Cercetare Arheologică Preventivă La Biserica “Sfânta Treime” Sibiel, Jud. Sibiu Campania 2025

Abstract In 2025, a preventive archaeological investigation was undertaken at the Orthodox parish church of “Holy Trinity” in Sibiel (Sibiu County), a Class A listed monument (SB-II-m-A-12551), in preparation for a restoration project that required geological probes reaching the foundation soles. Because such interventions affect the archaeological stratigraphy typical of historic churches—potentially including earlier masonry phases and burial deposits—the works were carried out as preventive archaeology and archaeological monitoring in accordance with Romanian heritage legislation. Fieldwork started on 05.08.2025 and focused on obtaining stratigraphic and structural data relevant for the geological and resistance studies. Two small test pits were opened outside the church, positioned on the north and south sides, following the designer’s plan and in consultation with the geologist. The general stratigraphy records substantial construction-related deposits beneath the topsoil, including layers rich in rubble, stone, roof-tile fragments, and mortar, interpreted as evidence for major refurbishment episodes. A darker deposit with stones and charcoal traces is associated with the construction level of the sanctuary elevation, overlying natural clay. Test pit C1 (0.60 × 1.70 m), placed near the junction of the north wall of the narthex and the north side of the sanctuary, revealed foundation segments indicating an earlier, smaller church phase beneath the standing building. Notably, a semi-circular apse foundation and an adjoining wall segment suggest an older plan, with the current sanctuary foundation partly overlapping the earlier apse foundation. No graves were identified, despite the presence of a dark layer interpreted as a burial horizon. Test pit C2 (0.60 × 1.20 m), located at the junction between the bell tower and the south side of the narthex, showed that the tower wall does not bond with the narthex wall, implying that the bell tower was added in a later construction stage. Although the limited scope of the investigation did not permit secure chronological attribution, the results raise significant questions regarding the monument’s building sequence and possible earlier orientations or planimetric arrangements.