In Memoriam

On a cold February morning, the eagle, which had spent so many years confined in an ephemeral clay birdcage, spread its wings, circled above us, cast one last glance toward the land it had loved and explored, then soared aloft and vanished into the vastness of infinity…

Gheorghe Lazarovici was born on September 13, 1941, in Milcoveni, Romania. He was born in the Banat, a province which remained dear to him throughout his life and was closely linked with much of his scientific work. Since adolescence, Gheorghe Lazarovici had been drawn to uncovering the past. He participated in his first excavations in the 1960s, conducted by Reșița Museum at sites like Colțani, Ramna, Berzovia and Surduc. His interest in archaeology caught the attention of museum management, who employed him as a restorer until he began university studies at the University of Cluj in 1962.

In Cluj University’s academic environment, Gheorghe Lazarovici blossomed, obtaining a solid professional foundation to go alongside his ongoing passion for archaeology. After completing his studies in 1968, his exceptional work enabled him to obtain a research position at the Museum of History of Transylvania in Cluj-Napoca. From 1968 until his retirement in 2004, he crafted a prestigious career within this institution, successively holding the positions of Curator, Head of the Prehistory Department (1985–1990; 1997–2004), Deputy Director (1990–1992) and General Director (1994–1997).

Over the course of a career which spanned more than five decades, Gheorghe Lazarovici made significant contributions that transcended the boundaries of archaeology. Starting in 1970, he authored a series of works in which he adapted the chronologies of the Starčevo-Criș and Vinča Cultures developed by V. Milojčić, to incorporate new information provided by recent archaeological discoveries. He further refined and expanded these systems, creating his own frameworks, which he periodically revisited with new arguments. These systems were based on a direct understanding of material characteristics and—importantly—still remain in use by specialists even decades after their formulation.

As an archaeologist, he conducted extensive research at over 20 sites, including Bucovăț, Parța, Zorlențu Mare, Gornea, Cuptoare, Iclod, Țaga, and Cheile Turzii. His remarkable finds allowed him to define—or further refine—many of the distinctive characteristics of the Carpathian Basin’s Neolithic and Eneolithic cultures. With an inquisitive mind, he recognized that societal changes are driven by a multitude of factors, which he studied in all their complexity. As part of this approach, he initiated extensive research to identify raw material sources, conducted ethno-archaeological studies in the mountainous areas of Banat and Transylvania, and counted among the pioneers engaging in geophysical and archaeometric research in Romania.

Even as early as the 1970s, Gheorghe Lazarovici grasped the importance of computerised research and promoted the analysis of data by creating his own software. His foresight allowed him to elaborate further on viable syntheses of the cultures of the early and late Neolithic cultures whose particularities, evolutions and synchronisms with other cultural entities were then being addressed. His detailed knowledge of materials across wide geographical areas allowed him to not only identify areas of intense cultural exchange, but to also integrate them into a wider landscape of cultural relations stretching across the Balkans and even to the Near East.

Gheorghe Lazarovici was a constant pioneering force and promoter of novel ideas. He has left an indelible mark upon our understanding of the past and leaves behind him a body of work that shaped the very way in which we grasp archaeology. His memory is an indelible mark; his is a legacy that will remain a guiding star for generations of archaeologists to come.

This short obituary contains within it a series of facts which afford us a glimpse of his remarkable accomplishments. Just as moving is the memory of a wonderful man whom many of us consider a mentor and who selflessly and unconditionally honoured us with his friendship. He collaborated with all those around him and guided and moulded young minds. He was open and generous, sharing his wisdom and vast knowledge with all. In so doing, he influenced the lives of those around him for the better. When life’s hardships put him to test, he remained a steadfast and noble spirit, still freely offering of the gifts that God had bestowed upon him.

Sit tibi terra levis, carissime magister!

Florin Drașovean

Romanian Academy-Timișoara Branch