Cucuteni Archaeological Site

Discovery of a Dacian-Getic Site at the Foot of Gosanul Hill

The Cucuteni Archaeological Site is located just 500 meters from the eponymous village, along the Baiceni–Cucuteni road in Iași County. The vestiges discovered here date back to the 4th century BCE, belonging to the early La Tène period, and provide a valuable insight into the Dacian-Getic culture of northeastern Moldova. The focal point of the research is Gosanul Hill, where traces of an ancient community have been identified.

Tombs and Funerary Rituals from Two Millennia Ago

The most significant discoveries at Cucuteni are the Dacian-Getic necropolises, studied since 1976. The first mound investigated, standing 1.5 meters tall with a diameter of 2 meters, contained a cremation tomb. The funerary inventory included calcined bones placed on stone slabs, a Scythian-type bronze arrowhead, and ceramic fragments—one wheel-made of superior quality, and the other hand-modeled and decorated with relief motifs.

A second, far more impressive mound measured 3 meters in height and 35 meters in diameter. At its base, a rectangular stone enclosure with walls over 3.5 meters tall protected the main tomb. On a limestone pavement, archaeologists uncovered four gilded silver bivalve pendants, beads made of calcareous paste, wheel-made vessels, and fragments of painted Greek pottery. Around the main tomb, three additional secondary cremation tombs completed the necropolis.

The Archaeological Museum and Visitor Access

To protect and showcase the discoveries, the Cucuteni Archaeological Museum was established in 1984. Here, artifacts recovered from the site are displayed, offering visitors a perspective on the life and rituals of the Dacian-Getic people. Access to the site is easily available from the Baiceni–Cucuteni road, and the museum is a must-visit for history and archaeology enthusiasts. The visiting schedule can be checked on-site or through local cultural institutions.