Ruginoasa–Dealul Drăghici Cucuteni Palace
Ruginoasa Palace · Dealul Drăghici
Cucuteni A–B (c.4200–3800 BCE)·Cucuteni–Trypillia·🇷🇴 Iași County, Ruginoasa commune, Moldavian Plateau, Romania
About
About Ruginoasa–Dealul Drăghici Cucuteni Palace
Famous 'palace' at Ruginoasa–Dealul Drăghici, a 32×16 m Cucuteni A3 burned building with timber lacing, painted floors and 2-storey interpretation, excavated by H. Dumitrescu. Set within a 6 ha fortified promontory with ditch, it contained a hoard of painted vessels and figurines. Classic site for Cucuteni social complexity debate. Views over Moldavian plateau.
Why it mattersFamous 'palace' at Ruginoasa–Dealul Drăghici, a 32×16 m Cucuteni A3 burned building with timber lacing, painted floors and 2-storey interpretation, excavated by H. Dumitrescu. Set within a 6 ha fortified promontory with ditch, it contained a hoard of painted vessels and figurines. Classic site for C
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether palace was residence, sanctuary or council hall
- 02Second storey debated
Theories
- 01Ruginoasa palace as chiefly residence evidencing hierarchy
- 02Ritual house for community assembly
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.4200 BCE Cucuteni A3
- Period
- Cucuteni A–B (c.4200–3800 BCE)
- Culture
- Cucuteni–Trypillia
- Purpose
- Elite Cucuteni building ('palace') on fortified promontory
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
47.2450° N · 26.8400° E · 280 m · 3 mapped features
The Palace Building
palace32×16 m two-part burned Cucuteni palace with painted floor
47.2460° N · 26.8420° EPromontory Rampart
rampartDitch and palisade enclosing plateau tip
47.2455° N · 26.8410° EHoard Deposit
hoardPit with 30 painted vessels under palace floor
47.2462° N · 26.8425° E