C.A.R.T. - Carpathian Ancient Resource and Technology Project

The main focus of the projects research has been on better understanding the development of prehistoric cultures in the Mures valley in terms of technology, regional interaction and resource exploitation. The project also focuses on clarifying the chronology of this region to better understand when (and perhaps why) certain advancements and changes took place. This involves not only the day-to-day lives of the people who lived in the Mures valley, but also how they interacted with their environment. From 2004 to 2009 excavations were carried out at several sites as well as numerous field walking surveys to search for and catalogue prehistoric sites.

 

Much of the project’s work takes place throughout the year in the laboratory. Previous research has included analyses of knapped artefacts from Bronze Age sites in the Mures valley to better understand acquisition and exchange strategies. Current research is focusing on dietary habits and health in the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. Planned research for 2009 and 2010 includes reconstruction of the climate and flora of the middle Mures valley, as well as pottery making methodologies employed by the Cotofeni people.

 

The 2010 field season will take place again at the late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age settlement site at Piatra Tomii (Racatau village, Alba county). The research this year will investigate flint mining techniques used during the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age as well as flint processing workshops at the settlement, particularly related to the methodology and equipment used by the Cotofeni people. This will allow the research team to compare a flint mining settlement to other contemporary settlment types previoulsly studied in this area. Previously ore mining settlments have been investigated but so far, no prehistoric flint mining settlements have been researched in Transylvania. Mineralogical analyses of the flint from Piatra Tomii will help establish possible trade relations with other settlemnts.