Dacian fortress of Covasna

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Alternative name| Cetatea Zânelor, Fairies Fortress
Location| Dealul Florilor, Covasna, Covasna County, Romania
Coordinates| 45°49′38″N 26°13′22″E﻿ / ﻿45.827193°N 26.222660°E﻿ / 45.827193; 26.222660
Site notes
Excavation dates|

* 1942 – 1943 [1]
* 1949 [1]
* 1998 [1]

Archaeologists|

* Al. Ferenczi [1]
* Constantin Daicoviciu[1]
* V. Sârbu [1]
* V. Crișan [1]

Condition| Ruined

Monument istoric

Reference no.| CV-I-s-A-13058 [2]

The Dacian fortress of Covasna served as a Dacian fortified town and is rated to have been built in the 1st century BC. It sits on a mountain in the Brețcu-Oituz Mountains above the town of Covasna, which is 227 km from the capital of Bucharest.[3] The fortress is also known by the name of the Fairies Fortress, sitting atop of the Valley of Fairies.[4]

## Construction

[edit]

The fortress consisted of a number of terraced fortifications sitting at an altitude of about 900 m above sea level with a command of the areas around south-east Transylvania, south Moldavia and east Wallachia. In all the fortress covered an area of 10,000 m2. A number of defensive buildings were built as well as religious sites and the terraces had the effect of blocking and hampering advancing armies as they were bolstered by 1.5 m to 2 m high and 2m to 2.5 m thick solid sandstone slab walls.[1]

The first terrace was 3,000 m2 while the second was 3,700 m2 and the third 150 m2. Each was fortified by walls. Excavations lead to the possibility of other terraces further down.[1]

The main acropolis was situated at the base of the plateau was a 700 m2 circular solid stone building.[1]

## Conquering

[edit]

The fortress is assumed to have been a Dacian haven for over two centuries until the Roman–Dacian wars of the 2nd Century AD.[5]

## Excavation

[edit]

Three major excavation works have happened here through the last century:[1]

* Al. Ferenczi (1942 – 1943)
* C. Daicoviciu (1949)
* V. Sârbu and V. Crisan, 1998

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k ""The Fairies' Fortress", Covasna county". www.cimec.ro. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
2. ^ "National Register of Historic Monuments in Romania, Covasna County" (PDF). www.inmi.ro. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
3. ^ "get to know the hidden Romania". romania-insider.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
4. ^ "Covasna". www.romaniantourism.com. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
5. ^ "Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains". UNESCO. Retrieved 15 October 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* Image gallery of Fairies Fortress
* Virtual reconstruction of Fairies Fortress

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Ancient Dacian cities and/or fortresses

* Acidava
* Acmonia
* Aedava
* Aiadava
* Aizis
* Amutria
* Apulon
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* Argedava
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* Buteridava
* Capidava
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* Clepidava
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* Danedevae
* Dausdava
* Desudaba
* Diacum
* Dierna
* Dinogetia
* Docidava
* Drobeta
* Egeta
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* Genucla
* Germisara
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* Giridava
* Itadava
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* Klepidaua
* Kuimedaba
* Malva (Romula)
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* Nentidava
* Oescus
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Cities/fortresses with unknown names

Aghireșu
Ardan
Ardeu
Arpașu de Sus
Augustin
Băile Tușnad
Băleni-Români
Bănița
Bâzdâna
Beidaud
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Boroșneu Mic
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Cotnari
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Cozia
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Cugir
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Eliseni
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Monariu
Monor
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Ocolișu Mic
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Olteni
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Poiana cu Cetate
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Racu
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Dacia

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Dacian kingdom of Banat and Oltenia1|

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