Romanian Archaeological Site Sheds Light On Roots Of European Civilization

Amid the rolling hills and vineyards of south-central Romania lies the Urlati archaeological site, where traces of human civilization from the Neolithic and Bronze Age are being unearthed after thousands of years of lying undisturbed.

Though not as spectacular as the excavation of ancient dwellings or tombs, the archaeological discoveries from Merez Hill date back to prehistory, helping to form an image of the evolution of the respective communities as well as of the fauna specific to the area.

Discovered by a teacher at the beginning of the last century, the site has been surveyed since the 1990s. Experts believe approximately 100 people lived here at the end of the Stone Age.
 

Archaeologists have discovered more than 40 burial mounds in which 200 people were buried, including this grave of an adult and a child. They were discovered under a tumulus -- a mound of earth or stone, conical or pyramidal in shape, raised above the grave for the purpose of protection.
 

Unlike classic archaeological sites where the digging is done meticulously by hand, an excavator is needed to remove the tumuli, which can reach up to 9 meters in height.
 
 

In each tumulus, the remains of one family -- often those who have achieved higher status in society -- were found.

Every relic is painstakingly studied and inventoried, with larger pieces sorted onsite and smaller ones sent to the Prahova County Museum of History and Archaeology, where restorers catalog them and occasionally use them in museum exhibits.

A tumulus grave where archaeologists discovered human remains. The burial also contained jewelry made of stone and bone, as well as clay utensils.

An archaeologist uses an excavator to take a picture from high above a tumuli. The photographing of artifacts and their position in the grave site can reveal information about the time period from which they originated.

After thousands of years lying undisturbed, a bone chisel from the Bronze Age is pictured in the sunlight after being unearthed earlier this month.

A Bronze Age bear canine tooth pendant was also unearthed. Prehistoric people used animal bones to construct weapons as well as ornaments.

A polished stone knife from the Bronze Age

Ceramic fragments from the Bronze Age