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The preventive excavation at Șura Mare (Atelierului Street), in the Hamba Valley terrace near DN14 (Sibiu–Mediaș), aimed to assess the archaeological stratigraphy affected by planned residential development and an access road. The investigated area (c. 1,100 m²; ca. 200 m long) was divided into 26 squares (7×7 m and 6×6 m), excavated by mechanical stripping of overburden followed by manual investigation of features. Despite difficult weather conditions, the work documented a relatively simple stratigraphy across most of the surface: topsoil, a sterile dark humus layer, a Roman occupation horizon frequently mixing with earlier material, and an underlying prehistoric cultural layer, both reaching down to yellow sandy clay subsoil. The excavation confirmed a multi-period occupation of the zone and refined the local archaeological map by correlating the new surface (S10) with earlier discoveries in the Atelierului neighborhood. Results indicate a prehistoric component dominated by pottery from the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (including Noua and Basarabi/Hallstatt-related material), overlain and locally disturbed by Roman-period activity dated broadly to the 2nd–3rd centuries AD. The Roman horizon often reworked prehistoric deposits, producing mixed assemblages. Nine complexes were recorded: a Roman dwelling (CX1), a substantial prehistoric ash deposit/feature interpreted as an ash-pit or ash-rich complex (CX2) with associated vessels, charcoal, burnt clay and small finds (including a hairpin and a fibula), several clay-extraction pits (CX3–CX8), and a sinuous modern disturbance interpreted as a utility trench (CX9). Overall, the evidence supports sustained and spatially variable use of the terrace, with significant anthropogenic disturbance during the Roman phase and better-preserved prehistoric deposits concentrated around CX2.

The 2023 excavation campaign comprised the opening of seven trenches across the investigated area. Archaeological features were concentrated primarily in Trenches 7A, 9A, and 11, where multiple combustion-related installations—interpreted as hearth-type complexes—were documented. These features were excavated either into the yellow sterile clay substratum (e.g., CX15, CX16, CX17) or into an overlying black cultural deposit (CX18–CX22). Morphologically, several hearths exhibited a marginal ring of vitrified or heavily burnt clay (CX19, CX20), whereas others presented simple earthen limits; notably, CX16 preserved a stone-built rim (gardină), suggesting a more substantial structural arrangement. The associated archaeological assemblage consisted predominantly of Roman-period ceramic fragments, with sporadic prehistoric sherds retrieved from secondary or disturbed contexts. Additional artefacts recovered from CX16 included an iron knife blade and a spindle whorl, indicating domestic activities within the excavated area. By contrast, Trenches 1A, 3A, 5A, and 12 yielded no significant archaeological features or stratified cultural deposits. These units were characterized by a thin humic layer containing sparse ceramic fragments directly overlying sterile clay. In Trench 7A, two hearths (CX16 and CX17) were investigated to a depth of approximately 0.36 m; both contained charcoal, burnt clay fragments, ash lenses, faunal remains, ceramic sherds, and iron artefacts. Trench 9A produced CX15, a hearth of comparable typology but with a more limited artefactual inventory. Trench 11 proved to be the most archaeologically productive area, yielding five in situ hearths (CX18–CX22), some cut deeply into the geological substrate (up to 0.90 m). These installations displayed burnt clay linings, charcoal accumulations, faunal remains, and Roman ceramic material, supporting the interpretation of a structured habitation zone characterized by repeated combustion-related activity.

Iron deficiency has been known to cause significant functional impairment, lower quality of life and higher morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and significance of iron deficiency in our patients and medical staff. We performed a prospective cross-sectional study: In July 2016, 383 persons were screened for the presence of iron deficiency (ID): 325 patients and 58 people from the medical staff. Transferrin saturation (TSAT), serum ferritin (SF) and complete blood count were performed. Absolute ID was diagnosed if SF <100 ng/ml and TSAT <20%. Relative ID was defined by SF >100 ng/ml and TSAT <20%. The group of medical staff was younger and had a greater proportion of women. The prevalence of absolute ID was 22.5% in patients and 43.1% in medical staff; relative ID was present in 15% of patients and 1.7% of medical staff. Among patients, the absolute ID was significantly correlated with the female sex (p=0.002) and pre-menopausal status (p=0.01) but did not correlate with diagnosis, age, BMI, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), aspirin or acenocoumarol consumption. The relative ID is associated with advanced age (p=0.03) and diagnosis of cancer and liver cirrhosis (p=0.01). Absolute ID had a high prevalence among patients (22.5%), but there was even a bigger issue among the medical staff (43.1%). Absolute ID was correlated with female sex and pre-menopausal status. Relative ID was related to advanced age, cancer and liver cirrhosis. serum ferritine- SF, transferrin saturation coefficient- TSAT, iron deficiency- ID, inflammatory bowel diseases- IBD, quality of life- QoL, GI- gastrointestinal.