The site of Dealu Mare is located on a prominent limestone, dominating the surroundings. Its surface is used as pastureland, as it in a good shape from an archaeological point of view. Nevertheless, the erosion due to pluvial waters and wind factors, as well as excessive grazing could deteriorate the state of conservation of the site in the future. The archaeological site of Dealul Mare – Ruşti was discovered in 1998, after some fieldwork research in the Vălişoara commune (Hunedoara County). From the soil surface a large quantity of archaeological material was collected at the time, mostly pottery but also stone objects. The recovered pottery belong to the final phase of the Coţofeni culture, from the end of the transition period to the Bronze Age, as well as to the Şoimuş culture group, from the Early Bronze Age. The field research carried out over many years indicates the presence of successive occupation over a long period of time, preserved in good stratigraphical conditions. The objective of the archaeological campaign of this year was to search into the stratigraphy of the site. In order to evaluate the archaeological potential of the site, excavations were conducted, over a 20×2 m area, to the N-S, with the purpose of penetrating the visible anthropoid terraces. Following the research, pieces of coal and wood were uncovered, a large quantity of adobe with traces of wattles, remains of finished floor board, grinding mill fragments and a large quantity of pottery. All these prove the existence of occupation levels, that must have been destroyed by fire. From a stratigraphical perspective, the layer pertaining to the Şoimuş cultural group is overlapped by another layer with typical material from the 3rd phase of the Coţofeni culture. This layer is not continuous, as it prevails in the depressions of the native limestone.