Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape

Description

The Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape is located in central-eastern part of Moldova and lies along the gorge of the lower course of the Răut River, 14 km upstream from the confluence of the Răut and the Dniester Rivers. This is an extremely strategic position. The Răut links it with most of central and northern Moldova, while the Dniester is the most important trade route between northeast Carpathians and the Black Sea Basin. Administratively, the Landscape comprises the territory of the Trebujeni and Butuceni villages, belonging to the Trebujeni commune of Orhei district. At the same time, the unusual and severe terrain around the Landscape render it perhaps the most naturally defensible in the region.

The Landscape resembles a hemispherical amphitheater of 3,500 meters (East - West) x 1,500 meters (North – South), one that is defined by the Răut’s steep and high banks. The extremely tortuous course of the Răut, 15 to 20 meters wide, has carved embedded meanders, which together stretch for 7,000 meters, through limestone bedrock. The downstream left bank is nearly upright and reaches ca. 100-148 meters in altitude. At the western and southeastern ends of the escarpment, two natural passages, respectively 80 meters and 300 meters wide, link this naturally fortified central areas to the surrounding region.

In the southern part of the Landscape, the Răut has cut a very sharp loop that encloses, from the north, south and west, the limestone Promontory "Butuceni". The length of the promontory is 3,000 meters (East - West), and the widths varies between 15 meters in its western end and 300 meters in the eastern one. Its altitude gently increases eastwards, from 1 meter at its western end to 120 meters at the eastern one. North of the “Butuceni” Promontory, on the opposite side of the Răut, the “Peştera” Promontory is situated. It is oval-shaped, 2,500 meters in length (East – West), and 850 meters wide (North – South). The “Peştera” Promontory is delimited from the south, east and north by the next Răut’s loop. In contrast with the Butuceni, the Peştera Promontory has gentle slopes, which are covered with soil of a type that is the most fertile in the world (chernozems).

The Landscape is dramatic and beautiful because of its highly unusual geomorphology, and it and its surroundings are rich in subsistence resources: chernozem soils that are enormously productive, meadows and forests rich in wild fruits and medicinal herbs, many springs of fresh water, varied aquatic and terrestrial fauna. At the same time, the area abounds in building materials: limestone, sand, clay and wood. The Landscape provides excellent natural defensive conditions, not just the natural escarpments, but also because it is at a generally higher elevation than the wide surrounding areas, while the Răut and its tributaries ensure the connection with the Black Sea, where martime trade flourished since the 5th Millennium BC. These factors combine to render the landscape of Orheiul Vechi very different from the rest of the region. That is why, since prehistoric times, humans in large numbers were attracted to the area. Therefore, the density of archaeological evidence is unusually high within the Landscape.

Archaeological research carried out at the „Peştera” Promontory has uncovered many well preserved settlements. The earliest of them is a Late Paleolithic (ca. 30 – 20,000 BC) camp site. Several long-term rural settlements were uncovered at the gentle slopes of the „Peştera” Promontory. One of such settlements dates from Copper Age (the Cucuteni culture, ca. 4,500 – 4,000 BC), another one dates from the Early Iron Age (Chişinău-Corlăteni culture, ca.1,200 – 900 BC). At the same place, Middle Iron Age (the Getaean culture, ca. 400 – 200 BC), Late Iron Age (the Poieneşti-Lucaşeuca culture, ca. 200 – 100 BC), and early medieval period (ca. 500 – 1,300 AD) sites have been found; some have undergone limited test excavations to establish dates. The well preserved traces of two urban medieval (ca. 1,300 – 1,550 AD) settlements are located at the top of the „Peştera” Promontory. Also, many single potsherds have been found within “Peştera”; they date from the Late Bronze Age (Noua culture, ca.1,400 – 1,100 BC), the Early Iron Age (Saharna-Cozia culture, ca. 900 – 800 BC), as well as from the final stage of the Iron Age (Sântana de Mureş-Cerneahov culture, ca. 200 – 400 AD).

The richest, best preserved and most visible settlements at the “Peştera” Promontory, date from the 12th – 16th centuries AD. They were uncovered by archaeological investigations carried out during the last 60 years. This research revealed that in the 12th – 13th centuries AD, a rural fortified settlement existed at the top of the promontory.

Around 1,241 AD, the Tatar-Mongols conquered this fortified settlement. At the first half of the 14th century, the local chiefs of the Golden Horde founded a town of central-Asian type Şehr al Cedid / Yangı Şeher (meaning New Town) in the same place. Until 1,368, when the Tatar-Mongols left the town because of pressure from Lithuanian and Moldovan armies, it was the most important political, administrative, economic, military and religious center in the region. The archaeological remains of this town include the well preserved ruins of the fortification system, several houses, a palace, a mosque, a caravan serai, a mausoleum, three baths, and many other structures built of local limestone or bricks.

Soon after 1,368 AD, one of the most important Moldovan medieval towns, Orhei, was built on the remains of the Tatar-Mongol town. Archaeological features that pertain to this town include many structures: among them, the fortification system built of earth and wood, which barred the natural entrance to the settlement from west; and the citadel and the residence palace of the regional government. During the middle of the 16th century, at the demand of Turkish authorities, which since the 15th century had been exercising political and military control over the region, the Moldovan authorities destroyed the fortifications. After that, the town decayed and turned into a rural settlement. In the 18th century, the inhabitants abandoned the settlement and moved to the present-day Trebujeni village.

The earliest archaeological evidence at the „Butuceni” Promontory was uncovered around the present-day church. It dates from ca. 900 – 800 BC, and apparently belongs to the Thracian Cozia-Saharna culture. In ca. 500 – 300 BC, the Getaes settled here and transformed the entire promontory in a very well-fortified settlement. During that period, the Butuceni Getaean fortress was one of the most prominent in the region. It is one of the largest fortified settlements (3,000 x 100 m) in the Getaean world of that time. Its fortification system was ingeniously adapted to the natural landscape. It was highly complex, as it combined the natural fortification characteristics of the promontory and the human-made structures. Thus, the high and upright banks, as well as narrowness of the promontory were the main elements of the natural fortification. To enforce it, Getaens barred the promontory by several outer and inner ditches and ramparts. They dug ditches deep in the rock and built the ramparts of local wood, stone and earth. One of the most outstanding and well preserved features uncovered within the Butuceni fortress is the circular sanctuary, which is the earliest of this type in the Getaean world. This settlement is the richest in Greek Pontic imports (displaying a particularly high percentage of amphorae) as compared with other “barbarian” settlements of the region. At the southern foot of the promontory, on the territory of the present-day Butuceni village, an open Getaean satellite settlement dating from the 5th – 3rd centuries BC has been found.

Field investigations at the „Butuceni” Promontory also uncovered traces of the Cucuteni culture (5th – 4th millennium BC), as well as 8th – 9th and 14th century settlements. From ancient times until today, the „Butuceni” promontory was often treated as a sacred place, seen as a source of religious inspiration and an appropriate location for cult practices. Important evidence for religious practices include about 200 caves carved into the limestone escarpments along the Răut. The earliest were dug in the 15th century AD. Many of them were – and some still are – the scenes of religious rituals. Most of the caves were used as shelters for the monks. In some of them, floor plans and other evidence suggests that they were used as churches or places of prayer or rituals. One can see many religious texts and symbols engraved in the cave walls, the earliest dating to the medieval period. Significantly, a still extant Orthodox Church was erected in 1904 at a location close to the Getaean sanctuary and the medieval cave churches and monk shelters.

Justification de la Valeur Universelle Exceptionelle

The unique character of The Archaeological Landscape of Orheiul Vechi rests in great part upon an exceptional geomorphology, which was created by the river Raut running through a limestone formation that occupies one of the highest points in the region. The river has cut steep escarpments on either side, effectively creating a system of moats and walls. It includes soils that are the most productive in the world and a biological diversity that includes all the ecosystems of Moldova. The forests surrounding the core area were so thick throughout most times in the past that they were almost impenetrable, constituting yet another defensive barrier for the inhabitants. The area is very rich in limestone, which was and is intensively used for construction.

This various elements of this remarkable landscape have been used essentially in the same ways in different epochs. Thus, the Răut valley from the Neolithic until the present day has been intensively used for agriculture; the top of the „Butuceni” prominence, starting from Iron Age has been used for religious and cult activities (pre-Christian altars, cave monasteries, orthodox church); the same prominence was repeatedly fortified during the Iron Age and Medieval periods; and the top of the Peştera promontory twice hosted medieval towns. In other words, the natural framework provided incentives for people to exploit the landscape in the same way throughout history.

The Archaeological Landscape of Orheiul Vechi has universal value because it demonstrates exceptional multi-faceted human use of a natural fortification, one that could be easily defended and could withstand long sieges because the environment within the Landscape provided abundant food and water. People exploited this natural fortress to secure a complex set of natural resources for subsistence, because it provided a connection to other strategically important areas, provided control of major trade routes, and offered an awe inspiring setting for religious and ritual activities. Due to the ingenious use of this unparalleled natural fortification, Orheiul Vechi ensured the autonomy of the inhabitants of the area and at the same time played a key role in the interaction between regional hegemons from Prehistory until the Middle-Ages.

Criterion (v): The Archaeological Landscape of Orheiul Vechi is an outstanding example of human land-use over millennia through the exploitation of a unique terrain with a spectacular geologic formation. Reacting to and recognizing the potential of this place, the inhabitants controlled and secured key trade routes and rich natural resources between the Carpathian Basin and the Black Sea. Thus ensured of political autonomy and a dominant position in the region, Orheiul Vechi dealt successfully with powerful expanding empires and served as an important buffer and agent of cultural exchange between Asia and Europe from prehistory through the Middle Ages. Today this landscape, including its remarkable geological formations, the fecund environment as a whole, and the archaeological evidence for extensive human occupation, are being threatened by natural processes accelerated by human activity.

Déclarations d’authenticité et/ou d’intégrité

Authenticity: The landscape is made exclusively of original material. Geological formations, vistas, the Raut River, and even soils remain essentially as they were many millennia ago. All archaeological structures are comprised of original fabric; only a few of them have undergone anastylosis, and all of these with minimal consolidating material. Most of the archaeological structures from the Palaeolithic until Medieval period have not been excavated. Excavated structures have been well documented, consolidated and preserved. Excavated artifacts have been catalogued, treated for conservation, and deposited in appropriate storing condition. The location and setting convey a very strong and unique and sense of place. The traditional use of the landscape for agriculture is very much in evidence, as are the ritual and religious uses of dramatic landscape features. Although the villages surrounding the project date more recently than the Middle Ages, the traditional architecture and use of symbols and colour resonate with that time period and do not distract attention from the drama of the landscape. There is almost no modern construction, and that which is present today will be removed or concealed through landscaping according the management plan for the site.

Integrity: All elements of this naturally fortified archaeological landscape possess great integrity. Archaeological material has been inventoried and evaluated over 60 years of research; from this is clear that the overwhelming majority of such material remains are well preserved and in situ. Within the Landscape are more than 1000 archaeological structures, including settlements, cemeteries, churches, caves, mosque, caravanserai and dwellings, etc. Among these, more than 300 have undergone limited testing by archaeologists, and exposed remains have been consolidated and protected. Although much of the landscape has been in continual agricultural use for many centuries, the disturbance to archaeological remains has been superficial due to the absence of deep plowing. The scientific and historical importance of these remains is outstanding. They contain material with the potential to clarify the role of “barbarians” in the ancient world: analyses so far suggest that they mediated between the cultures of Europe and Asia in ways that have not been yet understood. Future archaeological excavations might further indicate that the occupation of Orheiul Vechi by Tartars, portrayed in European literature as devastating to civilization, might have ultimately enriched civilization on a global scale. Further, the landscape as sensed by the visitor retains enormous integrity. Stunning, panoramic views convey in a glance the advantages conveyed to humans by the landscape in terms of protection and inspiration. Essential resources, including water, rich soil, and abundant building material that enabled the inhabitants to withstand sustained assaults on this position are still very much in evidence. Most cultic and ritual complexes (caves, churches, and altars) are in clear view. Any economic activities and natural processes, which would threaten the landscape, are under the permanent monitoring and control of officials (the Administration of the Reservation, local governments, the Ministries of Culture and Environment).

Comparaison avec d’autres biens similaires

The Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape is unique among archaeological sites, even among those that lie within terrain that provides natural defence. While hills and mountaintops, peninsulas and islands, canyons, and river meanders all have been used by humans as places of refuge or surveillance, the extraordinary geological characteristics of Orheiul Vechi provide the framework for a sustain presence in an almost unassailable location. The meanders of the Raut River have cut through limestone bedrock, forming escarpments hundreds of meters high. Compared to the natural fortress of Orheiul Vechi, castle moats and walls pale in comparison. Within this naturally fortified Landscape are the most fertile soils in the world, varied ecosystems, and abundant plants and animals. The Răut River provides an inexhaustible supply of water for consumption and sanitation.

The outstanding characteristics of the Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape are as follows:

1. Extraordinary natural landform
2. Geomorphological unity and ecological diversity
3. Remarkable wealth of the area in subsistence resources
4. Key geostrategic position
5. Exceptionally powerful natural fortification
6. Border zone between sedentary European and nomadic Eurasian cultures
7. Intense sacrality
8. Sustainable utilization of the landscape
9. Dominant commercial, military and political position throughout ancient and medieval epochs

Comparable sites include Bru na Boinne, Ireland; Poverty Point; USA, the Acropolis, Greece; Cahokia, in the USA; Skellig Michael, Ireland; Brimstone Hill, St. Kitts and Nevis; the Kremlin, Russia, the Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Granada, Spain; Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona, Switzerland; the Dacian Fortress of the Orastie Mountains, Romania; Veliko Târnovo Town, Bulgaria; Monkodonia Hill Fortress, Croatia; Mongolian Town of Sarai al Mahrusa, Russia; Archaeological Landscape of Rudi-Tătărăuca, Moldova; the Archaeological Landscape of Furceni-Trebijeni, Moldova; Saharna Archaeological Landscape, Moldova.

While these and other sites share some of the characteristics associated with Orheiul Vechi, none have all, and few display any as clearly.