Built in murus dacicus style, the six Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains, in Romania, were created in the 1st centuries BC and AD as protection against Roman conquest.
Their extensive and well-preserved remains present a picture of a vigorous and innovative ancient civilisation. Today, treasure-hunters sometimes search the area, as Romania lacks legislation in this domain.
The six fortresses - Sarmizegetusa, Blidaru, Piatra Rosie, Costesti, Capalna and Banita - that formed the defensive system of Decebalus were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Sarmizegetusa was the most important Dacian military, religious and political centre. Erected on top of a 1,200 meters high mountain , the fortress was the core of the strategic defensive system in the Orastie Mountains (in present-day Romania), comprising six citadels.
The fortress, a quadrilateral formed by massive stone blocks (murus dacicus), was constructed on five terraces, on an area of almost 30,000 m². Sarmizegetusa also had a sacred precinct—among the most important and largest circular and rectangular Dacian sanctuaries the famous Circular Calendar Sanctuary is included.
The civilians lived around the fortress, down the mountain on man-made terraces. Dacian nobility had flowing water, brought through ceramic pipes, in their residences. The archaeological inventory found at the site shows that Dacian society had a high standard of living.
The Dacian capital reached its acme under King Decebal who fought two wars against the Emperor Trajan of the Roman Empire in 101-102, the first successfully repelling the Roman invaders, and again in 105-106, the second culminating in the Battle of Sarmisegetusa, and the defeat of the Dacians. The Roman conquerors established a military garrison there. Later, the capital of Roman Dacia was named after the Dacian capital - Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa, established 40 km from the ruined Dacian capital.

Orastioara de Sus is a commune in Hunedoara County, Romania. It is composed of eight villages: Bucium, Costesti, Costesti-Deal, Gradistea de Munte, Ludestii de Jos, Ludestii de Sus, Ocolisu Mic and Orastioara de Sus.
Two of the Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains, Costesti and Blidaru, are located near Costesti village.

Capalna is a commune in Bihor County, northwestern Romania with a population of 1,943 people which includes Capalna, Ginta, Rohani, Saldabagiu Mic and Suplacu de Tinca villages.

Justification for Inscription

Criterion (ii): The Dacian fortresses represent the fusion of techniques and concepts of military architecture from inside and outside the classical world to create a unique style. Criterion (iii):The Geto-Dacian kingdoms of the late 1st millennium BC attained an exceptionally high cultural and socio-economic level, and this is symbolized by this group of fortresses. Criterion (iv): The hill-fort and its evolved successor, the oppidum, were characteristic of the Late Iron Age in Europe, and the Dacian fortresses are outstanding examples of this type of defended site.

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