In ten years of archaeological research, Roşia Montană Gold Corporation has provided more than 11 million dollars to the research teams, and will allocate another 35 to 45 million for heritage preservation and valorization over the life of the mine. Over 80 specialists have researched 13 archaeological sites and discovered, with the help of the people within the community employed to participate in the research program, 10.000 artifacts which were preserved and the most notable of which will be displayed in the future Mining Museum.

The research works started in 2000, with funds from Roşia Montană Gold Corporation, with the participation of the teams of archaeologists from the National Union Museum of Alba Iulia and the National Historical Monuments Institute for the assessment of the archaeological and architectural potential of Roşia Montană.

National Partners

In 2001 “Alburnus Maior” National Research Program was created by Order of the Romanian Ministry of Culture. Preventive archaeological researches were coordinated from a scientific point of view by the Romanian National History Museum (Bucharest) and authorized by the Ministry of Culture and Religious Denominations.

The main objectives of the interdisciplinary research program were:

• research of the archaeological heritage, registration of data resulting from archaeological digs and regional surveys (archaeological and mapping databases, digital imagery archives, etc.), as well as full publication of the research results in Alburnus Maior series or other specialized studies;
• research of Roman and medieval mining galleries, compilation of Inventories and proposals for solutions to preserve/restore representative parts;
• delimitation of the archaeological and architectural reservation area which is to include parts of the mining galleries and historical monument buildings;
• record-keeping and research of industrial heritage structures;
• production of an ethnographic study on Roşia Montană - Abrud - Corna area;
• production of an oral history study of the area;
• application of the archaeological discharge procedure for the sites located in the impact area of the mining project, in order to enable economic activities in the area;
• development of a project for developing the future museum dedicated to the mining activities in the area of Apuseni Mountains from the very early ages to present times.

Based on the outcomes of these researches, the representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Religious Denominations and National Heritage have made the decision to preserve in situ some representative structures and monuments, respectively to continue the research or apply the archaeological discharge procedure, in compliance with the law.