DESCOPERIRI ARHEOLOGICE ÎN SITUL DE LA ŞEUŞA - „GORGAN” (COM. CIUGUD, JUD. ALBA). I.
Archaeological Discoveries from Şeuşa - „Gorgan” (com. Ciugud, Alba County)

Summary/Abstract: The site from Şeuşa-„Gorgan” was revealed after intensive investigations and fieldwork made in the area of another prehistoric archaeological site, the one from Şeuşa-„La cărarea morii”. The point named „Gorgan” (term that defines a small pile of earth raised upon a grave) is situated at approximately 3-4 kilometres west of the Şeuşa village (map I and II) at an altitude of 630 metres, at the contact of the Secaşelor Plateau (east) with the Mureş valley (west)By its position, it dominates the entire area (sector) of the Mureş river near the city of Alba Iulia, more than 30 km from North to South. The site was discovered in 1996, after a ground survey. The archaeological excavation strategy was dictated by the morphology of the hill (the hillock and terraces). The name (Gorgan) suggested that an old tumulus grave (Cotofeni?) may exist under the hillock The materials gathered during surface surveys determined systematic excavations in the spring of the year 2000, thus resulting in a trench of information and stratigraphical control (S I/2000 = 5 x 2m). The stratigraphical situation and the many materials revealed proved to be very interesting and determined another excavation at this point in September 2000, this time on a wider surface (S II/2000 = 8 x 4m). The trench revealed two distinct cultural layers, the above belonging to the Coţofeni Culture (the beginning of phase III in its evolution) and the lower belonging to the Tiszapolgár Culture. The excavation revealed many structures: four houses belonging to Coţofeni Culture; the first one (L I/2000) being quite big (6 x 5m) and it was very well preserved due to firing. The entire Coţofeni cultural layer, including the above-mentioned complexes, provided a very rich inventory of archaeological materials (pottery, lithics, bone artefacts, etc.). The Tiszapolgár cultural layer provided two complexes: the first one, a special arrangement, probably with a certain spiritual (cultic) signification, inside which there was found a grain altar (1 x 1.5m), made out of burnt clay; the second one, a relatively big pit with plenty of pottery fragments, grain hand mill stones, fragments from an external fire place, bones and snails. The Tiszapolgár house also revealed pottery with specific ornaments, chipped and polished lithics (Pl. I-VIII) and a very well preserved small copper chisel within the cultural layer (Pl. V/18). The stratigraphical results confirmed the hypothesis that this hill was levelled for habitation purposes by all the communities (Coţofeni and Tiszapolgár Cultures). The complex stratigraphy, the archaeology and the materials revealed are very important in clarifying important aspects of the Developed and Late Eneolithic phenomenon in the intra- Carpathic area. These are only some of the reasons that determined the planning of wide and systematic excavations at this site in the near future.

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