Old Orhei Historical and Archaeological Complex

Old Orhei (Romanian: Orheiul Vechi) is a historical and archaeological complex, located in Trebujeni, at 60 kilometres (37 mi) north-east of Chişinău, on the Răut River.

The ancient city Old Orhei – a unique natural and historical complex in the open air. It organically combines the natural landscape and vestiges of ancient civilizations. As a result of enormous archeological excavations here there were discovered the cultural layers of different epochs such as – the Paleolithic, Eneolithic, and Iron Age. The culture of Geto-Dacians of Early and Late Middle Ages is represented by the rests of earthen and wooden fortresses of Geto-Dacian period and the traces of two medieval towns – Shehr al-Djedid town of the Golden Horde period and the Moldovan town Orhei.

UNESCO World List of Heritage

Analyzed in the context of the UNESCO World List of Heritage the Cultural Landscape Orheiul Vechi can be included as a mixed site, which disposes unique elements of the natural and cultural heritage.

By July 2007, 25 monuments of the mixed type were registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List. From these sites, only 9 cases combine criteria V and VII, 8 cases of these are listed under other criteria as well and only one case represents a site analogical from formal point of view to the Cultural Landscape Orheiul Vechi, this is Cliff of Bandiagara from Mali.

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