The settlement is of particular historical interest, and archaeological excavations have revealed tools, utensils, weapons and pottery made in the traditional Dacian manner, either by hand or on the wheel, following a Celto-Hellenistic technology. These discoveries attest to the continuity of its habitation, starting from the Dacian era and up to the dawn of the Middle Ages.
The discoveries from the Dacian and Daco-Roman periods were followed by the Romanian ones, highlighting an old Romanian material culture, between the 7th and 11th centuries. This is represented by dwellings, tools, utensils and pottery, preserving an old tradition of Daco-Romanesque influence.
Also, in this area was identified an earth fortress considered the center of the voivodeship of Menumorut, a leader of one of the three Romanian feudal-type political formations in Transylvania, in the 10th-11th centuries.
Menumorut ruled a territory between the rivers Someș and Mureș, and his power was notable. He dared to oppose the claims raised by the chieftains of the Hungarian tribes to cede the country, and had the courage to confront them in two expeditions organized by him. The strength of the Bihorian voivode was probably based on the existence of a significant population.
However, Menumorut, also known as the "Duke of Bihor", was defeated during the second Hungarian battle expedition, and the fortress of Bihari was occupied on the 13th day of the siege.
Tradition relates that, after this confrontation, Menumorut was forced to give his daughter's hand in marriage to Zoltan (Zulta), the son of the Hungarian king Arpad.
Built in the late 9th and early 10th century, the Citadel of Bihari was an earthen fortification, surrounded by waves about 7 meters high, with the western side having a length of about 60-70 meters. A defensive ditch still visible surrounds the waves, and on the eastern side, they delineate a curtain known locally as the "Girls' Fort". The Biharie Citadel stands out as an impressive monument, being one of the largest quadrangular citadels in Romania and Central Europe.
One of the distinctive aspects of the material culture from the period of formation of the Romanian people are the earth and wood fortifications, spread over the entire territory of Transylvania.
In the specialized literature, it is estimated that there were about 400 such fortifications, of which 150-200 may date from the early pre-feudal period.
The Citadel of Bihari is mentioned for the first time by the chronicler Anonymus in his work "Gesta Hungarorum", where he calls it "Castra Byhor" and describes it as the residence of the "Romanian Duke" Menumorut.
Source: Tourist itinerary Alba Iulia - Cluj-Napoca - Oradea (Ministry of Tourism, 1982)
