Dacian fortress of Căpâlna

Dacian fortress of Căpâlna
Panoramic view from south-west of fortress hill
Location within Romania
Founded during the reign of	Burebista ?
Founded	c. 50 BC
Abandoned	106 AD
Events	Trajan's Dacian Wars
Location
Coordinates
Place name	Dealul Gărgălău
Town	Căpâlna
County	Alba
Country	Romania
Reference
RO-LMI	AB-I-s-A-00020
RO-RAN	7115.01
UNESCO	906
Site notes
Recognition	UNESCO World Heritage Site National Historical Monument
Condition	Ruined
Excavation dates	1982 - 1983
Archaeologists	Mihail Macrea Ion Berciu Ioan Glodariu
Exhibitions	National Museum of the Union, Alba Iulia "Ion Raica" Museum, Sebeș

Tower house (9.5 m x 9.5 m) built with limestone blocks

Situated at the top of a steep hill, the Dacian fortress of Căpâlna was built in the second half of the 1st century BC as a military defense, guarding the entrance from the Sebeș Valley to the capital of the Dacian kingdom, Sarmizegetusa Regia.

It is supposed that the fortress was the residence of a Dacian chieftain. Archeological findings include ceramics, iron and bronze tools, silver and bronze jewellry and Roman coins from the Republican and Imperial periods. Around 2002 - 2003 a gold necklace and two gold earrings were discovered here.

The fortress was witness to Dacian - Roman battles during Trajan's Dacian Wars. In the first war, the fort was occupied by the Romans. Ultimately, it was burnt and destroyed by the Romans around 106 AD.

The fortress is encircled by an elliptical wall (c. 270 m long). The wall was partially destroyed during the first war, and was hastily rebuilt just before the second war.

Inside two terraces were found. On the higher level terrace, at the highest point, an observatory tower existed.

A tower house (9.5 m x 9.5 m) was positioned strategically near the main fortified gate. A second gate positioned through the Sebeș Valley was blocked after the first war, sometime after 102 AD. The fort follows the architectural principles of the Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains; the wall being the typical murus Dacicus. Outside the fortification three defensive ditches were found.

During excavations from 1982 - 1983, Dacian sanctuary ruins were found.

The site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Tourism

Near the bridge from Căpâlna, a sign indicates the road to the fortress.

The site can be reach by walking around 2 kilometres on a steep gravel road starting from the main road (DN67C) situated on the bottom of valley.

Gallery

• 

  View from the base, near the river

• 

  Stone block of dwelling tower

• 

  South-west side of the fortress

• 

  Landscape to the south-east

• 

  Murus Dacicus stone block

• 

  Near the main gate

References

• Ioan Glodariu, Vasile Moga. Cetatea dacică de la Căpâlna, Alba Iulia, 2006.

External links

• Cetățile dacice din Munții Orăștiei - Căpâlna
• Virtual reconstruction of the fortress