacians produced tools such as massive anvils, hammers of different shapes and sizes, sledgehammers, files, tongs – no less than 10 different types of pliers were discovered - and chisels. At the same time, they made iron tools and objects for wood processing or in constructions: wide or narrow blade saws, nails and spike nails, axes, clamps, knives, drills, adzes, tacks, door locks and hinges. In the Dacians' workshops, weapons were produced: lances and spears, straight and curved swords, daggers, the metal part of the shields. Then, various other everyday items: scissors, razor blades, large spits, knives. Iron was also used to make ornaments or garment accessories.
Do you know the story of the bronze pieces?
It's very interesting that in order to get to that area, you had to walk down a ceremonial road over 200 meters long, paved with limestone slabs. Then you would find temples distributed on two large anthropogenic terraces here, supported by walls made with limestone blocks, measuring for some segments more than 10-12 meters in height. The remains of two circular temples and five rectangular ones were discovered here, as well as a monumental altar and water evacuation systems. On the 9th terrace, a sixth cult edifice of the alignments type is under investigation. Only limestone and andesite plinths are preserved from the temples, on which the wooden or stone columns were supported, as well as the limestone or andesite pilasters, with a role in the delimitation of the temple space. The altar of andesite – used for sacrifice - is unique in Dacia, through its circular shape, through the dimensions and materials used. The large circular temple is important, having in its center an apsidal, solstice-oriented chamber. All the stone elements coming from the temple structure reveal a monumental architecture, unique due to its proportions, planimetry and constructive technique. This argument and the large number of these buildings support the idea of identifying Sarmizegetusa Regia with "the Sacred Mountain" (Kōgaionon).
They were issued after the middle of the first century BC, they were named so after the name inscribed in Greek on one of its faces, they show the tendency of the Dacians to change the iconography of the coins in accordance with the imagery important to them: it is basically a combination of two Roman republican monetary types, with an eagle with open wings on one side and holding a laurel wreath in the right claw and a scepter in the left. On the other side of the coin there are three men advancing left. The inscription in Greek KOΣΩΝ appears in the lower part of the coin. It is very interesting that they do not show traces of circulation wear, they were discovered only in hoards, sometimes next to the famous Dacian spiral bracelets. This indicates to us that they were not coins in daily transactions, but were viewed as a treasure, placed under the sign of the sacred, especially since they were made of gold, the symbol of the sacred in ancient times.
Coins, in addition to intrinsic value, were also the main means of circulating images and give us clues about the mentality of that period. The third century B.C. is the period in which the Dacians began to issue their own coins, imitating other coins that existed on the market, most often of silver.
It was carried out on the monumental andesite altar on the 11th terrace, unique due to the special attention paid to the processing and assembling the pieces of its structure.
Most of the Dacian food in the capital's area consisted of cereals and legumes. Seeds of certain varieties were discovered in settlements and fortifications. Being rich in carbon hydrates, a very important source of calories, the cereals were preferred by the Dacians and due to the fact that they could be preserved for longer periods of time; the most consumed were wheat and millet, but also rye, barley and oat. Most likely they were brought from the Mures Valley and then stored in barns, vessels or crates. The storage vessels are present in all Dacian sites in the area, even up to 2 meters in height. Significant quantities of charred seeds and rotary querns, used for their grinding, were discovered during the archaeological excavations in the area. Cereals were consumed in the form of soups, porridge, bread, or pita bread. One of the basic foods of the Dacians was a stew of different consistencies, made of millet grains ground and boiled in water or milk. In the composition of some porridges it is possible that the Dacians have introduced other plants such as spinach, orache, lentils, peas and broad beans. Meat-based nutrition is documented by discoveries of domestic and wild animal bones in all settlements and fortifications. The Dacians consumed milk and drinks with a lower or higher degree of alcohol, wine, beer, mead – obtained from water and honey. At Sarmizegetusa Regia dishes used for serving wine were discovered: casseroles, strainers, jugs and pitchers.
You should know that they produced textile materials and this is suggested by the discovery of spindle whorls, burnt clay weights, charred seeds from textile plants. Vegetable fibres (flax and hemp) or animal fibres (sheep wool) were used, spun with the spindle and woven to a loom in an upright position, the burnt clay weights being used to strain the warp yarns.
Cele peste 3000 de artefacte dacice din fier descoperite în capitala Daciei ne indică faptul că dacii lucrau intens în atelierele de făurărie, iar producția din zona Grădiștea de Munte – Sarmizegetusa Regia era unul dintre cele mai însemnate din întreg spațiul european antic. Știai că acest loc este unul dintre singurele zone în care pot fi documentate, prin prisma pieselor, chiar toate etapele acestei activități, de la transformarea turtelor de fier până la realizarea obiectelor finite? Este interesant și faptul că la Sarmizegetusa Regia au fost descoperite mai mult de 400 de lupe din fier, toate cântărind peste 2500 de kilograme. Acestea erau încălzite pe vetre special amenajate și transformate în lingouri, prin lovirea repetată cu barosul. Și dulgheria se număra printre ocupațiile dacilor, lemnul fiind folosit pentru înălțarea fortificațiilor, a caselor și anexelor sale, a templelor și atelierelor, dar și pentru realizarea sistemelor de captare și distribuire a apei. Dacii confecționau și piese de mobilier dar și cufere, lăzi, casete, butoaie sau găleți. Special pentru Sarmizegetusa Regia s-au descoperit câteva sute de unelte de dulgherie și tâmplărie: topoare, bărzi, tesle, fierăstraie, cuțitoaie, sfredele, dălți, pile și compasuri. Ceea ce este interesant e faptul că anumite unelte și materiale de construcție au fost descoperite doar în capitala Daciei și asta pentru că aici dacii au înălțat construcții de dimensiuni monumentale având în structură și părți din lemn, iar piesele metalice erau folosite pentru îmbinări: piroane de fier și sfredele de mari dimensiuni, ținte de fier cu un diametru de 30 de cm, cu rol decorativ și funcțional. Deși s-au păstrat puține structuri din lemn, s-a descoperit că butoiul, jgheaburile și scândurile care acopereau cisterna aflate în locul numit La Tău de la Sarmizegetusa Regia, erau din molid.