Cellar uncovered by crater in Romanian town dates back to 18th century

The archaeologists who researched a crater formed in a parking lot on the national road DN2 in Râmnicu Sărat, in eastern Romania’s Buzau county, concluded that it uncovered a wine cellar dating back not further than the 18

th

century, News.ro reported. The cellar is part of the old Ramnicu Sarat town and could become a tourist attraction if authorities decide to arrange it properly. This February, a two-meter deep crater formed in a parking lot in Râmnicu Sărat, and one of the parked cars fell into the existing hole. It was initially believed that the wine cellar standing beneath the caved asphalt could have been a medieval, 17th-century one. The archeologists’ report has been sent to a regional commission to decide what further measures will be taken. The crater might be temporarily covered with sand but pouring cement into it is out of the question, says Laurenţiu Grigoraş, the director of the Buzău Count Museum. “Following the archeological research the conclusions are that the cellar is not older than the 18

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century. No artifacts associated with that period were discovered, only the remains resulting from filling the respective cellar,” Grigoraş explained. “There will probably be a primary preservation of the site, meaning covering it with sand. Depending on the evolution of the works and the authorities’ wish to build a detouring ring road, the site could be introduced in the future in a public route,” he said. The museum director explained that the cellar beneath the asphalt has a surface much larger than the one on which the research was carried. “If properly evaluated and researched, that ensemble could become a tourist attraction. That site is part of the old Râmnicu Sărat town, a reason for which we think it is worth highlighting and giving it back to visitors. It can be an open archeological site, a set up that allows visiting and sightseeing without impeding on the traffic,” he argued. After the city hall receives the results of a technical expertise on site, it will decide what to do with the road segment affected by the crater, said Ştefan Torcărescu, the Râmnicu Sărat deputy mayor. “In the talks we had, we took into account the possibility of preserving this crater without affecting the preservation of the existing structures until a future date, but we will discuss this after the technical expertise report is submitted. There is the option of covering it with sand as a method of preservation but we will take the final decision after we have the technical expertise report. The parking lot where the crater formed can no longer be used,” he added.