Raport arheologic: Orașul cu Floci/Giurgeni/comuna: Giurgeni/județul: Ialomița (2016)

The traces of the ditch enclosing a surface of around 50x50 m, dug into the native stone, are still visible today at the Pricske peak (1544 m). In 2013, in order to investigate the fortification system and to verify the inner structures, two test trenches were conducted on the southern side of the site. In S I, right below the top soil, a layer of gravel mixed with archaeological artefacts (pottery and stove tiles) was uncovered. After the top soil was removed, a burned surface with numerous stove tiles was exposed. A number of 13 whole stove tiles were documented, representing most likely the debris of a collapsed stove. Considering that the walls of the building were not properly identified due to the small dimensions of the investigated area, the section was documented without removing the gravel and the stones, which were left in their original position. The second test trench, located on the southern side of S I, was conducted in order to investigate the stratigraphy and the structure of the defensive ditch. Based on our observations, on the northern side and up to the edge of the ditch, there was a loose yellowish-brown soil, mixed with shattered stones. A small channel was dug along the inner edge of the defensive ditch. A post hole was visible in the western profile of the section, containing traces of wood inside. With the soil and stone excavated from the ditch, a rampart was erected on the outer side. Following the systematic archaeological investigations conducted in 2016, the existence of inner habitation structures at the fortification on Pricske peak was proven. In the investigated area, there were no stone walls bound with mortar, as it is the case in the quarantine area. Instead, the foundation and elevation of buildings inside the fortification were constructed using wooden beams. For the foundation, a small channel of about 0.22–0.25 m wide was dug, in which the wooden beams were placed, marking exterior and dividing walls. Based on the dimensions of the channels and on preserved wood traces, the size of the beams was established to have been around 0.20 x 0.25 m. The beam located on the north-eastern side of the building was poorly preserved. Outside the structure, in the north-western and north-eastern sides, a few rows of flat stones were found close or under the wooden beams (especially in the exterior corners), placed there in order to sustain the beams or give a flat surface. Based on the identified foundation channels, the structu