Prima pagină » English » Romanian Culture Ministry Seeks Special Protection For Dacian Fortresses

Romanian Culture Ministry Seeks Special Protection For Dacian Fortresses

Romania’s Ministry of Culture plans to include six Dacian fortresses located in Orastiei Mountains, central western region, in a special preservation program meant to eliminate degradation risks, according to a draft ordinance of the ministry.
Romanian Culture Ministry Seeks Special Protection For Dacian Fortresses
25 iul. 2008, 15:06, English

The six historic monuments, part of UNESCO patrimony, are Sarmizegetusa Regia – Gradistea de Munte, Costesti Cetatuie, Costesti Blidaru, Luncani Piatra Rosie, Baniţa and Capalna.

The draft act is subject to public debate and can be accessed on the ministry’s website – www.cultura.ro.

The Dacian ruins have been targeted by numerous treasure hunters, who stole 15 gold Dacian bracelets as well as other valuable items. 

The Romanian authorities succeeded in retrieving nine out of the 15 bracelets that have been illegally taken out of the country back in 2002, and they are currently negotiating to recover another bracelet from an undisclosed location in the U.S.

The spiral-shaped bracelets, which were made by the Dacians, forefathers to the Romanians, weigh one kilogram (2.2 pounds) each, and are crafted from gold mined in the Carpathian Mountains in the first century.

Due to their age, the bracelets were considered to be part of Romania’s national heritage and it was illegal to export them.

Romanian prosecutors charged 13 people in the case. The Ministry of Culture seeks damages worth EUR6.6 million from the accused.