From Hunting Treasures to Archaeological Poaching in the Sureanu Mountains (I): History of Hoard Discoveries

This article proposes a history of the discovery of treasures from the Medieval Age in the Şureanu Mountains, Transylvania, from the first documented mentions to what specialised literature defines as archaeological poaching. We pursue to what extent a connection may be established between the hoards discovered at the beginning of the nineteenth century and those from the end of the following one by following the continuity of discoveries of hoards in the Şureanu Mountains. More precisely, we examine the places where hoards were identified and how poachers obtained this information, as the respective spots were pointed out in the specialised literature and perpetuated by oral tradition. Similarly, through this analysis, we will try to show to what extent the actions undertaken by those who discovered hoards may be acknowledged as what today is known as archaeological poaching.

Source: Purdea C. (2019) From Hunting Treasures to Archaeological Poaching in the Sureanu Mountains (I): History of Hoard Discoveries. Terra Sebus. Acta Musei Sabesiensis. 11: 139-221

Source web-site: https://www.cclbsebes.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Terra-Sebus-11-04-Claudiu_PURDEA.pdf