Pietrele Lower Levels — Gumelniţa–Codlea Tell
Pietrele · Pietrele Tell Lower · Măgura Gorgana Pietrele Lower
Boian to Gumelniţa A2 (5100–4100 BCE; lower 4600 BCE)·Boian → Gumelniţa–Kodžadermen·🇷🇴 Teleorman County, Giurgiu–Bucharest, Danube tributary Pietrele stream, Romania
About
About Pietrele Lower Levels — Gumelniţa–Codlea Tell
Pietrele Lower Levels is the basal 4600–4200 BCE Gumelniţa lakeside tell excavated by Svend Hansen (German Archaeological Institute) since 2004 on a Danube lagoon island. 2 ha lower basin exposes earliest levels: pisé platforms over lake clays, copper hooks, Varna-type gold, tell-scale workshops producing graphite-painted pottery, anthropomorphic lids and split-plank houses. Sequence 5100–4100 BCE total 12 m; lower 3 m burnt houses 4600 BCE.
Why it mattersMost intact Danubian island tells showing Boian→Gumelniţa continuity and early metallurgy far from Varna core.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Lacustrine adaptation vs seasonal vs permanent island?
Theories
- 01Hansen: Pietrele as Gumelniţa periphery that maintains Varna prestige network
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.5100 BCE (Boian)
- Period
- Boian to Gumelniţa A2 (5100–4100 BCE; lower 4600 BCE)
- Culture
- Boian → Gumelniţa–Kodžadermen
- Builders
- Lower Danube lake villagers
- Purpose
- Fishing-farming island village with copper founderworkshop
- Abandoned
- c.4100 BCE (Chalcolithic general collapse)
- Rediscovered
- 2004 DAI-DAI survey D. Hansen
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
2004–
Hansen DAI ongoing; lower sondage 8 m
c.4600 BCE
Burned house row lower levels graphite ware
On the ground
Structures & features
44.0800° N · 25.6500° E · 42 m · 3 mapped features
Pietrele Lower Split-Plank Houses
habitationTimber houses with graphite-painted lids
44.0806° N · 25.6505° EPietrele Copper Hook Foundry
workshopCrucible copper hook and awl casting pits
44.0793° N · 25.6508° EPietrele Lagoon Platform Pisé
structureLake-clay pisé footing over 1 m peat
44.0810° N · 25.6494° E