7 FORMS OF HABITAT BELONGING TO COTOFENI CULTURE IN THE HILL AND MOUNTAIN AREA OF OLTENIA Ion Tuțulescu1 iontutulescu@yahoo.com Cuvinte-cheie:… [630222]

7 FORMS OF HABITAT BELONGING TO COTOFENI CULTURE IN
THE HILL AND MOUNTAIN AREA OF OLTENIA
Ion Tuțulescu1
[anonimizat]

Cuvinte-cheie: locuire, cuptor, a șezare, suprafa ță, civilizaț ie, eneolitic,
perioada de tranzi ție.
Keywords: dwelling, oven, settlement, area, civilization, eneolithic, period
of transition.
Sumar: Perioada de tranzi ție spre epoca bronzului, respectiv etapa final ă
este reprezentat ă în zona deluroas ă și montană a Olteniei de purt ătorii
civilizației Coțofeni. Comunit ățile culturii menț ionate mai sus ocup ă mai toate
formele de locuire, sta țiuni arheologice fiind atestate pe insule, terase, vârfuri
de deal etc. Referitor la construc ții, predomină locuințele de suprafa ță, alături
de care cercet ările semnalează apariția bordeielor și a colibelor-locuin țe cu
structură ușoară. O mare parte a locuin țelor dețin instala ții de înc ălzit,
alcătuite din vetre și cuptoare; dar ș i amenajări interioare, reprezentate prin
podine din lut.
Abstract: The transition period to the Bronze Age, respectively the final
stage, is represented, in the hill and mountai n area of Oltenia, by the bearers of
Coțofeni civilization. The communities of the above culture occupy all forms of
habitat, archaeological sites being certified in islands, terraces, hilltops etc.
Concerning constructions, there are prev ailing the surface houses, with whom
the researches indicate the occurrence of the huts-which are lightweight
housing. Most of the houses have heating installations, consisting of hearths and ovens; but also interior improvem ents, represented by clay floorings.

Geographical landscape. Men’s life is closely related to the land where he
lives. The arhitecture of this ,,land”, its look and wealth determine the basic occupations of the inhabitants. In Prehis tory, especially the influence of the land
on men was very big. The more the men evolves technologically, the less the influence of the environment is, but it will never vanish at all. This is the reason
why, in order to study ancient people’s life we must know the places where they
lived. The mountain and hill area of Oltenia include three big landforms: mountains, hills, plateau. The mountain region forms a part from the huge structural unit of the southern Carpathi an laying from the Perisani mountains
and Magura Codle to the Danube Bazias and Iron Gates
2. Here the Southern
Carpathians reach imposing heights: Parang = 2518 m and Mandra = 2324 m.
For Oltenia, the mountain area is form ed by the heaps: Parang, Vulcan and
Cerna’s mountains.
                                                             
1Ion Tuțulescu , arheolog, Muzeul Jude țean „Aurelian Sacerdoț eanu” Vâlcea, doctor în
istorie, Institutul de Arheologie „Vasile Pârvan”, Bucure ști.
2 Cucu 1961, p. 10.

8 The Getic Sub-Carpathians (southern) stretch in the teritory framed by the
river Olt and Motru’s valley, to the Mehedinti plateau. The characteristic
elements of the Sub-Carpathic area, that somehow differentiats it from the other
Sub-Carpathains, are the narrowing of the Sub-Carpathic region and the less emphasizzed folds then those from th e East of Dambovita, where these
frequentely reach to diapirism
3.
In the North-West of Oltenia and the Weast of the Getic Sub-Carpathians
lays the Mehedinti plateau, that even though it occupisses a small area (about 760 km
2 or 0,33% of the country’s territory), it has a typical aspect of plateau,
of erosion, individualized in a Carpathic unit. This landform was created by the leveling which cut in old landforms (crystalline schists, limestones, sandstones), but also in miocene sedimentary rock s and it was mainly made durring the
pleistocene, at the end of which th e resulted surface at the border of the
mountain (mainly by abrasion), began to be raised and to be submitted to
fragmentation
4.
In the South of the Sub-Carphatians lays the Getic plateau (13900 km2 or
5,9% of the territory of Romania); it represented at the beginning of the Quaternary a vast piedmont plain which, after was raised more in the North and
in the East of the river Olt, where it reached altitudes of 500-700 m; in rest, the
values maintain between 300-400 m decreasing even more at the contact with
Romanian plain. The working area is delimited hydrographically by the river Olt (East) and the Danube (West), the territory between these two important hydrographic networks is crossed by the river Jiu. The location of the country in the 45
o parallel, leads to the registration of a little difference between the time
of days and nights from North to South, as well as the existence of a reduced
difference between the annual temperat ures from the North border to the
Southern border5. The climate6 is temperate continental, with Mediterranean
influences, the arrangement in steps of the relief (plateau, hill, mountain) leading to a natural setting of the climate elements.

Brief History of studying the habitat in the Co țofeni culture period
The great area of spreading of the event in question occupies the West of
Muntenia, Oltenia, North-West of Bulgaria , North-East of Serbia, the inside of
the Carpathian arch (except the low areas) and the South of Maramure ș
7. In the
whole spreading area have been identified about 1500 sites8, which 1000 only in
Romania9.
                                                             
3 Ghinea 2002, p. 1187.
4 Ielenicz 1999, p. 19.
5 Roșu 1980, p. 73.
6 We are talking about the hill and mountain area of Oltenia.
7 Lazarovici, Lazarovic i 2007, p. 311.
8 Popa 2009.
9 Ciută 2009, p. 95.

9 Over time, the studying of the habitat belonging to this culture is in
connection with the name of some researchers like: Petre Roman10, Horia
Ciugudean11, Gheorghe Lazarovici12, Doru Liciu13, Stefan Alexandrov14,
Valeriu Laz ăr15, Gheorghe Petre-Govora16 etc.

The settlements
1. The location of the settlements 1 . a . O f t e r r a c e : B r ăneț
17, Roșiile-Biserică18, Rogova19, Copăcelu20,
Crivina21, Piatra Olt22 etc.
1.b. On islands: Ostrovul Corbului23 and Ostrovul Șimian24.
1.c. On natural channels: Castrele Traiane25 and Pleni ța26.
1.d. Of heights: 1.d.1. Headlands: Cet ățuia
27, Govora- Dealul S ăpunarului28, Oprișor29,
Mateești, Cosota30, Bârsești31 etc.
1.d.2. Bots of a hill: Bune ști32, Ocnele Mari- Zdup33, Calopăr34, Căzănești-
Cărămidărie35, Costești-Măgura Coste știlor36, Cozia Veche37, Găneasa38,
Gătăjesti39, Ocnele Mici- Coasta Ungureasc ă40, Vârț41 etc.
                                                             
10 Roman 1976; Idem 1977.
11 Ciugudean 2000.
12 Lazarovici, Lazarovici 2007.
13 Liciu 2002.
14 Alexandrov 1997.
15 Lazăr 1975; Idem 1976; Idem 1977; Idem 1978; Idem 1980; Idem 1981-1982.
16 Petre Govora 1967; Idem 1982; Idem 1995.
17 Roman 1976, p. 14; Ulanici 1975b, p. 243; Idem 1975a, p. 45.
18 Tuțulescu 2010, p. 32.
19 Liciu 2002, p. 12; Cr ăciunescu 2002, p. 12; Cr ăciunescu et alii 2001, punct 170 ;
Crăciunescu et alii 2002, punct. 180 ; Crăciunescu, Manea 2003, punct 160 ;
Crăciunescu, Manea 2004, punct 157 ; Crăciunescu, Manea 2005, punct 185 ;
Crăciunescu et alli 2006, punct 154 ; Crăciunescu, Manea 2007, punct 151 ; Manea 2003,
p. 48.
20 Tuțulescu 2008, p. 17.
21 Liciu 2002, p. 12.
22 Lazăr 1997, p. 13.
23 Roman 1976, p. 14; Liciu 2002, p. 12; Lazarovici, Lazarovici 2007, p. 312.
24 Roman 1976, p. 14; Liciu 2002, p. 12; Lazarovici, Lazarovici 2007, p. 312.
25 Roman 1976, p. 14; Lazarovic i, Lazarovici 2007, p. 312.
26 Roman 1976, p. 14; Lazarovic i, Lazarovici 2007, p. 312.
27 Petre Govora 1982, p. 14; Idem 1995, p. 19.
28 Petre Govora 1967, p. 645; Berciu 1966, p. 135, Roman 1976, p. 82; Petre Govora
1982, p. 23.
29Liciu 2002, p. 12.
30 Berciu et alii 1984, p. 177; Idem 1990, p. 135.
31 Petre Govora 1967, p. 645-647; Idem 1982, p. 23; Idem 1995, p. 19; Idem 1997, p. 11.
32 Idem 1967, p. 652; Idem 1982, p. 23; Idem 1995, p. 19; Idem 1997, p. 11.
33 Idem 1982, p. 9-10; Idem 1995, p. 18-19.

10 1.e. Dwellings in caves: Peștera Neolitică-Costesti42, Peștera Sf. Grigore
Decapolitul -Costești43, Peștera Muierilor and Peștera Pârcă labu-Baia de Fier44,
Runcu45.
1.f. Settlements placed on tells: S ălcuța46.
2. According to the way of organizing
2.a. Unfortified settlements: Bune ști47, Brăneț48, Calopăr49, Căzănești50,
Copăcelu51, Modoia52, Rogova53 etc. The majority of this kind of settlements is
placed in areas in which the nature played a protective role (settlements situated
on headlands, terrace spurs etc.), the defensive sistem having no more use.
2.b. Fortified settlements: Castrele Traiane54, Plenița55, Șiacu56. For the
settlements at Castrele Romane and Pleni ța we have information regarding the
use of the defensive sistem consisti ng in ditches and mounds of defense.
Regarding the fortification from Șiacu (Gorj county), the ambiguous
informations does not reveal us the defense sistem they used. It is important to
mention the fact that the fortificati on of the above mentioned settlements is
realised during the phase III of Co țofeni Culture, probably due to an external
danger; the same phenomenon is also observed in the Glina civilisation ( phase
II-III contemporary to the phase III Co țofeni).
2.c. The tell settlements: Ostrovul Corbului57 and Ocnele Mari- Zdup58. The
high levels of deposit belonging to the c oncerned manifestation entitle us to fit
the sites in the above mentioned category. At Ostrovul Corbului, in the sector A,
                                                                                                                                                   
34 Zirra, Pop 1995, p. 13.
35 Petre Govora 1967, p. 649-650; Idem 1982, p. 23; Idem 1995, p. 20.
36 Vulpe 1967, p. 190.
37 Petre Govora 1995, p. 20.
38 Information from Cristinel Fântâneanu.
39 Petre Govora 1995, p. 20.
40 Ibidem .
41 Calotoiu et alii 1987, p. 25-27.
42 Procopie 1982, p. 56-64; Bondoc 2002, p. 26.
43 Bondoc 2002, p. 26.
44 Berciu 1939, p. 76; Com șa 1968; Roman 1976, p. 79. Plop șor et alii 1957, p. 13-27.
45 Smeu 1988, p. 5-9.
46 Berciu 1961, p. 338-339.
47 Petre Govora 1967, p. 652; Roman 1976, p. 79; Petre Govora 1982, p. 23.
48 Ulanici 1975a, p. 45 ; Idem 1975 b, p. 243; Idem 1976, p. 27; Roman 1976, p. 80.
49 Zirra, Pop 1995, p. 13.
50Roman 1976, p. 81; Petre Govora 1982, p. 23; Idem 1995, p. 20.
51 Tuțulescu 2008, p. 17.
52 Petre Govora 1995, p. 20.
53 Roman 1976, p. 81; Cr ăciunescu 2002, p. 19. Liciu 2002, p. 10.
54 Roman 1976, p. 14.
55 Ibidem.
56 *** 2001, p. 229; Ciut ă 2009, p. 97.
57 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 161. The authors do not speak about a tell settlement here.
58 Petre Govora 1995, p. 18-19.

11 S. XV, the layer of culture has a thickness between 1-1,20 m59, the level totally
belongs to the phase III. In Vâlcea County, at Ocnele Mari- Zdup, the level of
culture begings at a depth of 0,60 m and it ends at -3,60 m60. It is interesting that
all the phases of evolution are represented, the layer of culture indicating a long
term settlement. The problem of the tell settlements in Co țofeni culture area it is
brieffly presented by Cristian Popa; except from those pesented above, the author identifies some in Transilvania
61.
2.d. Settlements with an obvious economi c character of exploiting of some
resources. In the saline platform around Oc nele Mari it has been certificated a
number of five settlements in which salt exploiting had the major role. We mention that in the points from Ocnele Mari- Coasta Ungureasc ă, Ocnele Mari-
Cosota , Ocnele Mari- Zdup , Govora- Dealul Să punarului and Căzănești the salt
was extracted using briquetting vessels (truncated glasses), and from here it was realized a commerce with neighboring areas
62.
3. The time of using the settlements 3.a. Settlements used for a long time, reported by the sequence of levels, are
present at Ostrovul Corbului, Ocnele Mari- Cosota
63 and Ocnele Mari- Zdup.
3.b. Settlements used for an average period of time, mentioned by a single
level of habitation, but rich in archaeological material are reported at Castrele
Traiane, Rogova, Cet ățuia, Vârț, Govora- Dealul Săpunarului, Roșiile, Oprișor,
Mateești, Căzănești, Craiova etc. The majority of the discoveries from the area
fit in this type.
3.c. Seasonal settlements (used for a short period of time) generally placed in
the mountain area or caves area or in places where establishment was linked to a
certain economic practice. In this category fit the discoveries from Cop ăcelu64,
Peștera Neolitic ă, Peștera Sf. Grigore Decapolitul-Costesti65 etc.
4. Dimensions Insuficient researches in the hill and mountain area of Oltenia present a
pretty concise image regarding the dimensions of Co țofeni settlements. At
Ostrovul Corbului, the deposits along the Danube’s shore are distinguishable on
about 500 linear meters, and an apprec iation of the complexes spreading is
                                                           
 
59 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 161.
60 Petre Govora 1995, p. 18-19.
61 Popa 2009.
62Schuster, Tu țulescu 2010. Comunication held at the symposioum at Prodavia Bulgaria
„Salt and Gold: The Role of Salt in Prehistoric Europe” (30 septembrie-4 octombrie);
Schuster et alii 2010, p. 263; Schuster, Tu țulescu 2011, p. 141-142.
63 We mentioned that the settlement from here was distroyed by Geto Dacian
civilisation, but from researching the ceramic material we see a long evolution from the
first phase up to the third phase.
64 The discovery from here can be assigned to a fishing camp settled here. We underline
that the theory is just a s uposition, because the little resear ched area does not show us a
clear situation.
65 Inhabited points for a short period of time, in the comunities succesion.

12 estimated at 38000 m²66. For this kind of settlement as well we find out that the
dwellings are oriented in most of the cases parallel to the Danube (East-West),
positioned in the most prominent zone and along the Danube67.
At Ocnița-Cosota the archeological researches from Buridava Dacic ă and
especially from the Acropola led to the discovery of an important lot of
material, the area for this point being of about 3000 m²68.
At Brăneț, the Co țofeni settlement is located on a headland with the
dimensions 250 x 60 m69, the living area being of about 15000 m2.
From the personal researches made at Cet ățuia, where on the headland on
which the discoveries from here have been made, the living area is about 900
m2. Regarding the site from Rogova (Mehedin ți county), the author suggests the
idea that the Co țofeni settlement occupied a squared perimeter with the side of
40 m70, the living area being therefore 1600 m2.
By all the facts presented above, we assert that the Co țofeni settlements are
classified in big dimensions settlements and small dimensions settlements.
5. The way of dividing in different zones the settlements. Having a mixed economy, mostly pastoral , we consider that these could have
been divided in zones for sheltering the cattle and zones for living.

Constructions 1. Huts: Vâr ț-Cioaca lui Meil ă, Rogova, Br ăneț and Ostovul Corbului.
1.a. Form:
1.a.1. Ovoid: Vâr ț, Ostrovul Corbului. The archeological researches from
Vârț led to the discovery of a fifth type hut
71, ovoid form, diameter between 3-4
m72.
For Ostrovul Corbului the situation is different; some pits can be classified
as hut type dwellings. In the South part of S. II, S. VIII from sector A, has been researched an oval pit noted Gr. 5 with the dimensions of 3,40 x 2 m and depth of 0,90-l m. That pit is dished from East to West, the orientation being ESE-WNW, the entrance from WNW is like a step. Near the step, in the left side, has
been discovered a stake pit with the diameter of 35 cm
73. Petre Roman, the
coordinator of the diggings from here, considers that Gr. 5 can be classified as a hut type dwelling.
In S. XII, Sector A, level 4, has been researched a pit with big dimensions
(ovoid form as in the picture), which pierced S ălcuța level having in the middle
                                                           
 
66 Roman 1996, p. 30-31.
67 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 162.
68 Information from Mariana Iosifaru.
69 Ulanici 1975a, p. 45.
70 Crăciunescu 2002, p. 19.
71 Calotoiu et alii 1987, p. 25.
72 Gherghe 1982, p. 40; Lazarovici, Lazaro vici 2007, p. 315.
73 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 127.

13 the hole for the stake for the roof74. Is remarkable the fact that Sector B , S. the
XXI-st is reported a construction in its filling has been discovered an
appreciable quantity of ceramic, bones, stones, sea shells75, elements that can
frame the complex of the category mentioned above.
1.a.2.Rectangular: Br ăneț, Ostrovul Corbului. In the inferior level (research
1972) has been discovered a rectangular hut with rounded edges, dimensions
2,70 x 2,30 m, maximum depth being of 0,70 m76. The dwelling has a stake pit
in the middle for supporting the roof. At Ostrovul Corbului in S. XV, Sector A
has been researched a rectangular pit with the length of 2,80 m and depth of
0,80 m77.
In the years 2001-2002, at Rogova “La Cază rmi”, it has been researched a
dwelling with the dimensions 2,75 x 1,45 m and depth 0,80 m78. Two years
later, it has been reported the presence of two complexes of same type, without
being presented any details about the form or the depth of the constructions79.
2. Surface dwellings 2.a Proper dwellings. Certificate in settlements like: Ostrovul Corbului
80,
Calopăr81, Rogova82, Șiacu83, Cetățuia84 and Brăneț.
2.a.1 Rectangular dwellings. We find them at Rogova, Ostrovul Corbului
and Brăneț.
In the point La Cazărmi from Rogova many rectangular dwellings have been
researched. Though, in 2001, two dwe llings were unveiled, the first one
partially researched a year before, dimensions 3,45 x 2,80 m with the edges slightly rounded
85, and the second one with dimensions 4,40 x 2,00 m86. The
coordinator of the research launches the hy pothesis that the first dwelling had an
interior pit that used for gathering th e excess humidity from the level of the
floor87.
                                                             
74 Ibidem, p. 139.
75 Ibidem , p. 167.
76 Ulanici 1975a, p. 45.
77 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 161.
78 Crăciunescu 2002, p. 20.
79 Crăciunescu, Manea 2005, punct 185 .
80 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 123-168; Roman 1996, p. 13-31.
81 Zirra, Pop 1995, p. 15-16.
82Crăciunescu 2002, p. 12; Cr ăciunescu et alii 2001, punct 170; Cr ăciunescu et alii
2002, punct. 180 ; Crăciunescu, Manea 2003, punct 160 ; Crăciunescu, Manea 2004,
punct 157 ; Crăciunescu, Manea 2005, punct 185 ; Crăciunescu et alii 2006, punct 154 ;
Crăciunescu, Manea 2007, punct 151 ; Manea 2003, p. 48.
83 Calotoiu et alii 1987, p. 28.
84 Petre Govora’s site notebook.
85 Crăciunescu et alii 2001, punct 170 .
86 Crăciunescu 2002, p. 20; Cr ăciunescu et alii 2002, punct 180 .
87 Crăciunescu 2002, p. 20.

14 At Ostrovul Corbului in Sector A, S. XII at level four, it is recalled a
dwelling with dimensions 4,00 x 3,00 m88, and in S. XII-l two rectangular
dwellings with dimensions 6,50 x 2,70 m89, respectively 3,25 x 2,40 m90. In S. I
level two, a 3,00 cm thick platform has been discovered, with dimensions 5,00
m North South and 3,25 m East West, having stakes for supporting the walls
inside and also outside91.
2.a.2. L shaped dwellings. In Sector A. S. XII, from Ostrovul Corbului
dwelling noted as L.1., had the following dimensions: South side = 15 m, East
side = 5 m and North side= 9 m. In the North East, many stake holes seem the
suggest according to the discoverer the exis tence of a veranda or an annex of 2
x 2 m92. The walls of the dwelling had interior and exterior stakes, the thickness
being between 0,14-0,30 m.
2.a.3. Oval dwellings. The researches made with the occasion of building a
water basin on hill Cet ățuia from Râmnicu Vâlcea led to the discovery of a
Coțofeni dwelling with the length of 4,50 m93.
2.a.3 Dwellings with an unspecified form.
At Brăneț, in the years 1973-1975 the arch eological researches led tot the
discovery of two surface dwelli ngs noted with L.C. and L.D.94, L.C., whose
contour has not been established had 10 cm thick walls; L.D. situated at 4 m
North West from the first95, of which only 1/5 of the surface has been
researched, this not being preserved because of the later destructions. Both dwellings have interior hearths, their improvement being directly on the ground,
without floor. The researches from 1972 led to the discovery of a surface dwelling (noted probably L.B), with sma ll dimensions, in the second level of
inhabitation. It could not be specified the form or the existence of an interior
improvement
96.
At Bâzdâna-Calop ăr, in Dolj county, has been signaled at dwelling with a
form that could not be established, because of the landslides from the North area
of the sit97.
At Șiacu, settlement have been partially discovered two surface dwellings,
weakly preserved their accentuation is made after the parts of burned adobe and the ceramic fragments
98.
                                                             
88 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 138.
89 Ibidem, p. 142.
90Ibidem, 2008, p. 149 ; There is not any information about the stratigraphical
classification of the two complexes.
91 Ibidem, 2008, p. 152.
92 Ibidem, 2008, p. 136.
93 Information from Petre Govora’s site notebook.
94 Ulanici 1976, p. 37.
95 Both dwellings belong to the second level.
96 Ulanici 1975a, p. 47.
97 Zirra, Pop 1995, p. 15.
98 Calotoiu et alli 1987, p. 28.

15 2.b. Huts. The walls are made of wattles covered with clay, of small
dimensions, mentioned in the settlements from Ostrovul Simian, Vâr ț99 and
Copăcelu100.
At Ostrovul Simian and Vâr ț, the huts were referred after the form of the
adobe collected around fire hearth, their form being round or ellipsoidal.
Regarding that from Cop ăcelu, the small researched area does not show us a
clear image which could suggest an eventual form. According to the opinion of the archeologist Horia Ciugudean, the hu t is found in all the phases of culture
evolution
101.
3. Improvements in the dwellings. The investigations made in the area of
Coțofeni culture from our study reveal the existence of dwellings with floors
and dwellings placed directly on the ground.
The dwellings discovered during the researches at Ostrovul Corbului have
floors, hearth furnaces and pits.
The floorings discovered at Ostrovul Corbului can be classified according to
the colour of the clay as follows:
– Floorings with blue clay (sector A,S., I, level 3 with restorations of a
yellow clay102, from a dwelling with straight corners;
– Floorings with yellow clay (level 6, sector A, S. I, at a depth of -1,90-
1,70, on a length of 4 m a yellow clay flooring with a thickness of 10 cm has been researched, in S. XII, level 2, etc);
– Floorings with greenish clay (sector A, S. X).
According to the thickness of the floor ings we see that these are between 3
cm
103 (S. I-c. level 2), 4-5 cm104 (L.I from sector A.S.XII) and 10 cm (level 6,
sector A. S. I), being restored for many times (level 4, Sector A. S. I we can see
the existence of some floorings that have been restored for three times105).
We can see the traces of the floorings in the following sections from
Ostrovul Corbului, from Sector A: S. XXVI, S.I-c, S.XV, S.XVI106.
At Bâzdâna, in Calopă r, Dolj county, the flooring of the dwelling was made
from yellow clay, very good trodden, kept under the hearth, under debris and mainly around the hearth
107.
The research from Cet ățuia, Râmnicu Vâlcea town, made by Gheorghe Petre
Govora, reveal the existence of a clay fl ooring, mixed with sand and rarely with
pebbles, omitting the colour of the above mentioned clay108.
                                                             
99 Berciu 1939, p. 79.
100 Tuțulescu 2008, p. 18.
101 Ciugudean 2000, p. 18.
102 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 152.
103 Ibidem , p. 152.
104 Ibidem , p. 136.
105 Ibidem , p. 155.
106 Ibidem , p. 125-168.
107 Zirra, Pop 1995, p. 16-17; We do not know any information regarding the thickness
of this settlement.

16 4. The way of building
The huts are different from the surface dwellings on the depth made in the
ground, according to Horia Ciugudean’s opinion they are considered single-
family residences109.
For building the huts there were used stakes and wattle on which the clay
was added. Important information arrive from Br ăneț where the dwelling noted
L.C. had the thickness of the stakes and wattle between 2-3 cm on which it was
added the clay so the thickness of the wall became 10 cm110.
The information offered by L.I, Sector A. S. XII, from Ostrovul Corbului are
essential, the edges of the walls kept in the digging were high up to 10-14 cm, the thickness is between 14-30 cm. Fo r supporting the walls, the dwelling had
interior stakes as well as exterior. The exterior ones had sharp tops, the interior ones did not. The building technique was from wattle with clay, the roof was made from clay
111.
V. Other ensembles: fire installations (fire hearths, ovens), pits 1. Hearths 1.a. Interior. They can be found at Vâr ț
112, Ostrovul Corbului113, Copăcelu114,
Brăneț115, Ostrovul Siminic116 and Bâzdâna117. The information regarding to the
place of setting these installations in the dwelling would have been essential.
Although, at Ostrovul Corbului according to the plan of the big dwelling L.I, we
can see the location of a hearth on the side of the wall and the second in the
middle of the structure. After the location of the 2 hearths discovered at Br ăneț,
the author of the researches mentions th at these were situated in higher area.
1.b. Exterior. Ostrovul Corbului118. According to the plans we observe the
appearance of the above mentioned type . We do not know if the installation was
for one or more dwellings.
1.c. Form: 1.c.1 Round: Br ăneț
119 (L.D, diameter of 1,20 m and thickness of 0,11 m),
Bâzdâna120 (diameter of 1,30 m including the garden), Vâr ț121 (diameter 1,40 m
and thickness 4,5 cm).
                                                                                                                                                   
108 Site notebook.
109 Ciugudean 2000, p. 19.
110 Ulanici 1976, p. 37.
111 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 137.
112 Gherghe 1982, p. 40; Lazarovici, Lazaro vici 2007, p. 314.
113 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 125-168.
114 Tuțulescu 2008, p. 18.
115 Ulanici 1976, p. 37.
116 Berciu 1939, p. 79.
117 Zirra, Pop 1995, p. 15-16.
118 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 125-168.
119 Ulanici 1976, p. 41
120 Zirra, Pop 1995, p. 16.
121 Gherghe 1982, p. 40; Calotoiu et alii 1987, p. 25; Lazarovici, Lazarovici 2007, p.
315.

17 1.c.2 Rectangular: Ostrovul Corbului- Sector A. S. X, diameter 100 x 80
cm122, Sector A. S. I, level 6, rectangular including the garden123, Sector B. S.
XXII124.
1.c.3 Oval: Ostrovul Corbului- Sector A.S. XVII, level 3 diameter 1,20 m125,
Sector A.S. I level 1, diameter 1,30 x 0,83 m126.
1.d. According to the type:
1.d.1 Simple: Br ăneț127, Ostrovul Corbului, Șiacu128.
1.d.2. With garden: Calop ăr-Bâzdâna129 and Ostrovul Corbului130.
1.e. According to the use. Although it is though that this type of installation
had a double purpose (warming and cooking), the archeological researches from Ostrovul Corbului led to the discovery of two hearths in a dwelling. The author of the researches considers that the two hearths (Sector A.S. XXVI, -2,40 m),
had different purposes: one for warming in the other for cooking
131.
1.f. Way of building. The majority of the installations are raised on a layer of
ceramic fragments (disposed on a row or on many rows) over which it is added
the plaster. In S. XVII from Sector A from Ostrovul Corbului, level 2 in a dwelling has been researched a hearth that had in its composition a layer of ceramic fragments and bottoms of vessels that were placed head down, disposed on many rows, in a rectangular bed
132. The role of the ceramic fragments and
bottoms of vessel in the composition of hearths was stocking the heat. At the certain period of time and because of prolonged use, these were plastered once again. The hearths made from a layer of ceramic fragments were discovered also at Calop ăr-Bâzdâna
133, Vârț134 at Ostrovul Corbului.
Regarding to the huts discovered at Br ăneț, we do not have information
regarding their composition135, that from Copă celu was destroyed by ages136.
2. Ovens
                                                             
122 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 129.
123 Ibidem , p. 156.
124 Ibidem , p. 165, p. 165, fig. 39; Partially re search according to the plan it belongs to
this type.
125 Ibidem , p.130, fig. 8.
126 Ibidem , p. 152.
127 Ulanici 1976, p. 37.
128 Gherghe 1982, p. 40; Calotoiu et alii 1987, p. 25; Lazarovici, Lazarovici 2007, p.
315.
129 Zirra, Pop 1995, p. 16, round hearth.
130 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 156, Sector A , S. I, level 6 depth 1.90-1.70 m, rectangular
shape.
131 Ibidem , p. 130.
132 Ibidem , p. 130.
133 Zirra, Pop 1995, p. 16.
134 Gherghe 1982, p. 40; Calotoiu et alii 1987, p. 25; Lazarovici, Lazarovici 2007, p.
315.
135 Ulanici 1976, p. 41, it is mentioned the settlement in a higher area.
136 Tuțulescu 2008, p. 18.

18 The archeological researches from the h ill and mountain area of Oltenia are
pretty poor, the only information regarding the ovens come from the West part
of the area. The investigations made at Ostrovul Corbului- Botul Cliuciului , led
to the discovery of two types of ovens:
2.a. Domestic ovens. At Ostrovul Corbului, Sector A.S. XII level 3 in a
surface dwelling has been researched an oven with the diameter of 1m, strongly destroyed on the inside because of the use
137.
2.b. Ovens for reducing ore. In the same sector S. XVI b at the border of
squares 16-17 has been revealed a metallurgical oven. The installation was
destroyed on the superior part (dome), by a new pit, horseshoe shaped, built in a
mass of ashes, it had the side parts plated with Co țofeni pieces. The hearth was
built over a layer of ashes and coals to which it had been added one layer of ceramic fragments. In the interior of the oven were found traces of hard, the
orientation being North-South, with an opening to the North
138.
3. Pits. 3.a. According to the setting in space: 3.a.1. Interior pits. Inside the dwellings, they are certificated at Rogova
139.
3.a.2. Exterior pits. Outside the dwelling at: Simnic140, Rogova141, Ostrovul
Corbului142.
3.b. According to the use. 3.b.1. Household pits: Rogova
143, Ostrovul Corbului144, Simnic.
3.b.2. Pits for extracting the clay: Ostrovul Corbului145.
3.b.3. Pits for gathering the excess of humidity: Rogova146.
3.c. According to the shape: 3.c.1. Oval: Ostrovul Corbului
147.
3.c.2. Round: Ostrovul Corbului148.
                                                             
137 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 138.
138 Roman et alii 1983, p. 101, fig. 1/2; Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 163-164, fig. 35-36.
139 Crăciunescu 2002, p. 20.
140 Galbenu 1975, p. 15; We do not have any information regarding the shape, depth or
type. The only mention that we have is that coming from discovering in the filling of the
holes with copper fragments, the size of a grain bean.
141 Manea, P ădureanu 2005, p. 48, pl. II.
142 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 127, Sector A , S.II; p. 142, S.XII-l, with irregular edges
coming down in steps, p. 159, S . I, Gr. 13 A; p. 139, S.XII, Gr.2; p. 159, S. I, Gr. 13 A;
p. 166, Sector B , S. XVIII.
143 Manea, P ădureanu 2005, p. 48, pl. II.
144 Roman, Opri țescu 2008, p. 127, Sector A, S.II ; p. 159, S . I, Gr. 13 A; p. 139, S.XII,
Gr.2,
145 Ibidem , p. 127, Sector A, S. I, Gr. 10 (diameter 2 m), Gr . 15 ; p. 142, S.XII-l, with
irregular edges coming down in steps.
146 Crăciunescu 2002, p. 20.
147 Ibidem, p. 127, Sector A , S.II, diameter 2,30 m, depth -70-80 cm; p. 159, S . I, Gr. 13
A, diameter 1,80×0,90 m, depth -0,52 m; p. 139, S.XII, Gr.2, diameter 2,10 m; p. 166, Sector B , S. XVIII,

19 3.c.3. With irregular shape: Ostrovul Corbului149.
The researches made in the few Co țofeni settlements do not offer
information regarding the appearance of pits for supplies and why not some pits
with spiritual features. Regarding this cultural manifestation, the research of the
habitat in the area of the study is accep tably realized, the settlements discovered
rise to a number of 102 points, the biggest sharing is owned by the surface researches. Proving a big power of adaptability, the Co țofeni communities are
met in all the landforms. Regarding the settlements with many levels of inhabitation, we classify the discoveries from Ostrovul Corbului and Ocnele
Mari-Zdup as belonging to the tell-s. According to the type, we notify the rise of
some defensive systems in phase III of evol ution, similar situation and in phases
II-III of Glina communities, civilization to which Coț ofeni is contemporary. The
need of building these defensive systems must be suggested by an external danger and the appearance of culture Jamnaja can be a landmark. The proven
hypothesis and the setting of the settlements coming from the same phase,
mostly in higher lands, points that assu red the surveillance of a vast territory,
having in the same time protective role.
For the North-East area of Oltenia, around the salt platform Ocnele Mari, we
notify the existence of five settlements, where the use of salt springs had an
important role. The exploit was made by us ing lighter pots, considered by some
specialists a prestige good
150.
The discoveries from the caves can be assigned to the succession of
communities with an economy mostly bucolic.
The dwellings researched in the are of our study reveal a bigger share to the
surface dwellings than the deepened once. The discovery of an oven for
reducing ore reveals us a clear image of a society in a transition period, the crafts having an important role.

(traducere de Alexandru Zamfir)

                                                                                                                                                   
148 Ibidem , p. 127, Sector A , S.II, diameter 1,30 m, depth -40 cm.
149 Ibidem , p. 142, S. XII-l, with irregular edges coming down in steps.
150 Monah 2008, p. 17.

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Comunicări Comunic ări. Craiova
Drobeta Drobeta. Turnu Severin
Litua Litua. Târgu Jiu
Marisia Marisia. Târgu Mure ș
Materiale Materiale și Cercetări Arheologice. Bucure ști
PZ Prähistorische Zeitschrift. Berlin
Oltenia Oltenia. Craiova
SCIVA Studii și Cercetă ri de Istorie Veche și Arheologie.
București
Studii ș i Cercetă ri
speologice Studii ș i Cercetă ri speologice. Bucure ști

St. Uni. Cib Studia Universitatis Cibiniensis. Sibiu
Th.D Thraco-Dacica. București

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