The Spatial Organization of The Medieval  Hearth in The Oppidum of Rodna.  Guidelines of Historical Geography

Muriesianu Mircea

Volume : III, Issue : III, March - 2014

The Spatial Organization of The Medieval Hearth in The Oppidum of Rodna. Guidelines of Historical Geography

Muriesianu Mircea

Abstract :

The presence of argentiferous gold ore, mining and mountain crossing have favored, even from the early Middle Ages (the XIIth century), the occurrence and development of the prosperous Oppidum of Rodna. Designed and accomplished by the German colonists ought here by the Hungarian kings in view of recharging mining and overseeing the Carpathian passages, the stylish medieval mountain town had imposing buildings, a monumental Dominican basilica, along with a network of mysterious rooms and underground passages (catacombs). Largely shattered by the rapacious Tatar-Mongol hordes in 1241-1242, the urban dowry of the medieval small town was rebuilt in two decades, but, unfortunately, the second Tatar invasion in 1285, transformed the Oppidum of Rodna into ruins. Based on the scarce documents of the time, the materials and published writings, along with the personal investigations, the attempt is to reconstitute the old Rodna Oppidum.