Constantin Chera’s scientific contributions

The eroded ruins of a Byzantine fortress (10th‐13th centuries) still endure on the Danubian island Păcuiul lui Soare, between 355 and 357 km. A seismo‐acoustic survey carried out along the Danube in front of the island outlined the presence of the fortress’ ruins under the river waters. The exposed fortress on the Păcuiul lui Soare island has a surface of about 7500 m^2, while the underwater fortress is four times larger (28750 m^2).

HERAS is the acronym of the project entitled "Submarine Archaeological Heritage of the Western Black Sea Shelf".The purpose of this project was to explore the western Black Sea continental shelf and identify underwater archaeological sites in order to promote them in the "Scuba Diving" adventure tourist circuit.This project brought together institutions from Romania and Bulgaria – under the Cross-border Cooperation Programme Romania – Bulgaria 2007-2013. The adoption of the UNESCO Convention on 2 November 2001 as the international treaty to save the underwater cultural heritage facilitates joint exploration of the multimillenary history of the Black Sea western coast at Constanta and Kaliakra, as an important part of the European Union eastern border. The HERAS project aimed at promoting Scuba Diving adventure tourism in the Constanţa - Balchik area and increase the tourism potential of the western Black Sea, through the identification and promotion of common underwater archaeological heritage. The main objective of the "HERAS" project - the identification of the common underwater archaeological heritage on the west coast of the Black Sea at Constanţa and Kaliakra -, has not been explored so far. Since the creation of the first ancient Greek colony Histria, the Constanţa - Balchik area have witnessed the rise and fall of several empires, from the Romans to the Byzantines and Turks, and also passed through barbarian invasions, Genoese dominion, etc. Vestiges of this common history were studied onshore, where ancient cities and towns are known to archaeologists and transformed into tourism interest areas. Historical sites, both on land and underwater in particular, became attractive to tourists around the world. The HERAS project, classified in the Priority Axis 3 - Economic and Social Development of the Programme CBC Romania - Bulgaria aimed at: - discovering, identifying and promoting common submarine archaeological heritage in the western part of the Black Sea, near Constanţa - Kaliakra; - promoting "Scuba Diving" adventure tourism through a media campaign meant to increase awareness.