PETRODAC project (2011-2019) http://cercetare.dacica.ro/proiect/19
Petrographic and mineralogical investigations in the PIATRA ROȘIE area and the adjacent areas.
The project represents the first scientific approach to identify the subjects associated with the rocks in the area of ​​the Dacian fortifications located on the Piatra Roșie hill, respectively the first mineralogical-petrographic studies on the stone used as blocks at this fortress and on other mineral construction materials

Project responsible – dr. Valentina Cetean. Team: dr. Valentina Cetean, Prospecțiuni SA Bucharest, Promediu & Laboratory Departament (2011-2015), Geological Institute of Romania (2016-2020); dr. Aurora Pețan, president, Studies Center of DACICA Foundation; Matyas Bajusz, MA, „Babeș-Bolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca.

The project proposed a detailed geological description of the formations that form the foundation of the Piatra Rosie hill and a description, as comprehensive as possible, of the types of stones that constituted the constructive dimensioned elements used in masonry, roads or other elements with an architectural role in the area of ​​fortifications.
Geologically studied far too little over time, the Piatra Roșie hill area requires identifications related to a high-accurate topographic base to be used by specialists in archaeological investigations. Accompanied by a relevant description of the petrographic types that can be encountered by tourists or archaeologists, such a map and a local mini-geological guide can become a backpacking material along with the compass and camera.

At the same time, the second goal of the project was a complete characterization of the types of stones used for dimensioned elements (blocks, tiles) for the masonry, the road and the constructive elements from the area of ​​Piatra Roșie fortress. Identifying the probable source-areas has proved to be not an easy task, since the area of ​​Măgura Călanului is insufficiently researched to determine if it can cover by petrographic typology all the varieties highlighted so far at Piatra Roșie.