Fieldwork at the St. Nicholas excavation, at Szent Miklós Hill in Székelyudvarhely, led by the Haáz Rezső Museum in collaboration with American students from the University of South Florida and Ohio State University, including incoming graduate student, Carlos Carvalhoal, have uncovered the foundations of a 15th‑century Gothic church sanctuary along with fresco fragments from the late 1400s, as well as a medieval cemetery. Notable finds include the grave of a woman holding a rosary made of bone beads, another female burial with a 17th‑century beaded headpiece and hairpins, and a rare child’s grave containing a knife. The researchers are conducting further analysis to better understand the lives of the individuals buried there. These discoveries, which may influence renovation plans for the parish site, highlight the area’s ecclesiastical and communal history, documented as early as 1333–34, and are part of broader regional studies that have revealed other significant medieval sites, with many artifacts and remains expected to be conserved and displayed at the local museum.

The St. Nicholas excavation is the newest excavation to be added to the internationally collaborative Transylvania Szekely Bioarchaeology project associated with ArchaeoTek. Additionally, the project is fortunate to be. directed by the descendant community. 

Carlos has been on the field staff for three years and this year took the lead as site director for St. Nicholas project. We are proud to welcome him to the OSU Anthropology Department!