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History of Research
Attracted by the microclimatic conditions of the Cioarei Cave as well as by the physical and biological environment of the region where it is located, C. S. Nicolăescu-Plopşor and
C. Mateescu (1955) conducted the first transversal survey towards the middle part of the cave (about 6.5 m from the entrance) 3 m long and 1.5 m wide. On this occasion, the sediment was cleared to a depth of 4 m without reaching the cave floor. The first stratigraphic description of the deposit was made, accompanied by a succinct list of identified mammal species, some paleoclimatic considerations and descriptions of the lithic tools recovered. Culturally, the authors considered that the cave had provided shelter for a number of communities attributed to the Mousterian and, to a lesser extent, the Aurignacian.
The analyses carried out by these two respected archaeologists, with their strengths and weaknesses, depending on the stage of the investigation methods of those times, were an important step because, by mentioning lithic tools attributed to the Palaeolithic for the first time, they stimulated further research.
Thus, in 1973, M. Cârciumaru visited the Cioarei Cave for stratigraphic examinations. By cleaning the profiles of the old section and deepening the excavation until reaching the cave floor at 4.35 m, favourable conditions were created for a first sampling for pollen analysis of the deposit. The palynological study clarified the paleoclimatic and geochronological context in which the cave deposit was sedimented as well as the possibility of the existence in this settlement of the oldest Mousterian in Romania at that time (M. Cârciumaru, 1977 a; b).
This hypothesis created the necessary premises for the reopening of the archaeological excavations in this cave in 1979 (M. Cârciumaru, 1980; 1999). The excavation strategy aimed at initially creating a longitudinal section that was to be intersected by a transversal section towards the middle of the cave. This approach sought to obtain the most complete picture of the overall stratigraphy of the cave deposit. The rest of the deposit was supposed to be excavated, taking into account the succession of layers recorded in the two sections. Unfortunately, sometimes this was hindered by the detachment of quite large rocks from the cave ceiling or walls. Their frequency increased as a result of the modification of the microclimate inside the cave, as more of its deposit was uncovered. Thus, the air circulation in the cave area intensified, the overall humidity decreased noticeably and consequently, the dehydration of the limestone increased from one year to another. This situation also facilitated the amplification of gelifraction during the winter season in the newly expanded space of the cave.
Unfortunately, the necessary funds for closing and electrifying the cave were not found for this long stage of cave research (1979-1990), which is somewhat explainable by the fact that Palaeolithic archaeology was not a priority of the communist regime at that time.
In order to retrieve all the material, the sediment, having been excavated with a trowel, was completely sifted through a sieve that allowed for the recovery of even the smallest archaeological materials, including the osteological remains of micromammals.
The results of interdisciplinary research carried out in this cave have materialized in a series of studies. A detailed petrographic study helped estimate the territory supplying the raw material necessary for the lithic equipment (M. Cârciumaru, M. Șeclăman, D.-D. Cârciumaru, 2000). Numerous paleontological considerations were made by studying the large mammal fauna in order to establish the food economy (E. Terzea, 1987, 2000; M. Patou-Mathis, 2000-2001 a; b), the micromammal fauna for paleoclimatic estimations (J. Chaline, 1987), the avifauna (E. Kessler, E. Gál, 2000), the malacological fauna and fossil pollen for a more complete understanding of the plant cover from each stage, with a view to nuancing the general features of the environment and developing a paleoclimatic scale (M. Cârciumaru, 1977 a, b; 1980; 1999). In order to provide a more relevant stratigraphic description, granulometric and chemical analyses were conducted (M. Cârciumaru, P. Vasilescu, 2000), and several C-14 dates were obtained for the deposit chronology (K. Honea, 1986; M. Cârciumaru, 1999).
General considerations on the lithic material from the Middle Palaeolithic were formulated by Marguerite Ulrix-Closset (M. Cârciumaru, M. Ulrix-Closset, 1996;
M. Cârciumaru, M. Otte, M. Ulrix-Closset, 1995; M. Otte, M. Ulrix-Closset, M. Cârciumaru, C. Beldiman, 1996), and a more extensive study was carried out by Marie-Hélène Moncel
(M. Cârciumaru, M.-H. Moncel, M. Anghelinu, 2001, 2002; M. Cârciumaru, M.-H. Moncel, M. Anghelinu, R. Cârciumaru, 2002; M. Cârciumaru, M.-H. Moncel, R. Cârciumaru, 2000, 2004; M.-H. Moncel, 2000). The lithic tools from the Upper Palaeolithic were studied by Marcel Otte and Roxana Dobrescu (M. Cârciumaru, M. Otte, R. Dobrescu, 1996, M. Cârciumaru,
R. Dobrescu, 1997).
The finds in the Cioarei Cave related to Neanderthal symbolism (M. Cârciumaru,
O. Cîrstina, 2023; M. Cârciumaru, E.-C. Niţu, 2018; M. Cârciumaru, E.-C. Niţu, M. Ţuţuianu-Cârciumaru, 2012 a; M. Cârciumaru, E.-C. Niţu, O. Cîrstina, 2014; M. Cârciumaru,
M. Ţuţuianu-Cârciumaru, 2009; M. Cârciumaru et al., 2015) or the interpretation of personal ornaments from the Upper Palaeolithic have been the subject of recent studies (M. Cârciumaru et. al., 1996; 2012 b; M. Cârciumaru, E.-C. Niţu, 2018).
