Dacian Archaeology

Intro

Your journey into the heart of Transylvania begins here. Day 1 is dedicated to introductions — meet the team and your fellow participants over a traditional meal, raise a glass to the days ahead, and get a full orientation of the camp. We'll cover everything you need to know: site rules, facilities, and a preview of the archaeological work that awaits.

Tilișca Intro + Culinary Experience

Read more about Tilisca Dacian Settlement

First Archaeological Experience

Day 2 marks your first real encounter with the ancient world. Morning excavation at the Tilișca dig puts you directly in the field alongside our archaeologists, carefully uncovering the remains of a Dacian hilltop settlement. Midday brings a structured walk-through of the site — a presentation covering the settlement's origins, architecture, and what the finds tell us about life here centuries ago. As the sun sets over the Transylvanian hills, we close the day with a traditional Romanian dinner at camp, celebrating the work done and the days still ahead.

Archaeological dig

Read more about Tilisca Dacian Settlement

General presentation of the settlement

Archaeological dig and tour of Tilisca

After a productive morning at the excavation site, Day 3 opens up into the living culture of Tilișca. We stroll through the village on foot, discovering the workshops of local artisans — weavers, woodcarvers, potters — and getting a feel for the traditions that have shaped this community for generations. Participants may have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and try their hand at a craft or two. A warm evening meal at camp brings the day to a close.

Read more about Tilisca Dacian Settlement

Tour of Tilisca

Trip to Sarmisagetusa Regia

We trade trowels for the open road on Day 4. Departing camp by car, our first destination is Sarmizegetusa Regia — the spiritual heart of the Dacian world and a site of immense archaeological significance, set amid dense mountain forest. After exploring its ancient sanctuaries, we drive on to Corvin Castle, a towering medieval fortress in Hunedoara that offers a striking contrast to the Dacian world we've been immersed in. By early afternoon we're back at camp, with plenty to discuss over the evening.

Read more about Sarmizegetusa Regia

Trip to Sarmisagetusa Regia

Corvin Castle

Trip to Salgo Medieval Fortress

An active day awaits on Day 5. We drive to Sibiel and lace up our boots for the hike up to Salgó — an unusual and often overlooked medieval fortress hidden in the hills, offering both a fascinating glimpse into the region's turbulent past and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. After exploring the ruins, we descend back to the village and return to camp, where a well-deserved spread of traditional food, local wine, and cold beer is waiting to round off a memorable day on the trail.

Trip to Salgo Medieval Fortress

Eplore Sibiel

Processing Excavated Artifacts

The morning of Day 6 is dedicated to the quieter but equally rewarding side of archaeology — artifact processing. Participants work with the team to clean, sort, and record the finds from the dig, piecing together the story behind each fragment. The afternoon brings some well-deserved rest at the thermal baths of Miercurea Sibiului, where warm mineral waters do their job on tired muscles. As night falls, the camp comes alive with a bonfire, traditional food, cold drinks, and the sounds of Romanian folk music — a perfect way to mark the end of a remarkable week in the field.

Aqua day Miercurea Sibiului

Camp fire with folk music

Trip to Sibiu

We head to Sibiu on Day 7, swapping the dig site for the city's cobblestone streets and world-class museums. The History Museum offers a compelling deep-dive into the archaeology and history of the region — a chance to see finds similar to those we've been uncovering, now fully documented and displayed in context. From there, we make our way to the ASTRA National Museum Complex, an open-air treasure where hundreds of traditional wooden structures — farmhouses, churches, watermills — have been preserved and reassembled across a vast parkland, painting a vivid picture of rural Romanian life through the centuries.

History Museum

Astra Museum