Aiton, Cluj

Aiton
Commune
Location of the settlement on County map
Location on Romania map
Coordinates: 46°41′07″N 23°44′20″E / 46.68528°N 23.73889°E / 46.68528; 23.73889Coordinates: 46°41′07″N 23°44′20″E / 46.68528°N 23.73889°E / 46.68528; 23.73889
Country	Romania
County	Cluj County
Status	Commune
Settled	1320
Commune seat	Aiton
Villages	Aiton, Rediu
Government
• Mayor	Făgădar Nicolae (PSD)
Area
• Total	45.27 km2 (17.48 sq mi)
Elevation	626 m (2,054 ft)
Population (July 1, 2007)[1]
• Total	1,244
• Density	27/km2 (71/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code	407025
Area code(s)	+40 x64[2]
Website	http://www.cjcluj.ro/aiton/

Aiton (Hungarian: Ajton; German: Eiten) is a commune in Cluj County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Aiton and Rediu (Rőd).

Geography

Mean altitude: 626 m (2054 ft).

The presence of large deposits of halite and saltwater springs within the perimeter of the commune have been identified.

History

A copy of the Milliarium of Aiton erected in June 1993 in front of the Turda Post Office

Traces of several ancient neolithic settlements (of which Vinča culture from the 4th millennium BC), as well as evidence indicative of the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Roman conquest, and the Migration Period, were discovered in the village. Within the surrounding area, a tomb of incineration from the 1st century BC and a rustic villa have also been found; the latter in which a Dacian fruit tree from the 2nd century BC has been discovered.

During the Roman period, the locality was situated on the Roman road of Potaissa-Napoca. Initially, a portion of the commune was left uncovered in the yard adjacent to the school, marked by a colonette reproducing the inscription on the milestone of 108. As of 2017, however, the site is covered in waste products. The area was historically the center of a Spanish equestrian unit.

The first documented reference to the village of Aiton with the name Villa Ohthunth dates back to 1320, and in 1329, the toponym of Ahthon was attributed to the settlement. Since 1456, it appears under the current name of Ayton. In 1658, the locality was burned, following a Turkish and Tatar invasion.

In the 18th century, a milestone named Aiton Biliar from the Roman period was discovered. This marked a distance on the Potaissa-Napoca. The landmark attests the existence of a road built in 108 AD by the cohors I hispanorum miliaria. A copy of this landmark is displayed in Turda, yet another is displayed in front of the school of Aiton.

On the Josephine Map of Transylvania from 1769 to 1773 (section 095), Aiton appears under the name of Ajton. The northern and southeastern parts of the village are marked by "Gericht" and by the sign of two public places of punishment of the delinquents in the medieval period.

Historical monuments

The following objectives of the village of Aiton were included on the list of historical monuments in Cluj County, elaborated further by the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs in 2010.

• The archaeological site from "Suri" (LMI code)
• The archaeological site of "Above the Morrow" (LMI code)
• The archaeological site of the section "Between creeks" (LMI code)
• The vestiges of the Napoca-Potaissa road (LMI code)
• The wooden church (LMI code)
• Reformed Calvinist Church (LMI code)

Lost monuments

• The "Sandor Manor" in the village of Aiton is included in the "List of Missing Historical Monuments", as described by the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs in 2010.

Places of worship

• The Reformed Calvinist Church from 1598 (Main Street no. 161), with the Romanesque western portal. The church is inscribed on the list of historical monuments in Cluj County (2010).

• The Orthodox Wooden Church from 1711. The church is inscribed on the list of historical monuments in Cluj County (2010).

• The Wooden Church of Aiton.

Tourist attractions

Among the main tourist attractions and points of interest in the area are as follows:

• The medieval castle.
• The museum with objects from the Roman period (demolished in the meantime).
• The reservation of "Ciolt Forest".

Economy

The predominant occupations of residents involve agriculture and the breeding of livestock.

Demographics

Ethnic demographics of population

Religious demographics of population

The numerical jump in favor of the Orthodox between 1930 and 1992 can be explained by the prohibition of the Greek Catholic Church in 1948.

Gallery

Notes

References

• Atlasul localităților județului Cluj (Cluj County Localities Atlas), Suncart Publishing House, Cluj-Napoca, ISBN 973-86430-0-7

Cluj County, Romania
Cities	Cluj-Napoca (county seat) Câmpia Turzii Dej Gherla Turda
Towns	Huedin
Communes	Aghireșu Aiton Aluniș Apahida Așchileu Baciu Băișoara Beliș Bobâlna Bonțida Borșa Buza Căianu Călărași Călățele Cămărașu Căpușu Mare Cășeiu Cătina Câțcău Ceanu Mare Chinteni Chiuiești Ciucea Ciurila Cojocna Cornești Cuzdrioara Dăbâca Feleacu Fizeșu Gherlii Florești Frata Gârbău Geaca Gilău Iara Iclod Izvoru Crișului Jichișu de Jos Jucu Luna Măguri-Răcătău Mănăstireni Mărgău Mărișel Mica Mihai Viteazu Mintiu Gherlii Mociu Moldovenești Negreni Pălatca Panticeu Petreștii de Jos Ploscoș Poieni Râșca Recea-Cristur Săcuieu Săndulești Săvădisla Sâncraiu Sânmartin Sânpaul Sic Suatu Tritenii de Jos Tureni Țaga Unguraș Vad Valea Ierii Viișoara Vultureni