Vol. 2025 (2025): Communicationes Archaeologicae Hungariae
Studies

Settlement dynamics in the Lower Mureș Region during the 2nd millennium BCE

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  • Victor Sava,
  • Florin Gogâltan
Victor Sava
Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities „Titu Maiorescu”, Romanian Academy
Florin Gogâltan
nstitute of Archaeology and History of Art, Cluj-Napoca, Romanian Academy, Cluj-Napoca Branch
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54640/CAH.2025.139

Published 2025-12-29

Keywords

  • Lower Mureș Region,
  • Middle Bronze Age,
  • tells and tell-like settlements,
  • Late Bronze Age,
  • megaforts

How to Cite

Sava, V., & Gogâltan, F. (2025). Settlement dynamics in the Lower Mureș Region during the 2nd millennium BCE. Communicationes Archaeologicae Hungariae, 2025, 139–190. https://doi.org/10.54640/CAH.2025.139

Abstract

The Lower Mureș Region (LMR) is a distinct geographical area in the southeastern part of the Carpathian Basin. It stretches from where the Mureș River exits the mountain corridor to its confluence with the Tisza River. Systematic field surveys conducted over the last 15 years in an area of ca. 2,200 km2 have led to the identification of 100 settlements that date back to the 2nd millennium BC. This makes the LMR one of the most thoroughly investigated microregions in the Eastern Carpathian Basin.

This article presents a synthesis of data on the Middle Bronze Age and the Late Bronze Age settlements, discussing their geographic setting, size of the inhabited areas, fortification systems, average distance between contemporary settlements, and internal organisation. Starting from this data set, an overall picture regarding the diachronic evolution of LMR settlements can be outlined. The status of Middle Bronze Age tell and tell-like settlements within the LMR settlement network is examined, as well as the position of Late Bronze Age megaforts as central sites for a catchment area.

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