Latest news with #VladtheImpaler
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ancient buried treasure unearthed by metal detectorists in Transylvania
Two men with metal detectors recently discovered a trove of ancient treasure in Transylvania, which shed new light on early settlements in the storied historical region, local officials said. Encompassing much of present-day Romania, Transylvania is known for its medieval towns, Gothic architecture and vampiric folklore, with a mythical reputation tied to the fictional character Dracula and his real-life inspiration, the notorious 15th-century ruler Vlad the Impaler. The treasure unearthed this spring in the Transylvanian town of Breaza dates back much farther than the brutal monarch's reign. In an announcement shared last week, officials in Breaza said the metal detectorists found jewelry that originally belonged to Dacian people, who inhabited what is now Transylvania and some of its surrounding areas from around the 1st century B.C.E. until the 1st century of the common era. Dacia was eventually conquered by the Roman Empire. Silver brooches and a bracelet decorated with plant motifs were among the artifacts discovered, in addition to a chain necklace and a belt constructed out of circular metallic pendants, each marked with solar symbols. The treasure weighed 550 grams altogether, officials said, equating to more a pound. The Mures County Museum, near Breaza, confirmed the jewelry's origins in ancient Dacian society. An archaeologist at the museum, Daniel Ciota, will study the treasure as it is prepared for display. Officials in Breaza said the silver pieces were likely worn by a Dacian aristocrat, citing its lavishness as a signal of its owner's status, potentially as a "high-ranking" member of their society. As for why the jewels were ultimately buried in the ground, the officials suggested they could have been used as offerings to some unknown deity long ago. However, they also acknowledged someone may have hidden them for more personal reasons. There were no previous records of Dacian settlements in this part of Transylvania, and the treasure is the first physical evidence off Dacian people living around Breaza. Moving forward, officials said archaeologists and researchers will begin to explore the area in hopes of finding remnants of a settlement where the owner of the jewels may have lived. "These historical artifacts remind us of the cultural heritage and importance of our region in the history of Dacia," the town of Breaza wrote in a social media post unveiling the treasure. "This discovery honors and encourages us to proudly protect and promote our heritage." Savannah Bananas pack stadiums with their zany twist on baseball | 60 Minutes Watch: Blue Origin's first all-women flight crew launches to space Harvard University hit with funding freeze after rejecting Trump administration's demands
CBS News
15-04-2025
- CBS News
Centuries-old buried treasure unearthed by 2 metal detectorists in Transylvania
Two men with metal detectors recently discovered a trove of ancient treasure in Transylvania, which shed new light on early settlements in the storied historical region, local officials said . Encompassing much of present-day Romania, Transylvania is known for its medieval towns, Gothic architecture and vampiric folklore, with a mythical reputation tied to the fictional character Dracula and his real-life inspiration, the notorious 15th-century ruler Vlad the Impaler. The treasure unearthed this spring in the Transylvanian town of Breaza dates back much farther than the brutal monarch's reign. In an announcement shared last week, officials in Breaza said the metal detectorists found jewelry that originally belonged to Dacian people , who inhabited what is now Transylvania and some of its surrounding areas from around the 1st century B.C.E. until the 1st century of the common era. Dacia was eventually conquered by the Roman Empire. Silver brooches and a bracelet decorated with plant motifs were among the artifacts discovered, in addition to a chain necklace and a belt constructed out of circular metallic pendants, each marked with solar symbols. The treasure weighed 550 grams altogether, officials said, equating to more a pound. The Mures County Museum, near Breaza, confirmed the jewelry's origins in ancient Dacian society. An archaeologist at the museum, Daniel Ciota, will study the treasure as it is prepared for display. Officials in Breaza said the silver pieces were likely worn by a Dacian aristocrat, citing its lavishness as a signal of its owner's status, potentially as a "high-ranking" member of their society. As for why the jewels were ultimately buried in the ground, the officials suggested they could have been used as offerings to some unknown deity long ago. However, they also acknowledged someone may have hidden them for more personal reasons. There were no previous records of Dacian settlements in this part of Transylvania, and the treasure is the first physical evidence off Dacian people living around Breaza. Moving forward, officials said archaeologists and researchers will begin to explore the area in hopes of finding remnants of a settlement where the owner of the jewels may have lived. "These historical artifacts remind us of the cultural heritage and importance of our region in the history of Dacia," the town of Breaza wrote in a social media post unveiling the treasure. "This discovery honors and encourages us to proudly protect and promote our heritage."
Fox News
15-04-2025
- Fox News
Ancient treasure found by metal detectorists in 'important' and legendary region
Two metal detectorists recently came across millennia-old treasure in a small European village. The discovery was made this spring in the Romanian commune of Breaza, Mureș County, which is located in Transylvania. Transylvania is famous for being the setting of Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula," as well as its connection to the brutal leader Vlad the Impaler. But the recent archaeological discovery was far from frightening. In a Facebook post, the Breaza Mures Municipality City Hall wrote that two finders named Dionisie-Aurel Moldovan and Sebastian-Adrian Zăhan came across the treasure, which dates back to the Dacians. The Dacians settled in present-day Romania in the 1st millennium B.C. The group unsuccessfully warred against the Roman Empire in the second century A.D., and Dacia became a Roman province in 106 A.D. Pictures show various silver artifacts that have been tarnished with age. In a statement, Romanian officials said the ancient adornments included two fibulae, or brooches, and one bracelet. The metal detectorists also found a smaller fibula, a neck chain with three pendant-like pins and a belt made of oval plates connected by a series of rings. Officials also identified a rectangular silver plate "decorated with a series of solar motifs," which also likely belonged to the belt. The Facebook post noted that the silver was "worn by a prominent member of the Dacian aristocracy on various special occasions," but officials are unsure whether the stash belonged to a man or a woman. The total weight of the silver was roughly 1.2 pounds. "The treasure, weighing approximately 550 grams, represented an important symbol of the social status of its owner," the translated statement read. "Its burial in the ground can be interpreted as an offering made to an unknown deity or merely as a hiding place during a difficult period in the life of [the owner]." The treasure is currently in the care of Mureș County Museum, where the artifacts will continue to be studied. The discovery delighted local officials, who said they were deeply proud of their local history. "These historical artifacts remind us of the cultural heritage and importance of our region in the history of Dacia," the post concluded. "This discovery honors and encourages us to proudly protect and promote our heritage."
