Raport arheologic: Covasna/comuna: Covasna/județul: Covasna/punct: Cetatea Zânelor (2008)

The archaeological excavation carried out in the campaign of 2008 focused on three important goals: - to complete section 7G, opened in extension of section 7D. It covers the surface between the outer face of the second terrace wall, the third terrace and respectively, its wall. - to extend with another 13 m the excavation in section S7H, opened in 2007, on the second terrace to the south-east of the bastion and its extension onto terrace 2. - to upgrade the site survey. Section S7H was performed in 2007 on a surface of 3 x 6 m. The 2008 campaign extended its sizes to 19 x 4 m. The new section was drawn in order to reveal the sizes and route of terrace 2 curtain wall in the south-east part, as well as the stratigraphy of the terrace. The stratigraphic complexity of the last dwelling level (burnt earth, wall demolitions and charred beams) allowed us the finish the investigation of only the latter. We were not able to fully unearth the curtain wall to see if it is of identical size (4.65 m) and route like in the close vicinity of the bastion. Section S7G (5.50 x 16.5 m) was carried out on the slope, at the junction of two terraces (terrace 2 and 3), parallel to section S7C and in extension of section S7D in order to unearth the third terrace curtain, establish the construction ratio between the latter and the second terrace curtain and observe the fashion that the terrain between the two curtains was arranged. The third terrace curtain was unveiled entirely and, based on stratigraphic observations, it could be established that it was built prior the second terrace curtain. Data provided by the section stratigraphy, the fortification remains and the uncovered archaeological materials offer additional information regarding a few issues raised by the way the fortification was erected and the relative and absolute chronology of the site (in this case, of the fortification stages). The archaeological material discovered within the two sections (pottery, glass- made vessel sherds, pendants and bronze earrings, one chisel and iron knives, clay and stone tools) is momentarily housed with the National History Museum of Transylvania pending processing, while, according to the signed cooperation agreement, it should be delivered to the National History Museum of Eastern Carpathians of Sfântu Gheorghe. Both sections were performed manually and the used grid was of 2 x 2 m. The discovered archaeological vestiges were surveyed, while the identified complexes were register