Once a separate village near Timișoara, Freidorf became part of the city in the 1950s. Established by German colonists in the early 18th century, it witnessed the 1848 revolution, hosting a military camp for the revolutionary army led by Bem József. Notably, it's the birthplace of Johann Peter Weißmüller, the Olympic swimming champion and the first actor to successfully play Tarzan in Hollywood.
A modern scenery in an ancient landscape. Aerial view of the Freidorf borough and the 2020 excavation of the Iron Age settlement © MNaB
While local monuments and place names commemorate these historical events, few know that beneath the surface lie the remnants of a thriving community from around 2300 years ago. Although specialists were aware of the site since the 1980s, it was only during the excavations from 2017 and 2020 that archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Late Iron Age settlement.
Seeing the unseen. Geophysical investigations conducted prior to the excavation ©MNaB
Experts from the National Museum of Banat in Timișoara used non-invasive methods and archaeological digs for their investigations.
These efforts revealed details about the daily life of a small community that lived in the marshy terrain of what is now Freidorf around 300 BC.
A small bronze brooch used for clothes fastening. While for the people in the past this object had a functional purpose, for us it serves as an excellent dating tool. An archaeologist’s reward after a hard-working day. © MNaB
Despite its size, this village was connected to the social and cultural realities of Central and Southern Europe. The excavations and analysis of artifacts provided insights into the community's subsistence strategies and spiritual aspects of everyday life.
Clean sweeping a Late Iron age dwelling….or what’s left of it anyway. © MNaB
If you're curious to learn more about the "Banatians" from the Late Iron Age in Freidorf, stay tuned for updates and stories.
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