Fortifications from Gura Humorului

Mayor of Gura Humorului, Marius Ursaciuc said out archaeological work to be done to find the 14 forts of the city’s fortification system, after the State Archives in Vienna found documents indicating the existence of these buildings.

Pillars of the bridge on the access road leading to the city
Ursaciuc said in a press conference recently that researchers at the University of Suceava who studied several pieces from the archives of the Habsburg Empire in Vienna which is found documents that presented the city’s fortification system built in the mid-century Gura Humorului eighteenth century.
“Few know that in Gura Humorului is the archaeological monuments, being about the eighteenth and nineteenth century fortifications. As a result, this edition of the Days of Humor in the original documents we will show that talks about the existence of these fortifications, and another fort which was built before the mid-nineteenth century, “said Marius Ursaciuc.
He noted that currently only known main fort there, but, according to documents from the archive, Gura Humorului was the most fortified city in the Habsburg Empire, being built 14 forts.
“It seems that the main fort was built on an old city,” said Ursaciuc adding that so far, there have been excavations in this site.
“This is the first time you will be digging. Fortification are considered to be unique,” the mayor said.
He said the mayor of Gura Humorului has partnered with the Museum of Bucovina Suceava, that this week will be started excavations at the main forces of the existing 14. Moreover, Ursaciuc stressed that intends to promote a European funded project for the value of these fortifications, and for building a open air museum with objects and equipment artillery soldiers during the Habsburg Empire. Note that, according to experts, the fortifications in Gura Humorului would be unique in Romania.
Source: Monitorul de Suceava

About the need for archaeological research in Gura Humorului

Western foot of the bridge seen from above
As a historian and archaeologist by profession, can only excite me start archaeological approach to Gura Humorului. The need was stressed excavations Nicholas C. Popescu history as the author of the monograph Gura Humorului and recently by Mrs. Vera Romaniuc, Director Museum of Bucovina folk customs.
The existence of the fortification system was known specialists Gura Humorului but the documents revealed Vienna.
The history of Balan Theodore C. Smith and Nicholas identifies fortification on the hill at Gura Humorului “Fortress” (the two legs of the bridge, the fortress itself and “the cellar”) and the existence in the eastern part of town (in the Petrom gas station today) remains of the fortifications of earth – crenelated ramparts and ditches, built to bar the entire river valley Moldova. History Theodore Balan says that they were built by the Austrians in 1815, after the Congress of Vienna (Congress that preceded the defeat of Napoleon), when Austria began to fear an invasion of tsarist armies to Transylvania. Dina other documentary information shows that immediately after the annexation of Bukovina in 1774, were held in the valley of Moldova, into one Obcina, defensive fortifications, facing east. In this connection there were two military garrisons: one at Gura Humorului and another to Customs.

Western foot of the bridge seen from below
A local legend attributes the beginnings of these fortifications Gura Humorului Bogdan I, as a defense against military attacks of the Hungarians. Explanation here would have the name of “Bogdăneasa” that bears vestiges places are located above. So far, in the absence of sustained archaeological research, and based solely on documentary evidence, were born three hypotheses on the age and origin of fortifications from Gura Humorului: 1. were raised by Goths in 376 BC to defend d by the Huns (A. Ficher theory of history, rather bombastic and hazardous, that can not be supported only by material evidence undeniable), 2.Moldovans have used the “Posada” in defense system against attacks from the east (here the question whether the era of the village community Campulung – sec. 9-14, or formed during the medieval state of Moldova), 3. We have strengthened and expanded in 1775-1778 and then Austrians în1815-1816, to defend a possible Russian attack. These assumptions of the historian Nicholas C. Popescu I would also add one more: the possibility that these fortifications to be built by Hungarians in the middle of the thirteenth century as military outposts against the great Mongol invasion (Hungarian presence here may be supported by originHungarian hydronyms “humor”, hydronic giving the name of town).

The medieval core of Gura Humorului
Need to start archaeological Gura Humorului is a matter of utmost importance for itself attests the localities, especially since lately is questioned by some historians autointitilaţi pseudoistorici the very existence of a settlement before the annexation of Austria Gura Humorului. In the end I mention ACET Deacon Basil’s statements (“Old Suha Bukovina settlements” -1989, “Romanian beer” – 2011; adept Roesliene obvious theory that says that if a population is not mentioned documentary in an area means that pupulaţie there was there – to deny the existence theory launched before the Hungarians in Transylvania Romanian), stating in his last paper that the lack of Gura Humorului on military maps during and after annexation entitles him to assert that the settlement of Gura Humoruluibegins to recover immediately after annexation.
These statements Vasile Deacon shows a lack of professional working methods in history and not least the lack of training as dilettantism not scientific research takes place.