Moldova - Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape

The Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape is located in central-eastern part of Moldova and lies along the gorge of the lower course of the Răut River, 14 km upstream from the confluence of the Răut and the Dniester Rivers. This is an extremely strategic position. The Răut links it with most of central and northern Moldova, while the Dniester is the most important trade route between northeast Carpathians and the Black Sea Basin. Administratively, the Landscape comprises the territory of the Trebujeni and Butuceni villages, belonging to the Trebujeni commune of Orhei district. At the same time, the unusual and severe terrain around the Landscape render it perhaps the most naturally defensible in the region. The Landscape resembles a hemispherical amphitheater of 3,500 meters (East - West) x 1,500 meters (North – South), one that is defined by the Răut’s steep and high banks. The extremely tortuous course of the Răut, 15 to 20 meters wide, has carved embedded meanders, which together stretch for 7,000 meters, through limestone bedrock. The downstream left bank is nearly upright and reaches ca. 100-148 meters in altitude. At the western and southeastern ends of the escarpment, two natural passages, respectively 80 meters and 300 meters wide, link this naturally fortified central areas to the surrounding region.