Fețele Albe Dacian Settlement

The Dacian settlement of Fețele Albe lies on the southern slope of Muncelului Hill, in the village of Grădiștea de Munte, Orăștioara de Sus commune, Hunedoara County. It is located north of Sarmizegetusa Regia, less than 4 km away, separated from it by a steep slope. The archaeological site is a listed historic monument (code HD-I-s-A-03196), with the circular sanctuary listed as HD-I-m-A-03196.01. It is not one of the six Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is not a fortress but a civilian settlement built on artificial terraces held up by walls in the murus dacicus technique. The settlement comprises about 20 terraces, and one of them holds a circular sanctuary with limestone pillars. Excavations also uncovered a circular dwelling, a house with annexes, ceramic water pipes and a stone drainage channel. Occupation began at the end of the second century BC. The settlement was destroyed in the First Dacian War, in AD 102, rebuilt, and finally destroyed by Trajan's army in 106. The results of the excavations were published by Hadrian Daicoviciu and Ioan Glodariu. A sign on the road to Sarmizegetusa Regia marks the steep path that climbs through the forest to the ruins.