Journal Analele Banatului N.S. Archaeology-History

Coriolan Horațiu Opreanu

Profan vs. sacru la Sarmizegetusa Regia / Profane vs. Sacred at Sarmizegetusa Regia

Jan. 1, 2016

Abstract

In a former study published in the present yearbook (2015), the author reopened the interpretation of the archaeological structures unearthed at Grădiștea Muncelului 65 years before. He challenged that time the traditional explanation which considered them as sanctuaries. After criticizing the old theory (which was not based on any direct archaeological evidence), he proposed a more rational functionality of the rows of round stone-bases: they were the bases supporting an upper floor of the wooden buildings on top, elevated from the soil-level, being used as store-buildings, mainly for stockpiling cereals’ supplies necessary for the numerous community from Sarmizegetusa Regia to survive in a harsh mountain climate during the six months cold season. The author also provided as analogies prehistoric timber buildings, Roman timber and stone horrea, all using the same principles, but also mediaeval and modern granaries from Spain, or Britain with the same design and function. The present new approach was considered necessary by the author to emphasize the methodological background of the subject. He continues his previous demonstration opening to the reader the work-laboratory which led him to the conclusion the ancient basements found at Sarmizegetusa Regia belonged initially to profane and not sacred buildings. For that he describes the criteria established by the European and American prehistoric archaeology to identify a sacred building and cites several important contributions to the archaeology of ritual. Laying these criteria upon the archaeological information and evidence we have from the buildings from Sarmizegetusa Regia no one can be surely found. The conclusion cannot be other than they were not building with sacred significance. The author also contradicts the hypothesis that some golden coin hoards and bracelets were hidden in antiquity at Sarmizegetusa Regia with ritual intention. He supports the idea they belonged to the Dacian royal treasure of Burebista, taking into consideration the great quantity of golden coins of the same type and the great number of golden unused bracelets. He also rejects the idea of the existence of an imaginary holly mountain at Sarmizegetusa Regia which was considered by other scholars as the main reason of the establishment there of the royal residence during the 1st century BC and of the development of the settlement toward an urban aspect and size. The author proposes instead as the main factor of urbanization the fight of the Dacian aristocracy to take control of the iron ore resources in the area, as proved by the numerous forges, kilns and iron tools hoards found at Sarmizegetusa Regia. At the end the author explains why his explanation is more credible than the old one, enumerating the criteria to arrive to the best explanation in archaeology.