Cetatea de la Tabla Buţii (com. Ceraşu, jud. Prahova) – campaniile arheologice 1995–1996, 1998
The fortress of Tabla Buţii (Comm. Ceraşu, Prahova County) – the 1995-1996, 1998 excavation campaigns

Summary/Abstract: Situated in the Siriu Mountains at 1300 m above sea level, the Tabla Buţii Fortress was built 2 km from the former Wallachian-Transylvanian border and half way between the village of Slon Ceraşu, Prahova County) south of the Carpathian Mountains, in the Valea Buzăului village (Braşov County) north of the Carpathians. The fortress is shaped like a quadrilateral with unequal sides (the longest facing north-south) and with defensive towers located at the corners. It is built on a slightly irregular surface. The shape and dimensions of the towers are different: the northeast tower (the smallest) is quasi-square, the north-west is trapezoidal, the south-west tower is quadrangular and the south-east tower has 5 sides, inside there are 4 rooms). The citadel had two entrances, one on the south side and the other on the north side. In front of the south side of the fortress there was a large ditch (14 m opening) which continued on a rock in the form of the letter V. Throughout the ditch, in front of the southern curtain wall, there are fragments of two parallel walls, one having the role of counterscarp. The walls of the fortress were constructed of blocks of quarry stone, varying in thickness: 1.20 m for east and west towers and curtains, 1.50 m for south and 1.15 m for North courtine. Inside the citadel there were several adjustments, such as: wooden walkway, wooden huts and annexes leaning against the walls (their existence is indicated by the layer of ash, nails, negatives of the pillars, two bread ovens, a fireplace, etc.). The stratigraphy told us that the citadel suffered two fires, destruction and at least one reconstruction. Ceramics represent the most important archaeological material discovered during the three excavation campaigns. The earliest ceramic shards were dated to the 14th–15th centuries. Stove tiles of different types, lids of vases, ceramic pipes, coins dated to the 16th–17th centuries, an inscription in Hungarian which spoke of a restoration of the citadel in 1628. In a pit, we discovered objects belonging to the Iron Age: ceramic fragments and an iron object of unknown functionality. The citadel was built in the second half of the 14th century, more precisely during the reign of Louis I (1342–1382), as a frontier fortification of the Hungarian Kingdom. So, the fortification of Tabla Buţii is a much later monument that has nothing to do with the constructive activity of the Order of the Teutons, as was believed until now. The citadel no longer operates from the last quarter of the 17th century when it was abandoned by the military, despite the sporadic traces of habitation. The citadel took its name from the barrels of wine taxed at the customs. Later, in the second half of the 17th century, it took the name of Cetatea Buzăului.

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