135 years since the foundation of romanian archaeological society in Chernivtsy (Bucovine)
135 years since the foundation of romanian archaeological society in Chernivtsy (Bucovine)

Summary/Abstract: The present study marks the anniversary of an important moment in Romanian archaeology, which, towards the end of the 19th century, was dispersed across two great empires: the Austro-Hungarian and the Tsarist Empires, as well as in the Kingdom of Romania. In 1886, on June 12, the financial inspector Dionisie Olinescu from Cernăuți, the capital of Bucovina, founded the Romanian Archaeological Society, the first national, Romanian archaeological society in this province, having as its patrimonial base the collections of the former Siret Museum Society of Captain Josef von Gutter, who died on May 8, 1886. An amateur archaeologist, with legal studies in Vienna, Innsbruck and Cernăuți, self-taught with a tireless passion for antiquities, for archaeology and the conservation/protection of heritage, Dionisie Olinescu dedicated his entire life to knowledge. His results were recognized by high scientific forums of the time: in 1886 he was appointed a member of the Romanian Geographical Society in Bucharest, and in 1891 he became a corresponding member of the Central Commission in Vienna. The Romanian Archaeological Society was intended to support the rescue of the heritage/antiquities of Bukovina and to contribute to the establishment of a National Museum. Olinescu is the most important vector of affirmation of the science of archaeology in the province, he intensively published, not only scientific studies, but also articles in well-known Romanian magazines: Tribuna (Sibiu), Familia (Oradea), Voința națională (Bucharest). Alongside his rich journalism, in which he promoted national values and archaeology, he also produced major works, such as the first archaeological repertoire of Bucovina: Charta archeologica a Bucovinea (Bucharest 1894) (1896), in text format, to which is added the map itself, preserved in manuscript at the Library of the Romanian Academy. These lines constitute a succinct synthesis of the personality of Dionisie Olinescu and his unique creation: the Romanian Archaeological Society of Cernăuți, thus marking the 135th anniversary of the founding of the society.

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