Archaeologist with an interest in the lithic industries of post-Palaeolithic societies from south-eastern Europe. My current research focusses on assessing the transformations of flint technology throughout the Chalcolithic, in relation with the social and economic context of the time.
The permanent expansion of the human inhabited areas is putting at risk the archaeological herita... more The permanent expansion of the human inhabited areas is putting at risk the archaeological heritage. In order to protect this patrimony, it is necessary to have a clear index of the archaeological sites that can be found in areas with intense anthropic activity. In this regard, we conducted a field research in the NNW side of the Iași metropolitan area (Breazu village, commune of Rediu, Iaşi County) with the purpose of recording all archaeological sites. During the field surveys that took place between the autumn of 2022-spring of 2023 we managed to inspect several locations, on 50 ha within the territory of Breazu village, locations that proved to have a high archaeological potential. Of them, two were unknown before. In the investigated area we recorded sites from the Chalcolithic period (belonging to the Cucuteni and Horodiștea-Erbiceni cultures), from Antiquity (Sântana de Mureș-Cerneahov culture, 4th century AD), Early Modern period and World War Two.
A planitiebus usque Ad montes. Studia Archaeologica AndreÆ Pelisiak vitÆ Anno sexagesimo quinto oblata, 2020
The paper deals with the sickle inserts discovered in the Early Chalcolithic settlement from Isai... more The paper deals with the sickle inserts discovered in the Early Chalcolithic settlement from Isaiia – Balta Popii. The artefacts, made of flint, were approached from a two directional perspective: assessment of their techno-morphological characteristics and analysis of the microscopic features of their wear. The results showed that usually the blades selected to be used as sickle elements were not retouched, had a straight profile, trapezoidal cross-section and good regularity of edges. They were inserted in the handles with the dorsal side facing up, at an oblique angle, creating a serrated edge. Their time of utilization was long and most probably they were employed in cutting cereals in an almost dry state.
The article presents the palaeobotanical investigations of a remarkable discovery from the Early ... more The article presents the palaeobotanical investigations of a remarkable discovery from the Early Chalcolithic settlement of Isaiia–Balta Popii (Romania), a multi-layered site. The excavation of a dwelling brought to light a rather rare finding, meaning a medium sized ceramic vessel having deposited inside two objects of burnt clay: an anthropomorphic figurine depicting pregnancy attributes and a small cone. Given the special character of the deposition, several samples from the vessel and near it were collected for phytolith analysis. Our results highlighted a ritual plant deposition: Elongate dendritic and Blocky morphotypes suggest that cereals and probably Artemisia seem to have been used for this purpose. These plants are known, aside from their practical uses, as powerful symbols, used through the ages in magic practices. All of these facts are strong arguments to interpret this find as a result of a ritual related to fertility involving both feminine and masculine symbols and ...
Résumé Les nouvelles fouilles de MitocMalu Galben, entreprises à partir de 2013, ont mené à la dé... more Résumé Les nouvelles fouilles de MitocMalu Galben, entreprises à partir de 2013, ont mené à la découverte de petits amas lithiques pour les ensembles attribués au "Gravettien II" (2013), "Aurignacien I" (2014) et "Aurignacien III" (2015). Ces ensembles sont étudiés d'un point de vue technologique, ce qui est nouveau pour le site. En particulier, ce dernier ensemble s'est avéré riche en matériel et parfaitement en place; il peut désormais être mis en parallèle chrono-stratigraphique avec le Gravettien ancien de Molodova V en Ukraine, assurant donc qu'à l'est des Carpates, les deux traditions, Aurignacien et Gravettien, ont été partiellement contemporaines l'un de'autre.
Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), 2017
The paper presents, in detail, the investigations on the chipped stone assemblage discovered, dur... more The paper presents, in detail, the investigations on the chipped stone assemblage discovered, during archaeological excavations, in the early Chalcolithic settlement at Isaiia - Balta Popii. The technological and typological analysis of the entire collection was accomplished taking into account the various raw materials that are its constituents. In the case of the raw material with the greatest frequency – the flint from the Moldavian Platform –, artefacts coming from all phases of the debitage are certified. The results obtained for Isaiia were then compared with those from other Precucuteni II - Tripolje A sites, highlighting the existence of technological and typological elements common for the lithic industries of the early Chalcolithic in Eastern Europe (North-East of Romania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine).
The detailed investigation of dwelling no. 14 (Precucuteni II phase) from the Isaiia site brings ... more The detailed investigation of dwelling no. 14 (Precucuteni II phase) from the Isaiia site brings interesting and, in some instances, novel data concerning the building system and the internal architecture of the Early Chalcolithic housing. Also, the artefacts from inside the dwelling and from the surrounding features bear witness about prehistoric crafts like pottery manufacture, stone knapping and polishing, animal hard tissue working, about the relations with neighbouring cultural areas, and, last but not least, about the ritual behaviour of the Precucuteni communities.
The paper makes a presentation of the two oldest archaeological layers at the Upper Palaeolithic ... more The paper makes a presentation of the two oldest archaeological layers at the Upper Palaeolithic site of Mitoc – Malu Galben: the Aurignacian I and I inferior assemblages. The study provides a geographic and geologic characterization of the area, by pointing out that the main reason for the prehistoric human communities to install their encampments here was the availability of the rich flint resources. The pedo-sedimentary stratigraphy of the site is also presented along with the distribution of the archaeological layers in the sedimentary units and the established climatic cycles. Among the Aurignacian layers, the Aurignacian I (subunit 10b inferior – 11 superior) provided the richest archaeological material: flint workshops concentrated around hearths, faunal remains and hard animal tissue artefacts (Mladeč spearheads). The lithic typology is specific to the classical old Aurignacian (carenated endscrapers and burins, nosed endscrapers). The absolute chronology data indicate a fir...
This paper addresses the archaeological literature on the subject of the chipped stone industry o... more This paper addresses the archaeological literature on the subject of the chipped stone industry of the Chalcolithic communities that inhabited the east of nowadays Romania, namely Precucuteni and Cucuteni (5th and 4th millennium BC). The first part of the study focuses on how the Romanian archaeologists approached the first two stages of the chaîne opératoire: the raw material procurement and the technology of producing knapped stone tools (especially the elongated supports). These aspects were analysed through the literature published until now, regarding aspects as petrographic determination of raw materials, available information on the morphology of the cores and on blade attributes, on the reduction sequences and procedures. Although rewarding in what considers the raw materials supply, the information proves scarce in what concerns the organisation of technology. The causes of this unbalance are sought in the specificity of the development of the study of Prehistory in Romania. Consequently, perspectives for the further investigations and new directions of research are proposed.
The Talpalari Church in Iasi, dedicated to "Nativity of the Virgin", was built, according to the ... more The Talpalari Church in Iasi, dedicated to "Nativity of the Virgin", was built, according to the existing documents,
in the middle of 17th century, by the great vistiernic (treasurer) Iordache Cantacuzino, the brother-in-law of prince
Vasile Lupu. There was a cemetery around it, about which we also have information from contemporary sources.
In view of the consolidation works to be carried out on "Milescu" House, a heritage building, the Institute of
Archeology in Iasi provided the archaeological assistance. The excavations near the Talpalari church, conducted
in 2016 and 2017, led to the identification of the skeletal remains of 14 individuals in relatively certain funerary
contexts. It was also possible to estimate, based on minimum number of individuals calculation method, the
presence of 11 other individuals from which we have only disparate fragments due to repeated disturbance events.
The present paper presents a detailed analysis of the funerary features, from historical, archaeological and
anthropological points of view. The research focuses on both elements of funerary inventory (including potsherds),
and animal osteological remains identified in a secondary context.
Six coins have been identified as a grave goods. The excavation of the features has led to the finding of several
buttons and hook-eye fasteners. In particular, based on the interpretation of the numismatic material, we could see
that the graves corresponding to this level in the cemetery of the Talpalari church can be chronologically framed
between the last decades of the sixteenth century and the first decades of the next.
Therefore, the written sources of the time argue for the existence of Talpalari church in the seventeenth century,
however, the field research leads us to the hypothesis that this place of worship was preceded by another one that
operated in the previous century and which hosted the cemetery of that neighborhood.
Keywords: Iaşi, Talpalari church, medieval cemetery, anthropological analysis, grave goods.
Leas Aurignaciens. Leur creation materielle et spirituelle, 2016
The paper presents the results of the new wear analysis performed on the carinated artefacts from... more The paper presents the results of the new wear analysis performed on the carinated artefacts from the Aurignacian I layer in Mitoc –Malu Galben site (31.000 BP). The technological traces indicate, as also suggested by previous works, the employment of hard mineral percussion for bladelet removal.
This paper presents the results of the investigations in the Early Chalcolithic settlement from B... more This paper presents the results of the investigations in the Early Chalcolithic settlement from Balș – La Brigadă. The site was surveyed in two instances: once in the 80s and recently in 2017 in order to assess its chronological framing, as a contribution to understanding the diachronic movement of the Precucuteni communities in the Bahlui River Basin. We estimated the surface of the site to cca 1 ha. The geomagnetic prospections helped at demarcating the eastern limits of the settlement. In the test trench were revealed the collapsed walls of a burnt dwelling, which allowed us to sample bones for the 14C dating of this specific building. The archaeological materials from the site, through their technology and typology, indicate an earlier beginning of the settlement than previously thought and probably the existence of at least two phases of inhabitation in the Early Chalcolithic. Artefacts and features from other periods were also revealed during the investigations.
This paper describes an archaeological experiment which took place in September 2017 in Stolnicen... more This paper describes an archaeological experiment which took place in September 2017 in Stolniceni, Edineț County, Republic of Moldova, based on the recent discovery, in the Cucuteni-Trypillia site from the locality, of an exceptional two-chambered updraft kiln. First are presented the phases of the (re)construction of the complex, which strictly followed the dimensions and constitutive elements of the original discovery. After the kiln was finished and dried, a first attempt was made to fire a batch of about 50 vessels of various sizes. During over 10 hours of continuous firing, the kiln worked perfectly, with no incidents that could jeopardize the pottery. In the end, although the vessels seemed to be very well fired in an oxidizing atmosphere, it was proved that the temperatures reached in the kiln (measured with Orton temperature cones and confirmed by a series of XRD analyses) were inferior to those known (based on analyses) for Cucuteni- Trypillia ceramics. However, this first experimental attempt allowed some interesting observations, being a step forward in understanding this complex chaine opératoire of prehistoric pottery production.
MATERIALITY AND IDENTITY IN PRE- AND PROTOHISTORIC EUROPE, 2018
This paper presents the newest research carried out in the Chalcolithic
settlement from Războieni... more This paper presents the newest research carried out in the Chalcolithic settlement from Războieni – Dealul Boghiu/Dealul Mare. The site was known from the XXth century through the investigations of Orest Tafrali (1935) and Natalia Berlescu (1955). The geophysical surveys from the recent years shed light on the planimetry of the settlement. Three test trenches were excavated in 2017 in order to verify the stratigraphy and the nature of some magnetic anomalies that suggested the existence of prehistoric kilns. Another objective of the invasive investigations was to sample bones for radiocarbon dating of one dwelling, coming from the last phase of habitation of the settlement. As resulted from the invasive researches, the state of preservation of the site is not very good, being affected, in some places, by the Second World War trenches. The analysis of the Chalcolithic ceramics discovered in 2017 showed that the site was inhabited in the A3b sub-phase of the Cucuteni culture. 28 pottery samples were selected for the extraction of thick sections. The preliminary investigation of the pottery matrix has led to the identification of three technological choices in the manufacture of the ceramic wares.
The detailed investigation of dwelling no. 14 (Precucuteni II phase) from the Isaiia site brings ... more The detailed investigation of dwelling no. 14 (Precucuteni II phase) from the Isaiia site brings interesting and, in some instances, novel data concerning the building system and the internal architecture of the Early Chalcolithic housing. Also, the artefacts from inside the dwelling and from the surrounding features bear witness about prehistoric crafts like pottery manufacture, stone knapping and polishing, animal hard tissue working, about the relations with neighbouring cultural areas, and, last but not least, about the ritual behaviour of the Precucuteni communities. Rezumat. Cercetarea detaliată a locuinței nr. 14 (Precucuteni II) din situl de la Isaiia furnizează informații interesante și pe alocuri inedite privind sistemul de construcție și arhitectura interioară a construcțiilor din eneoliticul timpuriu. De asemenea, artefactele descoperite în interiorul locuinței și în complexele adiacente sunt dovezi ale practicării preistorice a unor meșteșuguri precum prelucrarea ceramicii, cioplirea și șlefuirea pietrei, prelucrarea materiilor dure animale, ale relațiilor cu ariile culturale învecinate și, nu în ultimul rând, ale comportamentelor rituale ale comunităților Precucuteni.
Materiale și Cercetări Arheologice. Serie Nouă, 2017
The paper presents, in detail, the investigations on the chipped stone assemblage discovered, dur... more The paper presents, in detail, the investigations on the chipped stone assemblage discovered, during archaeological excavations, in the early Chalcolithic settlement at Isaiia - Balta Popii. The technological and typological analysis of the entire collection was accomplished taking into account the various raw materials that are its constituents. In the case of the raw material with the greatest frequency – the flint from the Moldavian Platform -, artefacts coming from all phases of the debitage are certified. The results obtained for Isaiia were then compared with those from other Precucuteni II - Tryppilia A sites, highlighting the existence of technological and typological elements common for the lithic industries of the early Chalcolithic in Eastern Europe (North-East of Romania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine).
The permanent expansion of the human inhabited areas is putting at risk the archaeological herita... more The permanent expansion of the human inhabited areas is putting at risk the archaeological heritage. In order to protect this patrimony, it is necessary to have a clear index of the archaeological sites that can be found in areas with intense anthropic activity. In this regard, we conducted a field research in the NNW side of the Iași metropolitan area (Breazu village, commune of Rediu, Iaşi County) with the purpose of recording all archaeological sites. During the field surveys that took place between the autumn of 2022-spring of 2023 we managed to inspect several locations, on 50 ha within the territory of Breazu village, locations that proved to have a high archaeological potential. Of them, two were unknown before. In the investigated area we recorded sites from the Chalcolithic period (belonging to the Cucuteni and Horodiștea-Erbiceni cultures), from Antiquity (Sântana de Mureș-Cerneahov culture, 4th century AD), Early Modern period and World War Two.
A planitiebus usque Ad montes. Studia Archaeologica AndreÆ Pelisiak vitÆ Anno sexagesimo quinto oblata, 2020
The paper deals with the sickle inserts discovered in the Early Chalcolithic settlement from Isai... more The paper deals with the sickle inserts discovered in the Early Chalcolithic settlement from Isaiia – Balta Popii. The artefacts, made of flint, were approached from a two directional perspective: assessment of their techno-morphological characteristics and analysis of the microscopic features of their wear. The results showed that usually the blades selected to be used as sickle elements were not retouched, had a straight profile, trapezoidal cross-section and good regularity of edges. They were inserted in the handles with the dorsal side facing up, at an oblique angle, creating a serrated edge. Their time of utilization was long and most probably they were employed in cutting cereals in an almost dry state.
The article presents the palaeobotanical investigations of a remarkable discovery from the Early ... more The article presents the palaeobotanical investigations of a remarkable discovery from the Early Chalcolithic settlement of Isaiia–Balta Popii (Romania), a multi-layered site. The excavation of a dwelling brought to light a rather rare finding, meaning a medium sized ceramic vessel having deposited inside two objects of burnt clay: an anthropomorphic figurine depicting pregnancy attributes and a small cone. Given the special character of the deposition, several samples from the vessel and near it were collected for phytolith analysis. Our results highlighted a ritual plant deposition: Elongate dendritic and Blocky morphotypes suggest that cereals and probably Artemisia seem to have been used for this purpose. These plants are known, aside from their practical uses, as powerful symbols, used through the ages in magic practices. All of these facts are strong arguments to interpret this find as a result of a ritual related to fertility involving both feminine and masculine symbols and ...
Résumé Les nouvelles fouilles de MitocMalu Galben, entreprises à partir de 2013, ont mené à la dé... more Résumé Les nouvelles fouilles de MitocMalu Galben, entreprises à partir de 2013, ont mené à la découverte de petits amas lithiques pour les ensembles attribués au "Gravettien II" (2013), "Aurignacien I" (2014) et "Aurignacien III" (2015). Ces ensembles sont étudiés d'un point de vue technologique, ce qui est nouveau pour le site. En particulier, ce dernier ensemble s'est avéré riche en matériel et parfaitement en place; il peut désormais être mis en parallèle chrono-stratigraphique avec le Gravettien ancien de Molodova V en Ukraine, assurant donc qu'à l'est des Carpates, les deux traditions, Aurignacien et Gravettien, ont été partiellement contemporaines l'un de'autre.
Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), 2017
The paper presents, in detail, the investigations on the chipped stone assemblage discovered, dur... more The paper presents, in detail, the investigations on the chipped stone assemblage discovered, during archaeological excavations, in the early Chalcolithic settlement at Isaiia - Balta Popii. The technological and typological analysis of the entire collection was accomplished taking into account the various raw materials that are its constituents. In the case of the raw material with the greatest frequency – the flint from the Moldavian Platform –, artefacts coming from all phases of the debitage are certified. The results obtained for Isaiia were then compared with those from other Precucuteni II - Tripolje A sites, highlighting the existence of technological and typological elements common for the lithic industries of the early Chalcolithic in Eastern Europe (North-East of Romania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine).
The detailed investigation of dwelling no. 14 (Precucuteni II phase) from the Isaiia site brings ... more The detailed investigation of dwelling no. 14 (Precucuteni II phase) from the Isaiia site brings interesting and, in some instances, novel data concerning the building system and the internal architecture of the Early Chalcolithic housing. Also, the artefacts from inside the dwelling and from the surrounding features bear witness about prehistoric crafts like pottery manufacture, stone knapping and polishing, animal hard tissue working, about the relations with neighbouring cultural areas, and, last but not least, about the ritual behaviour of the Precucuteni communities.
The paper makes a presentation of the two oldest archaeological layers at the Upper Palaeolithic ... more The paper makes a presentation of the two oldest archaeological layers at the Upper Palaeolithic site of Mitoc – Malu Galben: the Aurignacian I and I inferior assemblages. The study provides a geographic and geologic characterization of the area, by pointing out that the main reason for the prehistoric human communities to install their encampments here was the availability of the rich flint resources. The pedo-sedimentary stratigraphy of the site is also presented along with the distribution of the archaeological layers in the sedimentary units and the established climatic cycles. Among the Aurignacian layers, the Aurignacian I (subunit 10b inferior – 11 superior) provided the richest archaeological material: flint workshops concentrated around hearths, faunal remains and hard animal tissue artefacts (Mladeč spearheads). The lithic typology is specific to the classical old Aurignacian (carenated endscrapers and burins, nosed endscrapers). The absolute chronology data indicate a fir...
This paper addresses the archaeological literature on the subject of the chipped stone industry o... more This paper addresses the archaeological literature on the subject of the chipped stone industry of the Chalcolithic communities that inhabited the east of nowadays Romania, namely Precucuteni and Cucuteni (5th and 4th millennium BC). The first part of the study focuses on how the Romanian archaeologists approached the first two stages of the chaîne opératoire: the raw material procurement and the technology of producing knapped stone tools (especially the elongated supports). These aspects were analysed through the literature published until now, regarding aspects as petrographic determination of raw materials, available information on the morphology of the cores and on blade attributes, on the reduction sequences and procedures. Although rewarding in what considers the raw materials supply, the information proves scarce in what concerns the organisation of technology. The causes of this unbalance are sought in the specificity of the development of the study of Prehistory in Romania. Consequently, perspectives for the further investigations and new directions of research are proposed.
The Talpalari Church in Iasi, dedicated to "Nativity of the Virgin", was built, according to the ... more The Talpalari Church in Iasi, dedicated to "Nativity of the Virgin", was built, according to the existing documents,
in the middle of 17th century, by the great vistiernic (treasurer) Iordache Cantacuzino, the brother-in-law of prince
Vasile Lupu. There was a cemetery around it, about which we also have information from contemporary sources.
In view of the consolidation works to be carried out on "Milescu" House, a heritage building, the Institute of
Archeology in Iasi provided the archaeological assistance. The excavations near the Talpalari church, conducted
in 2016 and 2017, led to the identification of the skeletal remains of 14 individuals in relatively certain funerary
contexts. It was also possible to estimate, based on minimum number of individuals calculation method, the
presence of 11 other individuals from which we have only disparate fragments due to repeated disturbance events.
The present paper presents a detailed analysis of the funerary features, from historical, archaeological and
anthropological points of view. The research focuses on both elements of funerary inventory (including potsherds),
and animal osteological remains identified in a secondary context.
Six coins have been identified as a grave goods. The excavation of the features has led to the finding of several
buttons and hook-eye fasteners. In particular, based on the interpretation of the numismatic material, we could see
that the graves corresponding to this level in the cemetery of the Talpalari church can be chronologically framed
between the last decades of the sixteenth century and the first decades of the next.
Therefore, the written sources of the time argue for the existence of Talpalari church in the seventeenth century,
however, the field research leads us to the hypothesis that this place of worship was preceded by another one that
operated in the previous century and which hosted the cemetery of that neighborhood.
Keywords: Iaşi, Talpalari church, medieval cemetery, anthropological analysis, grave goods.
Leas Aurignaciens. Leur creation materielle et spirituelle, 2016
The paper presents the results of the new wear analysis performed on the carinated artefacts from... more The paper presents the results of the new wear analysis performed on the carinated artefacts from the Aurignacian I layer in Mitoc –Malu Galben site (31.000 BP). The technological traces indicate, as also suggested by previous works, the employment of hard mineral percussion for bladelet removal.
This paper presents the results of the investigations in the Early Chalcolithic settlement from B... more This paper presents the results of the investigations in the Early Chalcolithic settlement from Balș – La Brigadă. The site was surveyed in two instances: once in the 80s and recently in 2017 in order to assess its chronological framing, as a contribution to understanding the diachronic movement of the Precucuteni communities in the Bahlui River Basin. We estimated the surface of the site to cca 1 ha. The geomagnetic prospections helped at demarcating the eastern limits of the settlement. In the test trench were revealed the collapsed walls of a burnt dwelling, which allowed us to sample bones for the 14C dating of this specific building. The archaeological materials from the site, through their technology and typology, indicate an earlier beginning of the settlement than previously thought and probably the existence of at least two phases of inhabitation in the Early Chalcolithic. Artefacts and features from other periods were also revealed during the investigations.
This paper describes an archaeological experiment which took place in September 2017 in Stolnicen... more This paper describes an archaeological experiment which took place in September 2017 in Stolniceni, Edineț County, Republic of Moldova, based on the recent discovery, in the Cucuteni-Trypillia site from the locality, of an exceptional two-chambered updraft kiln. First are presented the phases of the (re)construction of the complex, which strictly followed the dimensions and constitutive elements of the original discovery. After the kiln was finished and dried, a first attempt was made to fire a batch of about 50 vessels of various sizes. During over 10 hours of continuous firing, the kiln worked perfectly, with no incidents that could jeopardize the pottery. In the end, although the vessels seemed to be very well fired in an oxidizing atmosphere, it was proved that the temperatures reached in the kiln (measured with Orton temperature cones and confirmed by a series of XRD analyses) were inferior to those known (based on analyses) for Cucuteni- Trypillia ceramics. However, this first experimental attempt allowed some interesting observations, being a step forward in understanding this complex chaine opératoire of prehistoric pottery production.
MATERIALITY AND IDENTITY IN PRE- AND PROTOHISTORIC EUROPE, 2018
This paper presents the newest research carried out in the Chalcolithic
settlement from Războieni... more This paper presents the newest research carried out in the Chalcolithic settlement from Războieni – Dealul Boghiu/Dealul Mare. The site was known from the XXth century through the investigations of Orest Tafrali (1935) and Natalia Berlescu (1955). The geophysical surveys from the recent years shed light on the planimetry of the settlement. Three test trenches were excavated in 2017 in order to verify the stratigraphy and the nature of some magnetic anomalies that suggested the existence of prehistoric kilns. Another objective of the invasive investigations was to sample bones for radiocarbon dating of one dwelling, coming from the last phase of habitation of the settlement. As resulted from the invasive researches, the state of preservation of the site is not very good, being affected, in some places, by the Second World War trenches. The analysis of the Chalcolithic ceramics discovered in 2017 showed that the site was inhabited in the A3b sub-phase of the Cucuteni culture. 28 pottery samples were selected for the extraction of thick sections. The preliminary investigation of the pottery matrix has led to the identification of three technological choices in the manufacture of the ceramic wares.
The detailed investigation of dwelling no. 14 (Precucuteni II phase) from the Isaiia site brings ... more The detailed investigation of dwelling no. 14 (Precucuteni II phase) from the Isaiia site brings interesting and, in some instances, novel data concerning the building system and the internal architecture of the Early Chalcolithic housing. Also, the artefacts from inside the dwelling and from the surrounding features bear witness about prehistoric crafts like pottery manufacture, stone knapping and polishing, animal hard tissue working, about the relations with neighbouring cultural areas, and, last but not least, about the ritual behaviour of the Precucuteni communities. Rezumat. Cercetarea detaliată a locuinței nr. 14 (Precucuteni II) din situl de la Isaiia furnizează informații interesante și pe alocuri inedite privind sistemul de construcție și arhitectura interioară a construcțiilor din eneoliticul timpuriu. De asemenea, artefactele descoperite în interiorul locuinței și în complexele adiacente sunt dovezi ale practicării preistorice a unor meșteșuguri precum prelucrarea ceramicii, cioplirea și șlefuirea pietrei, prelucrarea materiilor dure animale, ale relațiilor cu ariile culturale învecinate și, nu în ultimul rând, ale comportamentelor rituale ale comunităților Precucuteni.
Materiale și Cercetări Arheologice. Serie Nouă, 2017
The paper presents, in detail, the investigations on the chipped stone assemblage discovered, dur... more The paper presents, in detail, the investigations on the chipped stone assemblage discovered, during archaeological excavations, in the early Chalcolithic settlement at Isaiia - Balta Popii. The technological and typological analysis of the entire collection was accomplished taking into account the various raw materials that are its constituents. In the case of the raw material with the greatest frequency – the flint from the Moldavian Platform -, artefacts coming from all phases of the debitage are certified. The results obtained for Isaiia were then compared with those from other Precucuteni II - Tryppilia A sites, highlighting the existence of technological and typological elements common for the lithic industries of the early Chalcolithic in Eastern Europe (North-East of Romania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine).
CRONICA CERCETĂRILOR ARHEOLOGICE DIN ROMÂNIA, 2018
The prehistoric settlement of Ripiceni – Popoaia has been discovered in 2016 thanks to satellite ... more The prehistoric settlement of Ripiceni – Popoaia has been discovered in 2016 thanks to satellite imagery which revealed a half-oval linear anomaly enclosing a space with other radial structures oriented to the center. In order to understand the settlement’s layout and to refine its chronology, we conducted geophysical prospections and trial excavations of one of the pit anomalies from the plot. The prospections revealed the complex structure of the settlement with possible two phases of occupation and a radial layout. The material from the test-trench yielded pottery which allows to date the settlement within the Cucuteni B1 stage.
Cronica Cercetarilor Arheologice din Romania, 2018
The geophysical prospections and archaeological trial
excavations from the Mitoc – La Pisc settle... more The geophysical prospections and archaeological trial excavations from the Mitoc – La Pisc settlement have been focused on the evaluation of the prehistoric occupation on the high promontory located near the modern-day village. Several rectangular anomalies with high amplitude have been interpreted as burnt houses. The test trench placed over one of them allowed us to investigate the debris of such a dwelling and to collect material both for relative and absolute dating. The painted pottery found in the house allows to date the feature within the Cucuteni B1 stage.
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Papers by Mariuca Vornicu
made of flint, were approached from a two directional perspective: assessment of their techno-morphological characteristics and
analysis of the microscopic features of their wear. The results showed that usually the blades selected to be used as sickle elements were
not retouched, had a straight profile, trapezoidal cross-section and good regularity of edges. They were inserted in the handles with
the dorsal side facing up, at an oblique angle, creating a serrated edge. Their time of utilization was long and most probably they were
employed in cutting cereals in an almost dry state.
communities that inhabited the east of nowadays Romania, namely Precucuteni and Cucuteni (5th and 4th millennium
BC). The first part of the study focuses on how the Romanian archaeologists approached the first two stages of the
chaîne opératoire: the raw material procurement and the technology of producing knapped stone tools (especially the
elongated supports). These aspects were analysed through the literature published until now, regarding aspects as
petrographic determination of raw materials, available information on the morphology of the cores and on blade
attributes, on the reduction sequences and procedures. Although rewarding in what considers the raw materials supply,
the information proves scarce in what concerns the organisation of technology. The causes of this unbalance are sought
in the specificity of the development of the study of Prehistory in Romania. Consequently, perspectives for the further
investigations and new directions of research are proposed.
in the middle of 17th century, by the great vistiernic (treasurer) Iordache Cantacuzino, the brother-in-law of prince
Vasile Lupu. There was a cemetery around it, about which we also have information from contemporary sources.
In view of the consolidation works to be carried out on "Milescu" House, a heritage building, the Institute of
Archeology in Iasi provided the archaeological assistance. The excavations near the Talpalari church, conducted
in 2016 and 2017, led to the identification of the skeletal remains of 14 individuals in relatively certain funerary
contexts. It was also possible to estimate, based on minimum number of individuals calculation method, the
presence of 11 other individuals from which we have only disparate fragments due to repeated disturbance events.
The present paper presents a detailed analysis of the funerary features, from historical, archaeological and
anthropological points of view. The research focuses on both elements of funerary inventory (including potsherds),
and animal osteological remains identified in a secondary context.
Six coins have been identified as a grave goods. The excavation of the features has led to the finding of several
buttons and hook-eye fasteners. In particular, based on the interpretation of the numismatic material, we could see
that the graves corresponding to this level in the cemetery of the Talpalari church can be chronologically framed
between the last decades of the sixteenth century and the first decades of the next.
Therefore, the written sources of the time argue for the existence of Talpalari church in the seventeenth century,
however, the field research leads us to the hypothesis that this place of worship was preceded by another one that
operated in the previous century and which hosted the cemetery of that neighborhood.
Keywords: Iaşi, Talpalari church, medieval cemetery, anthropological analysis, grave goods.
settlement from Războieni – Dealul Boghiu/Dealul Mare. The site was known from the XXth century through the investigations of Orest Tafrali (1935) and Natalia Berlescu (1955). The geophysical surveys from the recent years shed light on the planimetry of the settlement. Three test trenches were excavated in 2017 in order to verify the stratigraphy and the nature of some magnetic anomalies that suggested the existence of
prehistoric kilns. Another objective of the invasive investigations was to sample bones for radiocarbon dating of one dwelling, coming from the last phase of habitation of the settlement. As resulted from the invasive researches, the state of preservation of the site is not very good, being affected, in some places, by the Second World War trenches. The
analysis of the Chalcolithic ceramics discovered in 2017 showed that the site was inhabited in the A3b sub-phase of the Cucuteni culture. 28 pottery samples were selected for the extraction of thick sections. The preliminary investigation of the pottery matrix has led to the identification of three technological choices in the manufacture of the
ceramic wares.
made of flint, were approached from a two directional perspective: assessment of their techno-morphological characteristics and
analysis of the microscopic features of their wear. The results showed that usually the blades selected to be used as sickle elements were
not retouched, had a straight profile, trapezoidal cross-section and good regularity of edges. They were inserted in the handles with
the dorsal side facing up, at an oblique angle, creating a serrated edge. Their time of utilization was long and most probably they were
employed in cutting cereals in an almost dry state.
communities that inhabited the east of nowadays Romania, namely Precucuteni and Cucuteni (5th and 4th millennium
BC). The first part of the study focuses on how the Romanian archaeologists approached the first two stages of the
chaîne opératoire: the raw material procurement and the technology of producing knapped stone tools (especially the
elongated supports). These aspects were analysed through the literature published until now, regarding aspects as
petrographic determination of raw materials, available information on the morphology of the cores and on blade
attributes, on the reduction sequences and procedures. Although rewarding in what considers the raw materials supply,
the information proves scarce in what concerns the organisation of technology. The causes of this unbalance are sought
in the specificity of the development of the study of Prehistory in Romania. Consequently, perspectives for the further
investigations and new directions of research are proposed.
in the middle of 17th century, by the great vistiernic (treasurer) Iordache Cantacuzino, the brother-in-law of prince
Vasile Lupu. There was a cemetery around it, about which we also have information from contemporary sources.
In view of the consolidation works to be carried out on "Milescu" House, a heritage building, the Institute of
Archeology in Iasi provided the archaeological assistance. The excavations near the Talpalari church, conducted
in 2016 and 2017, led to the identification of the skeletal remains of 14 individuals in relatively certain funerary
contexts. It was also possible to estimate, based on minimum number of individuals calculation method, the
presence of 11 other individuals from which we have only disparate fragments due to repeated disturbance events.
The present paper presents a detailed analysis of the funerary features, from historical, archaeological and
anthropological points of view. The research focuses on both elements of funerary inventory (including potsherds),
and animal osteological remains identified in a secondary context.
Six coins have been identified as a grave goods. The excavation of the features has led to the finding of several
buttons and hook-eye fasteners. In particular, based on the interpretation of the numismatic material, we could see
that the graves corresponding to this level in the cemetery of the Talpalari church can be chronologically framed
between the last decades of the sixteenth century and the first decades of the next.
Therefore, the written sources of the time argue for the existence of Talpalari church in the seventeenth century,
however, the field research leads us to the hypothesis that this place of worship was preceded by another one that
operated in the previous century and which hosted the cemetery of that neighborhood.
Keywords: Iaşi, Talpalari church, medieval cemetery, anthropological analysis, grave goods.
settlement from Războieni – Dealul Boghiu/Dealul Mare. The site was known from the XXth century through the investigations of Orest Tafrali (1935) and Natalia Berlescu (1955). The geophysical surveys from the recent years shed light on the planimetry of the settlement. Three test trenches were excavated in 2017 in order to verify the stratigraphy and the nature of some magnetic anomalies that suggested the existence of
prehistoric kilns. Another objective of the invasive investigations was to sample bones for radiocarbon dating of one dwelling, coming from the last phase of habitation of the settlement. As resulted from the invasive researches, the state of preservation of the site is not very good, being affected, in some places, by the Second World War trenches. The
analysis of the Chalcolithic ceramics discovered in 2017 showed that the site was inhabited in the A3b sub-phase of the Cucuteni culture. 28 pottery samples were selected for the extraction of thick sections. The preliminary investigation of the pottery matrix has led to the identification of three technological choices in the manufacture of the
ceramic wares.
excavations from the Mitoc – La Pisc settlement have been
focused on the evaluation of the prehistoric occupation on
the high promontory located near the modern-day village.
Several rectangular anomalies with high amplitude have been
interpreted as burnt houses. The test trench placed over one of
them allowed us to investigate the debris of such a dwelling and
to collect material both for relative and absolute dating. The painted pottery found in the house allows to date the feature within the Cucuteni B1 stage.