Former Romanian Prosecutor General: 'Around 30 Dacian Royal Bracelets Likely Stolen'

Augustin Lazăr, who served as Romania's Prosecutor General from 2016 to 2019, has raised alarms about the ease with which treasure hunters can access and exploit the country's Dacian heritage sites. Lazăr, a magistrate with nearly four decades of experience and a professor, has a history of handling complex cases involving the illegal trafficking of archaeological treasures.

During his tenure leading the Prosecutor's Office at the Alba Iulia Court of Appeal from 2001 to 2016, Lazăr oversaw investigations that led to the recovery of valuable stolen Dacian artifacts. These included gold Dacian bracelets, Koson and Lysimach coin hoards, jewelry, Roman denarii, and other items illegally removed from Dacian fortresses and sold on the black market. Despite these successes, many artifacts remain missing and are subject to international warrants through Interpol and the FBI.

Lazăr estimates that around 30 gold Dacian bracelets may have been stolen, a number potentially higher than previously known. He highlighted the vulnerability of the Dacian fortresses, which he says allow adventurers from the Schengen Area to quickly reach sites, excavate for "the treasure of the Dacian kings," and disappear without a trace. He cited the case of Czech tourists convicted in 2020 for theft and destruction after illegally using metal detectors in protected archaeological zones without authorization. These individuals were accused of conducting illegal excavations in the Dacian fortress sites of Costești, Blidaru, Bănița, and Piatra Roșie, as well as Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, between 2015 and earlier years.

In 2016, authorities recovered several stolen monetary hoards and archaeological goods that had been illegally exported to the Czech Republic. These included Dacian artifacts made of silver, copper, and iron, as well as coin hoards. The ongoing international pursuit continues for items like a 30-kilogram gold Lysimach coin hoard, from which 37 pieces were recovered; a 25-kilogram gold Koson coin hoard, with 1,038 pieces recovered; a silver Koson coin hoard of 280 coins; five iron royal shields; 11 gold spiral bracelets; and various Roman denarii and Dacian imitations originating from the Orăștie Mountains archaeological sites.

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oricărui aventurier să vină din Europa pentru a căuta „comoara regilor daci” și să dispară fără urme