Sondajul arheologic din punctul Tânganu „Autostradă”, com. Pantelimon, jud. Ilfov (1992)
The archaeological research at the Tânganu „Autostradă” („Highway”) site, comm. Pantelimon, Ilfov County (1992)

Summary/Abstract: The archaeological site Tânganu „Autostradă” („Highway”) is situated 13 km south-east of Bucharest, in the southern area of the commune Pantelimon, but close to Tânganu hamlet (comm. Cernica, Ilfov County). Topographically, it is situated on a spur of the old right bank of Colentina River, now supplied with sewerage system, close to the confluence with Dâmbovița River (also supplied with sewerage system), in a micro-zone with good living conditions. In the months of March, May and June of year 1992, archaeological excavations were made on the route of the future Bucharest-Constanța highway, between 7.400 and 9 km. 17 trenches and 12 cassettes were made on the terrace called Tânganu „Autostradă” („Highway”). Other three excavations were made west and south of this site. Four archaeological layers were identified on the surface of the terrace, each of them marked by a habitation layer. A new aspect of civilisation corresponds to each habitation layer. I. The Neolithic settlement. In the southern area of the terrace there was a higher relief form (mound), where traces of a settlement were found. A house made of a railing covered by a plaster of fresh clay mixed with straws was discovered. The floor was made of beaten clay. Pottery fragments typical for Vidra stage of the Boian culture were found. II. The Bronze Age settlement. The central part of the settlement was registered on the western part of the terrace. Two houses and a waste pit were found. Fragments of burnt wattle and daub, ash, small fragments of charcoal and many pottery fragments argue that the destruction of these two houses was due to a fire. The discoveries are varied: pottery fragments, weapons and tools made of flint and stone, spindle-whorls, patterns of chariot wheels made of clay and animal bones. The main pottery shapes are: storage vessels, vessels with „S” profile, bowls with hemispherical truncated cone or bi-conical body, without handle or with two horizontal or vertical handles, dishes, mugs, a small bowl, beakers and one-handled cups. The ornament of the vessels of „common use”, large- or medium-size, consists of striations made with a comb, lines with prominences and hollows, bordered by hollows with different shapes and applied prominences. The pottery made of fine clay is decorated with incisions made by successive stitches with oblique lines and triangles. The alternation of ornaments made by successive fine stitches with lines of successive wide stitches and of those transposed in the technique of reserved strips on the pottery found in each house is relevant for the dating of this short time habitation to the IIIrd stage of Tei culture. III. Geto-Dacian settlement. A Geto-Dacian level of 4th-3rd centuries BC was identified on the eastern part of the terrace. A pit house was found at a depth of -1.10 m. Its filling consisted on a large amount of pottery fragments and a spindle-whorl. Hand-made pottery consists in bi-conical vessels, vessels with almost vertical profile, bowls, mugs and a jug, beakers, dishes (three with horizontal handles), plates and the foot of a fruit bowl. Knobs applied on the central part of the body or under the rim of vessels, simple or ornamented, lines with prominences and hollows or just with hollows are the main ornaments. Wheel-made pottery is less relevant and includes dishes with rim turned inward or outward, a krater, pitchers (one with trefoil mouth) and amphorae. IV. The settlement dated late 18th-19th centuries. The habitation layer is represented by the vegetal humus. Two pit houses and a waste pit were found in the western area, a pit house and two outdoor ovens were found in the eastern part of the terrace. Fragments of iron slag, two items and a scrap are the arguments for the existence of artisans who were processing iron in the western area of the terrace.

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