Historical data and testimony
Historical data
The history roller spread many nations in Dobrudja, because this province has been many times an “exchange currency” between empires; this reflected in the present ethnic heterogeneity of communities around the park, each community with its customs and traditions.
Historical remnants in the localities surrounding the park
The archaeological research has revealed the existence of objects dating back to Aeneolitic Age, Gumelnita Culture, and the development in Neolitic Age of Hamangia Culture (known due to the statue named the Thinker of Hamangia). Relics of this culture have been discovered at Luncavita in the point named “La Cetatuie” and in the vicinity of Vacareni village. Traces of Gumelnita culture (fragments of vases) are present at Garvan village, as well. Garvan is the place where there was a Getic-Dacian establishment and there can be seen the ruins of the Roman-Byzantine Dinogetia fortress (portions of walls, defence towers, main gate – 14th century) and of an early feudal establishment (ceramics with Dacian-Roman traditions, farming tools and weapons, money treasures, jewellery, food stocks). The fortress was first mentioned by Ptolemeu during the 1st century in his work entitled Geographia. The fortress was built during the rein of Diocletian Emperor (284-305), having as purpose the strengthening of the Danube border of the Roman Empire, as a means of defence against the migrating peoples. The archaeological material in this zone proves that both inside the fortress and in the early feudal establishment there has been an intense economical life, which was based on internal production and the product exchange with the surrounding zones as well as the relations with the Byzantine Empire (due to the Byzantine coins found here). It was also here that there were discovered the stone ruins of a small church, with walls painted in fresco, which stand for the oldest Byzantine feudal monument known in
Other remnants of Gumelnita Neolitic Culture have been discovered at Jijila, Vacareni and Garvan. On the
Vacareni is the place where there has been discovered a monetary treasure containing ducats issued during the rein of Mircea the Old. It is believed to have been buried here in 1436 after the battle of Nicopole, in which Mircea the Old participated along with other crusaders.
At Nifon there have been discovered two Roman monuments dedicated to the godess Diana, the oldest dating back to the year 170 AD.
At Măcin there is the Roman Camp Arrubium, testified by documents in 100 AD, whose ruins can be seen even today in the vicinity of the town, in its north-western part. At 5 km from Macin there have been discovered tiles of a Roman aqueduct. The Roman fortress Troesmiss used to be one of the main cities of the Getae, mentioned in the historical sources, referring to military conflicts between Lysimach and Dromichete (the beginning of the 3rd century BC) and the poet Ovidiu doesn’t fail to mention that Troemis is an ancient fortress (Vetus arx), which Pomponius Flaccus conquered from Getae and gave to the king Rhescuporis of the Tracians (12 AD).
Other testimonies of history and culture are the Old Inn, built 300-400 years ago and the mosque, architectyral monument built in the 18th century.
A nice local legend in Macin tells about Popina Blasova, natural monument in Braila Marsh. Legend has it that a huge young man was in love with a girl from Iglita (now known under the name of Turcoaia) and was refused when he proposed to the girl. Angry because he was rejected, he grabbed a stone from Orliga Hill close to Macin and threw it at the locals of Iglita. The stone fell into Braila Marsh, forming what the locals know as Blasova Stone. The girl, however, responded by grabbing at her turn a stone from Iacobdeal which she threw towards the young man. The stone fell between Macin and Smirdan in the place known as The Girl’s Stone.
The cultural historical landscape in MMNP is represented by many archaeological sites, which became known due to the excavations and research carried out in time by different archaeological institutions or societies, which proved the existence of human establishments starting with the Stone Age, some of them being located even on the park territory.
Religious places with historical significance
Religious places and witnesses of ethnical spirituality: Cocos Monastery, Saon Monastery, Celic Dere Monastery, Măcin Mosque, Isaccea Mosque , Basilica with vault in Niculiţel Village, Saint Atanasie Church in Niculitel, the Paleo-Christian Church with vault in Niculiţel.