Revista de Cercetări Arheologice și Numismatice, 2021
We discuss herein the mirror with reverse decoration in the “Maria and dr. George Severeanu” Coll... more We discuss herein the mirror with reverse decoration in the “Maria and dr. George Severeanu” Collection, donated, together with the entire collection, to the Bucharest Municipality Museum in 1939. The artefact belongs to the type of disc mirrors with rectangular side handle decoration on the back side, specific mainly to the Sarmatian world, yet also found in the milieu of other cultural identities. Though emerging in the 1 century AD, these mirrors were used on large scale in the 2 nd century – first half of the 3 123 rd st century AD, being rarely found during the second half of the 3 century AD, the few specimens from the early period of the Great Migrations being relics. rd The author notes that the tamga on the mirror’s back side is complex, having no identical or similar parallels, concluding there are complex tamgas whose components only are similar or close to this discussed here. The appearance and features of the tamga evidences resembles complex tamgas or tamga compositions on mirrors from Ciscaucasia, the Kuban region, the Lower Don area and the Crimean territory. Last but not least, the author infers that the mirror in the “Maria and dr. George Severeanu” Collection belongs to the mirror type broadly used in the area between the Volga and the Lower Danube in the 2 nd century – first half of the 3 century AD, and that it very likely originates from Crimea, however other variants are possible as well.
Chișinău / Cluj-Napoca, Editura ARC / Editura MEGA, 2020
This volume is among the results of the project "Protecting by developing sustainable strategies ... more This volume is among the results of the project "Protecting by developing sustainable strategies for better protection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Romania - HERO". The collection includes an introductory study on the state of world heritage in Romania and the presentation of the project's achievements, followed by 27 articles grouped in three chapters. The first chapter, “World Cultural Heritage in Romania”, includes studies on the implementation in Romania of the World Heritage Convention and reports on the state of conservation of monuments inscribed in the World Heritage List. The second chapter, "Romania's Indicative List", contains a study on the debates in the Romanian media of the sites in this list and some articles about monuments that have the potential to be inscribed in the World Heritage List. The third chapter, “World Heritage Management: Examples of Good Practice,” contains articles on examples of effective heritage management. World Heritage List sites in various states and a study on illicit trafficking in cultural goods, which also directly targets sites of exceptional universal value.
Sarmizegetusa Regia was included, together with the other five Dacian
fortresses, on the List of ... more Sarmizegetusa Regia was included, together with the other five Dacian fortresses, on the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1999. They are a unique synthesis of external cultural influences and local traditions in terms of building techniques and overall, in the ancient military architecture, representing the grand expression of the civilisation of the Dacian Kingdom. These fortresses are the accurate expression of the exceptional development level of the Dacian civilisation, Sarmizegetusa Regia lying at the forefront of this fortified complex, epitomizing the evolution phenomenon from fortified centres to proto-urban agglomerations. As such, promoting these monuments and the numerous artefacts discovered by modern methods and techniques should become a priority. This paper presents a series of last generation applications and equipment that may be successfully used in promoting cultural heritage. Case studies include scanned artefacts and 3D reconstructions of the monuments in the site of Sarmizegetusa Regia, a monument on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites together with the other five Dacian fortresses (Bănița, Costești-Blidaru, Costești-Cetățuie, Piatra Roșie and Căpâlna). We present here the results obtained following the use of several hardware tracking systems, augmented virtual reality applications and haptic devices. One of the important aspects, when attempting to make enhanced on-line use of heritage good is the extent to which it is accessible and reusable by various categories of users, either specialists or the general public. Digitalizing a good in the cultural heritage is the first step for ensuring the broad access via the on-line medium, the quality of this process ensuring the electronic format artefact legitimacy and credibility, which means that it should be an electronic duplicate truthful to the real artefact. This way, they may be digitally preserved and used in various manners. Digitalizing artefacts and the digital reconstruction of houses, appurtenances, workshops, temples and fortifications and the set-up of virtual tours ensure incursions in the daily life as resulting from the archaeological finds yielded over several decades. This process results in quick promoting of this cultural heritage and its international capitalizing. All this completed by a database in the form of an open web platform to manage the 3D models, which may be later completed by other scanned 3D models, is the way to proceed for as many as possible monuments and artefacts.
Studia epigraphica et historica in honorem Ioannis Pisonis. Philippika 181, 2024
Ovidiu Țentea, Cristian Găzdac, Vitalie Bârcă
The worlds of the Living and the Dead – same offeri... more Ovidiu Țentea, Cristian Găzdac, Vitalie Bârcă The worlds of the Living and the Dead – same offerings. An upsidedown perspective from Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa in L. Bârliba, E. Varga, R. Ardevan, F. Matei-Popescu, O. Țentea, Studia epigraphica et historica in honorem Ioannis Pisonis. Philippika 181. Wiessbaden: Harrassovitz Verlag, 2024, 443-462. https://www.harrassowitz-verlag.de/title_7515.ahtml Ask for the paper in a private message
L. Grumeza, V. Cojocaru, C. I. Tica (eds.), The Sarmatians and the Others: Nomadic and Sedentary Cultures in Central and Eastern Europe in the First Half of the 1st Millennium AD, , Mega Publishing House,Cluj-Napoca, 2024, p. 301-327., 2024
The authors discuss a specific class of the pottery assemblage discovered
during the archaeologic... more The authors discuss a specific class of the pottery assemblage discovered during the archaeological excavations conducted in 2010 prior to the construction of the Arad-Timişoara motorway, at the site conventionally termed Arad B_06. The archaeological investigations carried out at the site, within the limits of the motorway route perimeter, identified and exhaustively explored 132 stratigraphic units, three of which were Sarmatian inhumations. Out of the total researched features, 106 were discovered in the northern half of the excavated area, while three burials, alongside another feature (Cx 45), lay midway in the project area. The inhumations were isolated from both the 106 northern features and the 22 found southwards. The 107 assemblages belong to a Dacian settlement broadly dated to the 2nd – first decades of the 3rd century,1 while the graves date to late 2nd century and the first decades of the 3rd century. Features emerging in the southern half of the research area belong to a different chronological and cultural level (the 4th–5th century). Out of the 107 assemblages, handmade cups or shallow bowls were identified in 23 of them; their typology and parallels on the Hungarian Plain and on the Western Plain of Romania are extensively discussed here.
In: H. Pop, I. Bejinariu, Sanda Băcueţ-Crişan, D. Băcueţ-Crişan (eds.), Identităţi culturale locale şi regionale în context european. Studii de arheologie şi antropologie istorică. In memoriam Alexandru V. Matei, Editura Mega, Cluj-Napoca, 2010 (2012), p. 565-574. , 2010
The archaeological preventive researches from 2008 close to Cluj-Napoca, on the Lomb
Hill, have a... more The archaeological preventive researches from 2008 close to Cluj-Napoca, on the Lomb Hill, have as result the discovery and the entire investigation of a Roman construction, possible a villa rustica, unknown until now (Pl. 1, 2). The poor conservation state of the construction and material discovered during researches leads to the conclusion that this villa functioned from the second half of the second century AD until the first half of the third century AD. Although this area was subject of powerful terrain slides during time, we were able to identifiy and reseach the main spaces inside the Roman construction. The discovery made during the summer of 2008 is one extremely important and happily complets the image we had until now concerning the Roman villas in Dacia, particulary those positioned North of Napoca. Today, we know three constructions of this kind. This proves the importance of the area situated in this part of Dacia Porolissensis.
Based on archaeological finds, this article attempts to analyse brooches belonging to Almgren VII... more Based on archaeological finds, this article attempts to analyse brooches belonging to Almgren VII, Series I, variation with headknob and external chord from the territory of Romania. We discuss 85 such brooches (five in silver) which belong to several subvariants dated to chronological intervals in the period between the last decades of the second century and the first decades of the fourth century AD. The authors conclude that these specimens originated in the Przeworsk and Wielbark cultural environments and that they are a marker (alongside other types of artefacts) of the entry and settlement of Germanic populations in the territories surrounding the province of Dacia from with the last quarter of the second century AD.
THE SARMATIAN PERIOD CAULDRON OF AVRĂMENI (BOTOȘANI COUNTY). N OTES ON THE DIFFUSION, DATING AND ... more THE SARMATIAN PERIOD CAULDRON OF AVRĂMENI (BOTOȘANI COUNTY). N OTES ON THE DIFFUSION, DATING AND USE OF THIS TYPE OF CAULDRON IN THE PONTIC STEPPE
(Abstract)
The object of this article is to analyse of the bronze cauldron removed from a barrow destroyed in 1942 subsequent to adjustment works performed on the road connecting Săveni commune to Avrămeni commune. The vessel shape is similar to that of a “bell” cast together with its handles and separately added biconical foot, the two parts being joined via a cast bronze peg. The vessel body still preserves several repair traces. According to its features and specificities, the Avrămeni cauldron belongs to type II.1.B in S. V. Demidenko’s typology, being the single vessel of this type in the space between the Don and the Carpathians. The other similar exemplars originate from within the 2 century BC complexes, situated on territories located to the left of the Lower Don and the Kuban region. The author considers that the body shape, curving vertical handles each decorated with a knob as well as the manufacturing and the foot attachment manners indicate that the Avrămeni cauldron is an artefact mixing elements specific to Sauromatae cauldrons used in the Volga area and the Lower Don but also in the Kuban region, and that they date back to the 2 nd - 1 st century BC. The Avrămeni cauldron is the most Western discovery of vessels of the type and is evidence of their use until the mentioned chronological interval. The author also notes that the Avrămeni vessel is, beside other finds, either an example of ancient continued casting traditions or the result of earlier production processes, yet still in use for a long period of time after their production cease. Last but not least, the author concludes that its deposition might have occurred both over the course of the 2 nd century BC and the chronological interval between late 2 century - first decades of the 1 st century BC.
The rescue archaeological research was undertaken between March
– May 2022 in Alba Iulia city, a... more The rescue archaeological research was undertaken between March – May 2022 in Alba Iulia city, at Republicii Blvd. no. 3. The research perimeter lay within the Olympic Pool area, both inside the former courtyard of the property, on the east and north sides related to the existing building, as well as outside the courtyard, on the same sides. The land plot is situated in the northern side of the city, on a high terrace, at 3.2 km north-west the Mureş, respectively 2.1 km west stream Ampoi, within an area that yielded multiple archaeological finds. The archaeological investigations identified a number of 216 features, entirely examined and excavated, dating to the Bronze and Iron II Ages, the Roman and post-Roman periods, respectively the Modern period. The prehistoric remains are represented by three features and a series of potshards, similarly to those of the La Tène, of which feature Cx 143, a horse burial, stands out. Roman date features are statistically most numerous, while amongst these, burial structures (graves or set-ups of the funeral space) overwhelmingly illustrate the nature of the finds from this chronological cultural sequence of the excavated site sector. The Roman graves unearthed during the archaeological campaign performed in the spring of 2022 are widely similar in terms of the burial ritual with those previously investigated on adjacent land plots, the biritual specificity of the cemetery being noted in this sector as well. Synthetically, it is worth mention that inhumations numerically dominate to the detriment of the cremations, with 61 inhumations, respectively 39 cremations found. Post-Roman date remains, few in number, are represented by habitat and burial structures, the latter being inhumations of the migrations period dated by late 5th – first two thirds of the 6th century AD. Among Modern date finds counts a house, which according to the identified artefacts dates starting with the second half of the 18th century.
Varia Archaeologica (III). Situri și peisaje arheologice din spațiul românesc, 2023
The 2019–2020 archaeological excavations resulted in the discovery within the range of Timișoara ... more The 2019–2020 archaeological excavations resulted in the discovery within the range of Timișoara – point “Hladik 1” of a Sarmatae cemetery of which a number of 139 inhumations and 16 flat circular ditched burial structures were investigated. Although the grave number is significant, it represents only part of the cemetery, as it stretches also outside the limits of the excavated area, northwards, and north‑eastwards. Pits grave are mainly rectangular, often with rounded corners, while the deceased were placed with head to the south, south‑west or south‑east. Burials encircled by a ditch from the research area compose two groups, surrounded by burials that are not encircled by a ditch. Inside most of these investigated structures, there was a single burial assemblage, in two cases being two, and in one, four. Grave furnishings, rather varied and rich, is represented by handmade and wheel‑thrown vessels, household and domestic objects, toiletries, silver coins, jewelry and dress items, weapons etc. The preliminary analysis of the grave goods widely evidences the dating of this burial group grosso modo to the chronological period comprised between late 2nd century AD and the last decades of the 3rd century AD.
Археологические памятники Евразии от неолита до средневековья, 2023
The object herein is the examination of the clay mould for brooch casting discovered in site 7 of... more The object herein is the examination of the clay mould for brooch casting discovered in site 7 of Ecser (Hungary), investigated during May 2004 – June 2006 by rescue archaeological excavations performed prior to the construction of the express road M0, a bypass of Budapest. The mould was found in feature 4180 linked to the 3rd century AD Sarmatian settlement. Based on the morphological analysis of the Ecser mould, the author notes it was used for making brooches type Almgren group VII, series I, the headknob variation, external chord and vertical catchplate and by no means a pattern for casting Roman brooches. The recent typological analysis of brooches of the type shows that the mould was used for making brooches type Cociș-Bârcă B2a1a1, mainly used between the last two decades of the II-nd century AD and mid III-rd century AD. The presence of the mould in the settlement at Ecser evidences the production of brooches of type Almgren group VII, series I, the headknob variation, external chord and vertical catchplate (B2a1a1) in territories inhabited by the Sarmatians in the Great Hungarian Plain, as well as an existing workshop for their making nearby. Based on the origin, diffusion area of these brooches and the workshops producing them, but also certain historical and archaeological realities, the author maintains that the making of such brooches in the settlement at Ecser must be ascribed rather to an artisan arriving to the territory inhabited by the Sarmatian Iazyges or in connection with the Germanic world.The frequent presence of brooches of the type beside other brooch types and Germanic artefact categories evidence contacts and cultural and economic interferences between various populations, but it also very clearly establishes the movement direction of certain groups of Germanic populaces starting with the last quarter of the 2nd century AD.
S. Mustață, V.-A. Lăzărescu, V, Bârcă, V. Rusu-Bolindeț, D. Matei (eds.), FABER: Studies in Honour of Sorin Cociş at his 65th Anniversary, 2022
The object herein is to discuss the inhumation of Chiscani – “sat” (Brăila County), who’s partial... more The object herein is to discuss the inhumation of Chiscani – “sat” (Brăila County), who’s partially recovered grave goods include a bronze earring, 57 beads, a disc mirror with thickened edge and rectangular side handle, a spindle weight, a wheel‑thrown cup and a handmade pot. To these, adds a bronze brooch of type Almgren group VII, Series I, in the headknob and external chord variant. Based on artefact analysis and suggested parallels, the author concludes that the Chiscani – “sat” burial most likely dates sometime to the first half of the 3 century AD (late phase C1a – first part of phase C1b).
The article discusses the mirror discovered in the La Tène period settlement of Poiana (Galaţi Co... more The article discusses the mirror discovered in the La Tène period settlement of Poiana (Galaţi County, Romania). It belongs to the type with thickened rim, central disc projection and nail-shaped handle. The specimen, singular in the east-Carpathian space, is the most westerly find of such mirrors. Mirrors of the type emerged in the Sarmatae environment during the end phase of the early Sarmatian period, their period of maximum use dating to the 1st century AD. In the north-Pontic area west of the Don, such artefacts were yielded, with one exception, by graves of the second half of the 1st century to the early 2nd century AD. The item of Poiana, beside other eastern origin artefact categories, reached the east-Carpathian space most likely sometime in the second half of the 1st century AD, however no later than the early 2nd century AD.
Revista de Cercetări Arheologice și Numismatice, 2021
We discuss herein the mirror with reverse decoration in the “Maria and dr. George Severeanu” Coll... more We discuss herein the mirror with reverse decoration in the “Maria and dr. George Severeanu” Collection, donated, together with the entire collection, to the Bucharest Municipality Museum in 1939. The artefact belongs to the type of disc mirrors with rectangular side handle decoration on the back side, specific mainly to the Sarmatian world, yet also found in the milieu of other cultural identities. Though emerging in the 1 century AD, these mirrors were used on large scale in the 2 nd century – first half of the 3 123 rd st century AD, being rarely found during the second half of the 3 century AD, the few specimens from the early period of the Great Migrations being relics. rd The author notes that the tamga on the mirror’s back side is complex, having no identical or similar parallels, concluding there are complex tamgas whose components only are similar or close to this discussed here. The appearance and features of the tamga evidences resembles complex tamgas or tamga compositions on mirrors from Ciscaucasia, the Kuban region, the Lower Don area and the Crimean territory. Last but not least, the author infers that the mirror in the “Maria and dr. George Severeanu” Collection belongs to the mirror type broadly used in the area between the Volga and the Lower Danube in the 2 nd century – first half of the 3 century AD, and that it very likely originates from Crimea, however other variants are possible as well.
Chișinău / Cluj-Napoca, Editura ARC / Editura MEGA, 2020
This volume is among the results of the project "Protecting by developing sustainable strategies ... more This volume is among the results of the project "Protecting by developing sustainable strategies for better protection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Romania - HERO". The collection includes an introductory study on the state of world heritage in Romania and the presentation of the project's achievements, followed by 27 articles grouped in three chapters. The first chapter, “World Cultural Heritage in Romania”, includes studies on the implementation in Romania of the World Heritage Convention and reports on the state of conservation of monuments inscribed in the World Heritage List. The second chapter, "Romania's Indicative List", contains a study on the debates in the Romanian media of the sites in this list and some articles about monuments that have the potential to be inscribed in the World Heritage List. The third chapter, “World Heritage Management: Examples of Good Practice,” contains articles on examples of effective heritage management. World Heritage List sites in various states and a study on illicit trafficking in cultural goods, which also directly targets sites of exceptional universal value.
Sarmizegetusa Regia was included, together with the other five Dacian
fortresses, on the List of ... more Sarmizegetusa Regia was included, together with the other five Dacian fortresses, on the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1999. They are a unique synthesis of external cultural influences and local traditions in terms of building techniques and overall, in the ancient military architecture, representing the grand expression of the civilisation of the Dacian Kingdom. These fortresses are the accurate expression of the exceptional development level of the Dacian civilisation, Sarmizegetusa Regia lying at the forefront of this fortified complex, epitomizing the evolution phenomenon from fortified centres to proto-urban agglomerations. As such, promoting these monuments and the numerous artefacts discovered by modern methods and techniques should become a priority. This paper presents a series of last generation applications and equipment that may be successfully used in promoting cultural heritage. Case studies include scanned artefacts and 3D reconstructions of the monuments in the site of Sarmizegetusa Regia, a monument on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites together with the other five Dacian fortresses (Bănița, Costești-Blidaru, Costești-Cetățuie, Piatra Roșie and Căpâlna). We present here the results obtained following the use of several hardware tracking systems, augmented virtual reality applications and haptic devices. One of the important aspects, when attempting to make enhanced on-line use of heritage good is the extent to which it is accessible and reusable by various categories of users, either specialists or the general public. Digitalizing a good in the cultural heritage is the first step for ensuring the broad access via the on-line medium, the quality of this process ensuring the electronic format artefact legitimacy and credibility, which means that it should be an electronic duplicate truthful to the real artefact. This way, they may be digitally preserved and used in various manners. Digitalizing artefacts and the digital reconstruction of houses, appurtenances, workshops, temples and fortifications and the set-up of virtual tours ensure incursions in the daily life as resulting from the archaeological finds yielded over several decades. This process results in quick promoting of this cultural heritage and its international capitalizing. All this completed by a database in the form of an open web platform to manage the 3D models, which may be later completed by other scanned 3D models, is the way to proceed for as many as possible monuments and artefacts.
Studia epigraphica et historica in honorem Ioannis Pisonis. Philippika 181, 2024
Ovidiu Țentea, Cristian Găzdac, Vitalie Bârcă
The worlds of the Living and the Dead – same offeri... more Ovidiu Țentea, Cristian Găzdac, Vitalie Bârcă The worlds of the Living and the Dead – same offerings. An upsidedown perspective from Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa in L. Bârliba, E. Varga, R. Ardevan, F. Matei-Popescu, O. Țentea, Studia epigraphica et historica in honorem Ioannis Pisonis. Philippika 181. Wiessbaden: Harrassovitz Verlag, 2024, 443-462. https://www.harrassowitz-verlag.de/title_7515.ahtml Ask for the paper in a private message
L. Grumeza, V. Cojocaru, C. I. Tica (eds.), The Sarmatians and the Others: Nomadic and Sedentary Cultures in Central and Eastern Europe in the First Half of the 1st Millennium AD, , Mega Publishing House,Cluj-Napoca, 2024, p. 301-327., 2024
The authors discuss a specific class of the pottery assemblage discovered
during the archaeologic... more The authors discuss a specific class of the pottery assemblage discovered during the archaeological excavations conducted in 2010 prior to the construction of the Arad-Timişoara motorway, at the site conventionally termed Arad B_06. The archaeological investigations carried out at the site, within the limits of the motorway route perimeter, identified and exhaustively explored 132 stratigraphic units, three of which were Sarmatian inhumations. Out of the total researched features, 106 were discovered in the northern half of the excavated area, while three burials, alongside another feature (Cx 45), lay midway in the project area. The inhumations were isolated from both the 106 northern features and the 22 found southwards. The 107 assemblages belong to a Dacian settlement broadly dated to the 2nd – first decades of the 3rd century,1 while the graves date to late 2nd century and the first decades of the 3rd century. Features emerging in the southern half of the research area belong to a different chronological and cultural level (the 4th–5th century). Out of the 107 assemblages, handmade cups or shallow bowls were identified in 23 of them; their typology and parallels on the Hungarian Plain and on the Western Plain of Romania are extensively discussed here.
In: H. Pop, I. Bejinariu, Sanda Băcueţ-Crişan, D. Băcueţ-Crişan (eds.), Identităţi culturale locale şi regionale în context european. Studii de arheologie şi antropologie istorică. In memoriam Alexandru V. Matei, Editura Mega, Cluj-Napoca, 2010 (2012), p. 565-574. , 2010
The archaeological preventive researches from 2008 close to Cluj-Napoca, on the Lomb
Hill, have a... more The archaeological preventive researches from 2008 close to Cluj-Napoca, on the Lomb Hill, have as result the discovery and the entire investigation of a Roman construction, possible a villa rustica, unknown until now (Pl. 1, 2). The poor conservation state of the construction and material discovered during researches leads to the conclusion that this villa functioned from the second half of the second century AD until the first half of the third century AD. Although this area was subject of powerful terrain slides during time, we were able to identifiy and reseach the main spaces inside the Roman construction. The discovery made during the summer of 2008 is one extremely important and happily complets the image we had until now concerning the Roman villas in Dacia, particulary those positioned North of Napoca. Today, we know three constructions of this kind. This proves the importance of the area situated in this part of Dacia Porolissensis.
Based on archaeological finds, this article attempts to analyse brooches belonging to Almgren VII... more Based on archaeological finds, this article attempts to analyse brooches belonging to Almgren VII, Series I, variation with headknob and external chord from the territory of Romania. We discuss 85 such brooches (five in silver) which belong to several subvariants dated to chronological intervals in the period between the last decades of the second century and the first decades of the fourth century AD. The authors conclude that these specimens originated in the Przeworsk and Wielbark cultural environments and that they are a marker (alongside other types of artefacts) of the entry and settlement of Germanic populations in the territories surrounding the province of Dacia from with the last quarter of the second century AD.
THE SARMATIAN PERIOD CAULDRON OF AVRĂMENI (BOTOȘANI COUNTY). N OTES ON THE DIFFUSION, DATING AND ... more THE SARMATIAN PERIOD CAULDRON OF AVRĂMENI (BOTOȘANI COUNTY). N OTES ON THE DIFFUSION, DATING AND USE OF THIS TYPE OF CAULDRON IN THE PONTIC STEPPE
(Abstract)
The object of this article is to analyse of the bronze cauldron removed from a barrow destroyed in 1942 subsequent to adjustment works performed on the road connecting Săveni commune to Avrămeni commune. The vessel shape is similar to that of a “bell” cast together with its handles and separately added biconical foot, the two parts being joined via a cast bronze peg. The vessel body still preserves several repair traces. According to its features and specificities, the Avrămeni cauldron belongs to type II.1.B in S. V. Demidenko’s typology, being the single vessel of this type in the space between the Don and the Carpathians. The other similar exemplars originate from within the 2 century BC complexes, situated on territories located to the left of the Lower Don and the Kuban region. The author considers that the body shape, curving vertical handles each decorated with a knob as well as the manufacturing and the foot attachment manners indicate that the Avrămeni cauldron is an artefact mixing elements specific to Sauromatae cauldrons used in the Volga area and the Lower Don but also in the Kuban region, and that they date back to the 2 nd - 1 st century BC. The Avrămeni cauldron is the most Western discovery of vessels of the type and is evidence of their use until the mentioned chronological interval. The author also notes that the Avrămeni vessel is, beside other finds, either an example of ancient continued casting traditions or the result of earlier production processes, yet still in use for a long period of time after their production cease. Last but not least, the author concludes that its deposition might have occurred both over the course of the 2 nd century BC and the chronological interval between late 2 century - first decades of the 1 st century BC.
The rescue archaeological research was undertaken between March
– May 2022 in Alba Iulia city, a... more The rescue archaeological research was undertaken between March – May 2022 in Alba Iulia city, at Republicii Blvd. no. 3. The research perimeter lay within the Olympic Pool area, both inside the former courtyard of the property, on the east and north sides related to the existing building, as well as outside the courtyard, on the same sides. The land plot is situated in the northern side of the city, on a high terrace, at 3.2 km north-west the Mureş, respectively 2.1 km west stream Ampoi, within an area that yielded multiple archaeological finds. The archaeological investigations identified a number of 216 features, entirely examined and excavated, dating to the Bronze and Iron II Ages, the Roman and post-Roman periods, respectively the Modern period. The prehistoric remains are represented by three features and a series of potshards, similarly to those of the La Tène, of which feature Cx 143, a horse burial, stands out. Roman date features are statistically most numerous, while amongst these, burial structures (graves or set-ups of the funeral space) overwhelmingly illustrate the nature of the finds from this chronological cultural sequence of the excavated site sector. The Roman graves unearthed during the archaeological campaign performed in the spring of 2022 are widely similar in terms of the burial ritual with those previously investigated on adjacent land plots, the biritual specificity of the cemetery being noted in this sector as well. Synthetically, it is worth mention that inhumations numerically dominate to the detriment of the cremations, with 61 inhumations, respectively 39 cremations found. Post-Roman date remains, few in number, are represented by habitat and burial structures, the latter being inhumations of the migrations period dated by late 5th – first two thirds of the 6th century AD. Among Modern date finds counts a house, which according to the identified artefacts dates starting with the second half of the 18th century.
Varia Archaeologica (III). Situri și peisaje arheologice din spațiul românesc, 2023
The 2019–2020 archaeological excavations resulted in the discovery within the range of Timișoara ... more The 2019–2020 archaeological excavations resulted in the discovery within the range of Timișoara – point “Hladik 1” of a Sarmatae cemetery of which a number of 139 inhumations and 16 flat circular ditched burial structures were investigated. Although the grave number is significant, it represents only part of the cemetery, as it stretches also outside the limits of the excavated area, northwards, and north‑eastwards. Pits grave are mainly rectangular, often with rounded corners, while the deceased were placed with head to the south, south‑west or south‑east. Burials encircled by a ditch from the research area compose two groups, surrounded by burials that are not encircled by a ditch. Inside most of these investigated structures, there was a single burial assemblage, in two cases being two, and in one, four. Grave furnishings, rather varied and rich, is represented by handmade and wheel‑thrown vessels, household and domestic objects, toiletries, silver coins, jewelry and dress items, weapons etc. The preliminary analysis of the grave goods widely evidences the dating of this burial group grosso modo to the chronological period comprised between late 2nd century AD and the last decades of the 3rd century AD.
Археологические памятники Евразии от неолита до средневековья, 2023
The object herein is the examination of the clay mould for brooch casting discovered in site 7 of... more The object herein is the examination of the clay mould for brooch casting discovered in site 7 of Ecser (Hungary), investigated during May 2004 – June 2006 by rescue archaeological excavations performed prior to the construction of the express road M0, a bypass of Budapest. The mould was found in feature 4180 linked to the 3rd century AD Sarmatian settlement. Based on the morphological analysis of the Ecser mould, the author notes it was used for making brooches type Almgren group VII, series I, the headknob variation, external chord and vertical catchplate and by no means a pattern for casting Roman brooches. The recent typological analysis of brooches of the type shows that the mould was used for making brooches type Cociș-Bârcă B2a1a1, mainly used between the last two decades of the II-nd century AD and mid III-rd century AD. The presence of the mould in the settlement at Ecser evidences the production of brooches of type Almgren group VII, series I, the headknob variation, external chord and vertical catchplate (B2a1a1) in territories inhabited by the Sarmatians in the Great Hungarian Plain, as well as an existing workshop for their making nearby. Based on the origin, diffusion area of these brooches and the workshops producing them, but also certain historical and archaeological realities, the author maintains that the making of such brooches in the settlement at Ecser must be ascribed rather to an artisan arriving to the territory inhabited by the Sarmatian Iazyges or in connection with the Germanic world.The frequent presence of brooches of the type beside other brooch types and Germanic artefact categories evidence contacts and cultural and economic interferences between various populations, but it also very clearly establishes the movement direction of certain groups of Germanic populaces starting with the last quarter of the 2nd century AD.
S. Mustață, V.-A. Lăzărescu, V, Bârcă, V. Rusu-Bolindeț, D. Matei (eds.), FABER: Studies in Honour of Sorin Cociş at his 65th Anniversary, 2022
The object herein is to discuss the inhumation of Chiscani – “sat” (Brăila County), who’s partial... more The object herein is to discuss the inhumation of Chiscani – “sat” (Brăila County), who’s partially recovered grave goods include a bronze earring, 57 beads, a disc mirror with thickened edge and rectangular side handle, a spindle weight, a wheel‑thrown cup and a handmade pot. To these, adds a bronze brooch of type Almgren group VII, Series I, in the headknob and external chord variant. Based on artefact analysis and suggested parallels, the author concludes that the Chiscani – “sat” burial most likely dates sometime to the first half of the 3 century AD (late phase C1a – first part of phase C1b).
The article discusses the mirror discovered in the La Tène period settlement of Poiana (Galaţi Co... more The article discusses the mirror discovered in the La Tène period settlement of Poiana (Galaţi County, Romania). It belongs to the type with thickened rim, central disc projection and nail-shaped handle. The specimen, singular in the east-Carpathian space, is the most westerly find of such mirrors. Mirrors of the type emerged in the Sarmatae environment during the end phase of the early Sarmatian period, their period of maximum use dating to the 1st century AD. In the north-Pontic area west of the Don, such artefacts were yielded, with one exception, by graves of the second half of the 1st century to the early 2nd century AD. The item of Poiana, beside other eastern origin artefact categories, reached the east-Carpathian space most likely sometime in the second half of the 1st century AD, however no later than the early 2nd century AD.
The author concludes that the bone pyxides from the Sarmatian graves of the North-Pontic territor... more The author concludes that the bone pyxides from the Sarmatian graves of the North-Pontic territory, are mainly Roman products. Nevertheless, it is not excluded that some of the pyxides are copies of the first, made in local workshops (North-Pontic). The author notes that all Sarmatian graves containing pyxides date, based on grave furnishing, to the second half of the 1st century – early/first decades of the 2nd century AD. Furthermore, it was noted they are part of the group of graves that belonged to the new Sarmatian wave arriving in the North-Pontic area starting from the mid-1st century AD from east of Don. The author notes that the pyxides are part of the funerary complexes dating to the period of major inflow of Roman artifacts into the Sarmatian environment, placed chronologically between AD 60/70 and 120/130.
This article analyses the beads discovered in the Sarmatian cemetery from Hunedoara Timișană (Ara... more This article analyses the beads discovered in the Sarmatian cemetery from Hunedoara Timișană (Arad County/West Romania). Beads are the most numerous dress items in the graves at Hunedoara Timișană, a total of 1396 beads (beside other fragmentary pieces) being identified in the 14 analysed graves. Beads fulfilled various functionalities within the analysed graves: they were part of necklaces, belts, earrings or buttons, but most often were sewn onto female garments. The custom of embroidery-decorating garment hems with hundreds or even thousands of beads of various colours is recorded in the Sarmatian milieu of the Great Hungarian Plain as early as their settling of the area. The fashion peaks in the period after the Marcomannic wars, very likely influenced by the arrival in this area of new groups of Sarmatians by the end of the 2nd – early 3rd century AD.
The 2019-2020 archaeological research resulted in the discovery, near Timișoara, at site Hladik 1... more The 2019-2020 archaeological research resulted in the discovery, near Timișoara, at site Hladik 1, of a Sarmatae cemetery of which 139 burials have been investigated, some encircled by a ditch. The grave goods in the Timișoara – „Hladik 1” burials, rather varied and rich, are represented by handmade or wheel-thrown pots, domestic and household objects, toiletries, silver coins, adornment and dress items, weapons, etc. The preliminary analysis of the grave goods dates grosso modo the graves’ group to the chronological frame comprised between late 2nd century and last decades of the 3rd century AD.
Могильник римского времени Фронтовое 3: варвары на границах Империи / The Roman Period Cemetery of Frontovoe 3: The Barbarians on the Borders of the Empire, 2022
We attempt herein to analyse, based on archaeological finds, brooches of type Almgren VII, series... more We attempt herein to analyse, based on archaeological finds, brooches of type Almgren VII, series I, variation with headknob and external chord discovered in Romania. A number of 85 such brooches were examined, from several sub-variants, dated to certain chronological spans of the period comprised between the last decades of the 2nd century – first decades of the 4th century AD.
Могильник римского времени Фронтовое 3: варвары на границах Империи / The Roman Period Cemetery of Frontovoe 3: The Barbarians on the Borders of the Empire, 2022
In the last years, rescue excavations were conducted (prior the construction of Arad-Timişoara Mo... more In the last years, rescue excavations were conducted (prior the construction of Arad-Timişoara Motorway) in several archaeological sites ascribed to the Sarmatian culture. The results of this large scale excavations provide new data concerning the chronology of the Sarmatian culture and the interaction of the Sarmatae with the Roman Empire.
We analyse here the start period of the Sarmatian Iazyges’ entry and settlement of the Great Hung... more We analyse here the start period of the Sarmatian Iazyges’ entry and settlement of the Great Hungarian Plain, an issue that has been debated for a long time and for which several chronological frameworks have been suggested. Also, the author resumes the discussion on certain aspects regarding the Sarmatae presence in the Pannonian plain. Subsequent to the analysis of the archaeological finds, it was concluded they evidence that the Iazygian antiquities from the Pannonian plain date no earlier than the second half of the 1st century AD and that the finds containing artefacts with a more accurate chronological framing date towards late 1st century AD, and in some cases, even by late 1st century AD and early 2nd century AD. On the basis of the origin, parallels and date of the artefacts in the group of finds ascribed to the so-called “golden horizon”, the author concludes that most features in this horizon date mainly to the chronological span comprised between the last quarter/late 1st century and early 2nd century AD. These archaeological facts, confirmed by the written ancient sources as well, show, according to the author, that the first Iazyges emerged in the northern part of the territory between the Danube and the Tisza likely around AD 50, unless not precisely in AD 50, during the events from regnum Vannianum. The author also concludes that the arrival of the first Sarmatae group in the Pannonian plain was most likely followed, until late the 70’s – early 80’s of the 1st century AD, by other few Sarmatae entry waves in the area between the Danube and the Tisza. Another important aspect noted subsequent to the examination of certain artefact classes is that the settlement of the Sarmatae in the Pannonian plain occurred only after previous contacts with the new Sarmatae tribes (the Aorsi, the Siraces, the Alans) arrived in the north and north-west Pontic area starting with mid 1st century AD. Last but not least, it was noted they settled, during a first phase, mainly the northern part of the region between the Danube and the Tisza, as proven by the archaeological finds ascribed to the Sarmatian Iazyges, which clustered in said territory, yet also by the ancient literary sources, which mention these in respective period in the specified area or in connection with the northern bordering populaces.
The mirror from the settlement at Sebeş-Podul Pripocului, unique in the intra-Carpathian area, be... more The mirror from the settlement at Sebeş-Podul Pripocului, unique in the intra-Carpathian area, belongs to a type of mirror specific mainly to the Sarmatae world. On its reverse are two identical tamgas set into the mirror; however, in previous publications the marks have been rendered erroneously. The analysis shows that many of the analogues identified are specific to the region to the right of the Dnieper, and that such mirrors are specific to the second half of the first century to mid-third century AD. The item's significance, the function of the tamgas and the fact that such marks were borrowed by the neighbouring peoples offer evidence that this mirror did not reach the area via exchange or trade, but rather that there was a "barbarian" presence, which also included the Sarmatae, in the settlement of Sebeş-Podul Pripocului.
The object herein is to analyse the bronze casseroles discovered in the Sarmatian graves from the... more The object herein is to analyse the bronze casseroles discovered in the Sarmatian graves from the area between the Lower Don and the Lower Danube, located on the current territory of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Romania. These are represented by ten exemplars to which add a number of feet-supports of such vessels. Nine of the 12 finds originate from the territory comprised between the Dnieper and the Prut, of which six are from the Dnieper-Bug interfluve, while three from the area between the Dniester and the Prut. Two of the finds come from east of the Dnieper, of which one from the eastern extremity of the discussed area and the other from the Lower Danube region. These belong to types with half-moon (Eggers 137 = Petrovszky IV, 1 (1 exemplar), Eggres 138 = Petrovszky IV, 2 (1 exemplar) or circular shaped pierced handle terminal (Eggers 140 = Petrovszky V, 1 (2 exemplars), Eggers 142 = Petrovszky V, 2 (3 exemplars) and Eggers 144 = Petrovszky V, 5 (3 exemplars). For a most accurate chronological framing the author attempted, without aiming at comprehensiveness, beside the examination of casseroles, also to analyse the artefacs these were discovered together with. It was concluded that the presence of casseroles within Sarmatae graves from the north of the Black Sea is reminiscent of the diffusion in this area of both other metal ware types and of Roman artefact classes specific to the 1st century (mainly its second half) – first half of the 2nd century AD. Also, the author notes that the number of casseroles in the Sarmatae graves from the investigated area is smaller compared to the Sarmatian environment of the territories located eastwards, that these are represented by fewer types, yet also that they do not span large time periods. The author concludes that the majority of the Sarmatae graves from the analysed area where Romanprovincial metal wares were discovered date mainly to the second half of the 1st century AD – mid 2nd century AD and that most included among their grave goods other Roman-provincial objects too, some being very good dating elements. It was also noted that the majority of the Sarmatian graves containing metal recipients are part of the Sarmatian remains’ horizon with features characteristic to the new wave of Sarmatae arriving from east of the Don once with the second half of the 1st century AD. Last but not least, the author notes that all analysed casseroles mainly originate from funerary features dated to the major inflow period of Roman artefacts into the Sarmatae environment, encompassing grosso modo the chronological interval comprised between AD 60/70 – 120/130 (stage B2 in the Central-European chronology). Lastly, it is concluded that all casseroles from the Sarmatae milieu under discussion originate, alike those from territories located eastwards, from graves pertaining to the wealthier class of the Sarmatian society
Pandantivele-căldărușă din mediul sarmatic. Câteva observaȚii pe marginea originii, datării și ut... more Pandantivele-căldărușă din mediul sarmatic. Câteva observaȚii pe marginea originii, datării și utilizării acestor amulete în lumea barbară Pandantivele-căldărușă au avut o largă răspândire în diverse medii culturale din spațiul cuprins între nordul-estul Mării Negre și Europa Centrală. Studiul de faţă încearcă, fără a avea pretenții de exhaustivitate, o analiză a pieselor de acest tip în mediul sarmatic. Autorul examinează aceste pandantive din mediul sarmatic alături de cel din alte medii culturale, într-un context mai larg și constată că în mediul sarmatic pandantivele-căldărușă provin cu precădere din morminte de copii și femei, fiind întâlnite atât în morminte bogate, cât și în cele mai sărăcăcioase. Autorul remarcă că cele mai timpurii exemplare de astfel de pandantive sunt din spațiul nord-pontic și provin din complexe ce se datează în sec. II-I a. Chr., fapt ce sugerează, originea pandantivelor-căldărușă, alături de alte tipuri de pandantive, în regiunea nord-pontică. În sec. I a. Chr. aceste pandantive sunt prezente la scitii târzii și sarmați din nordul și nord-vestul Mării Negre, dar și în mediul geto-dacic și germanic (cultura Poieneşti-Lucășeuca). Odată cu secolul I p. Chr. numărul pandantivelor-căldărușă crește semnificativ în mediul scitic târziu, sarmatic, geto-dacic, dar și în cadrul necropolelor orașelor și așezărilor din zona nord-pontică. Tot din această perioadă ele încep să fie atestate și în arealul culturii Przeworsk. În urma analizei descoperirilor de pandantivele-căldărușă din mediul sarmatic s-a ajuns la concluzia că nu se poate vorbi de o utilizare intensă a lor de către sarmați, precum în cazul altor tipuri de pandantive. Autorul remarcă că marea majoritatea a pandantivelor-căldărușă din mediul sarmatic nord și nord-vest pontic sunt din morminte ce se datează în intervalul cronologic cuprins între mijlocul sec. I p. Chr.-începutul/primele decenii ale sec. II p. Chr. De asemenea s-a constatat că astfel de artefacte se întâlnesc rareori în morminte sarmatice din a doua jumătate a sec. II-prima jumătate a sec. III p. Chr., dar și că lipsesc în a doua etapă a perioadei sarmatice târzii (a doua jumătate a sec. III-sec. IV p. Chr.). Ca urmare a analizei complexelor funerare sarmatice din Câmpia Panonică în care au fost descoperite pandantivecăldărușă se conchide că obiceiul purtării acestor pandantive de către femei și copii a fost adus în acest spațiu în a doua jumătate a sec. I p. Chr. de primele grupuri de sarmați așezați în această regiune. Nu în ultimul rând s-a remarcat că în mediul sarmatic din acest areal geografic aceste artefacte au fost utilizate, într-o măsură mai mare sau mai mică, pe toată durata locuirii lor în acest areal geografic. În final se conchide că utilizarea masivă a pandantivelor-căldărușă în sec. II-IV p. Chr. în diverse medii culturale din spațiul cuprins între nordul Mării Negre și Europa Centrală indică faptul că ele au devenit artefacte "supranaţionale", fiind produse și utilizate de diverse populații din acest areal geografic.
We discuss here the mirror discovered in 1987 following the archaeological investigations carried... more We discuss here the mirror discovered in 1987 following the archaeological investigations carried out in the Geto-Dacian settlement of Poiana (Galați county/RO). It belongs to the type of disc mirrors with thickened rim, central disc projection and nail-shaped handle. The item, singular in the east-Carpathian area, is the most western find of such mirror type. Subsequent to the analysis of all aspects related to such mirrors, it may be concluded that currently, the view according to which these are of Central-Asian origin is the most convincing theory. First mirrors of the type emerged in the eastern Sarmatian environment during the final stage of the Early Sarmatian period (the 2nd – 1st century BC), while their maximum use period in the Sarmatian world lies in the 1st century AD, being discontinued in the Volga-Don region by late this time span. In the north-Pontic area west of the Don, such artefacts remained in use until early 2nd century AD, while the graves to which they belong, with one exception, date to the second half of the 1st century – early 2nd century AD. In the north-Pontic Sarmatian environment west of the Don, these mirrors diffused, beside other eastern origin artefact classes, mainly owing to the entry and settlement of new migratory groups arriving from the east, with close contacts and relations with the Central Asian region. Based on the fact that the majority of these mirrors were discovered mainly in graves from the region east of the Don, the dating of the features containing such mirrors as well as the Sarmatians’ entry and settlement of the north-Pontic area west of the Don, the author here concludes that the item of Poiana, together with other eastern origin artefact classes, reached the east-Carpathian area most likely sometime in the second half of the 1st century AD, however no later than early 2nd century AD, as supported also by the context in which the specimen of Poiana was discovered. Last but not least, the author here concludes that the mirror from the Geto-Dacian settlement of Poiana, beside other object categories of Sarmatian origin or mainly used by the Sarmatians discovered in the pre-Roman Geto-Dacian environment, furthermore evidence the Sarmatian presence in the east-Carpathian area during the 1st century AD, as well as the Geto-Dacian and Sarmatian relations.
Sergiu MATVEEV, Procesele etno-culturale din spaţiul carpato-nistrean în secolele II-XIV Istoriog... more Sergiu MATVEEV, Procesele etno-culturale din spaţiul carpato-nistrean în secolele II-XIV Istoriografia sovietică, Chişinău, Edit. Pontos, 2009, 230 p., 5 tab. Deşi au trecut două decenii de la dispariţia Imperiului Sovietic, apreciată mai mult sau mai puţin de anumite forţe politice din fostele republici unionale, trebuie menţionat că la ora actuală nu sunt cunoscute în detaliu toate mijloacele şi practicile prin care regimul comunist a contribuit la falsificarea şi modificarea adevărului istoric. Repercusiunile acelor vremuri tragice se resimt şi astăzi în sânul comunităţilor din statele devenite independente, care au avut nefericirea să trăiască în acele timpuri în care bazele societăţii erau constituite de o ideologie dominantă, colectivism şi controlul total al regimului asupra existenţei fizice şi mentale a cetăţenilor. Cu toate acestea, trebuie menţionat că deşi astăzi, la nivelul societăţii academice, munca de cercetare în vederea desluşirii veridicităţii trecutului este abia la început de drum, acest demers este tot mai des abordat de noua generaţie de cercetători. Chiar dacă, în prezent, cunoştinţele noastre nu s-au îmbogăţit semnificativ în ceea ce priveşte metodele de falsificare şi distorsionare a adevărului istoric sau de interpretare a evenimentelor şi realităţilor istorice, trebuie menţionat totuşi că în ultimii ani s-au făcut progrese deosebite în mediul ştiinţific din spaţiul ex-sovietic. Acestei faze de explorare care are drept scop atât analiza interpretării realităţilor istorice, cât şi a teoriilor şi metodelor ce au denaturat redarea nepartinică a istoriei, i se circumscrie şi lucrarea Procesele etno-culturale din spaţiul carpato-nistrean în secolele II-XIV. Istoriografia sovietică. Această monografie, având drept autor pe specialistul Sergiu Matveev, conferenţiar universitar la Catedra de Arheologie şi Istorie Antică de la Universitatea de Stat din Chişinău, reprezintă un studiu complex, consacrat analizei proceselor etno-culturale din spaţiul cuprins între Carpaţi şi Nistru în veacurile II-XIV, aşa cum rezultă din reflectarea în istoriografia sovietică postbelică. Cartea a fost publicată în cadrul seriei monografice a Asociaţiei Naţionale a Tinerilor Istorici din Moldova şi a Societăţii de Studii Sud-Est Europene din Moldova, coordonate de istoricii Sergiu Musteaţă şi Alexandru Popa. Apariţia acestei lucrări în paginile căreia este efectuată atât o analiză minuţioasă a influenţei factorului politic în scrierea istoriei, cât şi a modului cum au fost studiate şi interpretate realităţile istorice pe parcursul celor 12 secole din spaţiul carpato-nistrean, constituie o contribuţie importantă la evoluţia cunoaşterii modului în care, în baza unor hotărâri ale partidului comunist, s-a scris istoria acestui spaţiu în epoca următoare celui deAl Doilea Război Mondial. De la bun început ţinem să menţionăm că rândurile de faţă nu reprezintă doar o obligaţie asumată de noi în vederea realizării acestei prezentări, ci şi plăcerea de a citi o carte complexă dedicată proceselor etno-culturale din spaţiul carpato-nistrean, dar şi diverselor opinii şi probleme controversate generate de atari studii etno-culturale. Dincolo de calitatea de amic al lui Sergiu Matveev, am convingerea că mulţi cercetători care se ocupă de numeroasele aspecte istorice ale zonei dintre Carpaţi şi Nistru, şi-ar fi dorit să gândească această lucrare sau să fie printre cei care au elaborat-o. În opinia noastră, ne aflăm în faţa unei abordări plurivalente care, cu siguranţă, va fi parcursă şi utilizată mult timp de acum înainte. Necesitatea unei astfel de lucrări, în care fenomenele şi procesele etno-culturale din acest areal, delimitat de antichitate şi perioada medievală timpurie, să fie supuse unei analize minuţioase, era evidentă de mai mult timp în literatura ştiinţifică. De altfel, schimbările din ultimele două decenii, survenite şi în această parte a Europei, au contribuit benefic la sporirea interesului cercetătorilor atât faţă de studiile asupra vieţii sociale, cât şi a proceselor etno-culturale. Aceste modificări majore, inclusiv la nivel mental, au permis apariţia în literatura istorică şi arheologică din Republica Moldova a unor studii ştiinţifice ce conţin opinii şi abordări în care se constată o modificare a concepţiilor. În cadrul acestora se poate remarca, nu o dată, existenţa mai multor puncte de vedere care nu sunt identice cu cele impuse de autoritate, aşa cum se întâmpla în trecut, când totul se făcea la comanda politică a partidului comunist.
The extension of the Roman control north the Danube was a major mutation that led to changes in t... more The extension of the Roman control north the Danube was a major mutation that led to changes in the habitat structure of the area. Thus, the Barbarian inhabitancy, including that of the nomad Sarmatians, in the regions nearby the Roman frontier suffered many and various cultural, economic and inhabitancy territory changes. The abandonment of Dacia and the penetration in these territories of other populations caused significant changes to the region habitat and the entire previous social structure. The study of the way that the Sarmatians interacted with the Roman civilisation is a less approached subject although contacts between the Roman world and the Sarmatians represented an important historical process in the subsequent evolution of human societies on the European territory. The novelty of this project consists in a complex approach of the theme from the view of the historical development in the region and the attempt to identify certain cultural patterns also applicable to the realities in the regions under analysis. The research of the subject would be carried out also from a modern anthropological and sociological view, which is also a new approach method of archaeology. The expected impact implies for the first time the unitary approach of the nomad world in this region, which is a zone of interaction between several civilisations, but also a region linking the north of the Black Sea to Central Europe.
Cercetări Arheologice în aria nord-tracă III, 1999
This is a short preliminary report on Ukrainian-Romanian excavations at Tyras (Belgorod-Dnestrovs... more This is a short preliminary report on Ukrainian-Romanian excavations at Tyras (Belgorod-Dnestrovskij/ Cetatea Albă), led by A.A. Rosohackij, V. Cojocaru, I.C. Opriş, G.V. Batizat and V. Bârcă (1996-1998). The excavations started in 1996 and continued during the next two seasons and focused on Greek to Roman layers and defensive contexts in ancient Tyras, from late 5th century BC to 2nd-3rd centuries AD, on an area of cca 1000 sq m.
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fortresses, on the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1999. They
are a unique synthesis of external cultural influences and local traditions in
terms of building techniques and overall, in the ancient military architecture,
representing the grand expression of the civilisation of the Dacian Kingdom.
These fortresses are the accurate expression of the exceptional development
level of the Dacian civilisation, Sarmizegetusa Regia lying at the forefront of
this fortified complex, epitomizing the evolution phenomenon from fortified
centres to proto-urban agglomerations. As such, promoting these monuments
and the numerous artefacts discovered by modern methods and techniques
should become a priority. This paper presents a series of last generation
applications and equipment that may be successfully used in promoting cultural
heritage. Case studies include scanned artefacts and 3D reconstructions of the
monuments in the site of Sarmizegetusa Regia, a monument on the UNESCO
List of World Heritage Sites together with the other five Dacian fortresses
(Bănița, Costești-Blidaru, Costești-Cetățuie, Piatra Roșie and Căpâlna). We
present here the results obtained following the use of several hardware tracking
systems, augmented virtual reality applications and haptic devices. One of the
important aspects, when attempting to make enhanced on-line use of heritage
good is the extent to which it is accessible and reusable by various categories of
users, either specialists or the general public. Digitalizing a good in the cultural
heritage is the first step for ensuring the broad access via the on-line medium,
the quality of this process ensuring the electronic format artefact legitimacy
and credibility, which means that it should be an electronic duplicate truthful
to the real artefact. This way, they may be digitally preserved and used in
various manners. Digitalizing artefacts and the digital reconstruction of houses,
appurtenances, workshops, temples and fortifications and the set-up of virtual
tours ensure incursions in the daily life as resulting from the archaeological
finds yielded over several decades. This process results in quick promoting of
this cultural heritage and its international capitalizing. All this completed by a
database in the form of an open web platform to manage the 3D models, which
may be later completed by other scanned 3D models, is the way to proceed for
as many as possible monuments and artefacts.
The worlds of the Living and the Dead – same offerings. An upsidedown perspective from Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa
in L. Bârliba, E. Varga, R. Ardevan, F. Matei-Popescu, O. Țentea, Studia epigraphica et historica in honorem Ioannis Pisonis. Philippika 181. Wiessbaden: Harrassovitz Verlag, 2024, 443-462.
https://www.harrassowitz-verlag.de/title_7515.ahtml
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during the archaeological excavations conducted in 2010 prior to the construction
of the Arad-Timişoara motorway, at the site conventionally termed Arad B_06. The
archaeological investigations carried out at the site, within the limits of the motorway
route perimeter, identified and exhaustively explored 132 stratigraphic units,
three of which were Sarmatian inhumations. Out of the total researched features,
106 were discovered in the northern half of the excavated area, while three burials,
alongside another feature (Cx 45), lay midway in the project area. The inhumations
were isolated from both the 106 northern features and the 22 found southwards.
The 107 assemblages belong to a Dacian settlement broadly dated to the 2nd – first
decades of the 3rd century,1 while the graves date to late 2nd century and the first
decades of the 3rd century. Features emerging in the southern half of the research
area belong to a different chronological and cultural level (the 4th–5th century).
Out of the 107 assemblages, handmade cups or shallow bowls were identified in 23
of them; their typology and parallels on the Hungarian Plain and on the Western
Plain of Romania are extensively discussed here.
Hill, have as result the discovery and the entire investigation of a Roman construction, possible a villa
rustica, unknown until now (Pl. 1, 2). The poor conservation state of the construction and material
discovered during researches leads to the conclusion that this villa functioned from the second half
of the second century AD until the first half of the third century AD.
Although this area was subject of powerful terrain slides during time, we were able to identifiy
and reseach the main spaces inside the Roman construction. The discovery made during the summer
of 2008 is one extremely important and happily complets the image we had until now concerning
the Roman villas in Dacia, particulary those positioned North of Napoca. Today, we know three
constructions of this kind. This proves the importance of the area situated in this part of Dacia
Porolissensis.
(Abstract)
The object of this article is to analyse of the bronze cauldron removed from a barrow destroyed in 1942 subsequent to adjustment works performed on the road connecting Săveni commune to Avrămeni commune. The vessel shape is similar to that of a “bell” cast together with its handles and separately added biconical foot, the two parts being joined via a cast bronze peg. The vessel body still preserves several repair traces. According to its features and specificities, the Avrămeni cauldron belongs to type II.1.B in S. V. Demidenko’s typology, being the single vessel of this type in the space between the Don and the Carpathians. The other similar exemplars originate from within the 2 century BC complexes, situated on territories located to the left of the Lower Don and the Kuban region. The author considers that the body shape, curving vertical handles each decorated with a knob as well as the manufacturing and the foot attachment manners indicate that the Avrămeni cauldron is an artefact mixing elements specific to Sauromatae cauldrons used in the Volga area and the Lower Don but also in the Kuban region, and that they date back to the 2 nd - 1 st century BC. The Avrămeni cauldron is the most Western discovery of vessels of the type and is evidence of their use until the mentioned chronological interval. The author also notes that the Avrămeni vessel is, beside other finds, either an example of ancient continued casting traditions or the result of earlier production processes, yet still in use for a long period of time after their production cease. Last but not least, the author concludes that its deposition might have occurred both over the course of the 2 nd century BC and the chronological interval between late 2 century - first decades of the 1 st century BC.
– May 2022 in Alba Iulia city, at Republicii Blvd. no. 3.
The research perimeter lay within the Olympic Pool area, both inside the
former courtyard of the property, on the east and north sides related to the
existing building, as well as outside the courtyard, on the same sides.
The land plot is situated in the northern side of the city, on a high terrace, at
3.2 km north-west the Mureş, respectively 2.1 km west stream Ampoi, within
an area that yielded multiple archaeological finds.
The archaeological investigations identified a number of 216 features, entirely
examined and excavated, dating to the Bronze and Iron II Ages, the Roman
and post-Roman periods, respectively the Modern period.
The prehistoric remains are represented by three features and a series of
potshards, similarly to those of the La Tène, of which feature Cx 143, a horse
burial, stands out.
Roman date features are statistically most numerous, while amongst these,
burial structures (graves or set-ups of the funeral space) overwhelmingly
illustrate the nature of the finds from this chronological cultural sequence of
the excavated site sector.
The Roman graves unearthed during the archaeological campaign performed
in the spring of 2022 are widely similar in terms of the burial ritual with those
previously investigated on adjacent land plots, the biritual specificity of the
cemetery being noted in this sector as well. Synthetically, it is worth mention
that inhumations numerically dominate to the detriment of the cremations,
with 61 inhumations, respectively 39 cremations found.
Post-Roman date remains, few in number, are represented by habitat and
burial structures, the latter being inhumations of the migrations period dated
by late 5th – first two thirds of the 6th century AD.
Among Modern date finds counts a house, which according to the identified
artefacts dates starting with the second half of the 18th century.
point “Hladik 1” of a Sarmatae cemetery of which a number of 139 inhumations and 16 flat circular ditched burial
structures were investigated. Although the grave number is significant, it represents only part of the cemetery,
as it stretches also outside the limits of the excavated area, northwards, and north‑eastwards. Pits grave are
mainly rectangular, often with rounded corners, while the deceased were placed with head to the south, south‑west
or south‑east.
Burials encircled by a ditch from the research area compose two groups, surrounded by burials that are not encircled
by a ditch. Inside most of these investigated structures, there was a single burial assemblage, in two cases being two,
and in one, four.
Grave furnishings, rather varied and rich, is represented by handmade and wheel‑thrown vessels, household and
domestic objects, toiletries, silver coins, jewelry and dress items, weapons etc. The preliminary analysis of the grave
goods widely evidences the dating of this burial group grosso modo to the chronological period comprised between
late 2nd century AD and the last decades of the 3rd century AD.
fortresses, on the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1999. They
are a unique synthesis of external cultural influences and local traditions in
terms of building techniques and overall, in the ancient military architecture,
representing the grand expression of the civilisation of the Dacian Kingdom.
These fortresses are the accurate expression of the exceptional development
level of the Dacian civilisation, Sarmizegetusa Regia lying at the forefront of
this fortified complex, epitomizing the evolution phenomenon from fortified
centres to proto-urban agglomerations. As such, promoting these monuments
and the numerous artefacts discovered by modern methods and techniques
should become a priority. This paper presents a series of last generation
applications and equipment that may be successfully used in promoting cultural
heritage. Case studies include scanned artefacts and 3D reconstructions of the
monuments in the site of Sarmizegetusa Regia, a monument on the UNESCO
List of World Heritage Sites together with the other five Dacian fortresses
(Bănița, Costești-Blidaru, Costești-Cetățuie, Piatra Roșie and Căpâlna). We
present here the results obtained following the use of several hardware tracking
systems, augmented virtual reality applications and haptic devices. One of the
important aspects, when attempting to make enhanced on-line use of heritage
good is the extent to which it is accessible and reusable by various categories of
users, either specialists or the general public. Digitalizing a good in the cultural
heritage is the first step for ensuring the broad access via the on-line medium,
the quality of this process ensuring the electronic format artefact legitimacy
and credibility, which means that it should be an electronic duplicate truthful
to the real artefact. This way, they may be digitally preserved and used in
various manners. Digitalizing artefacts and the digital reconstruction of houses,
appurtenances, workshops, temples and fortifications and the set-up of virtual
tours ensure incursions in the daily life as resulting from the archaeological
finds yielded over several decades. This process results in quick promoting of
this cultural heritage and its international capitalizing. All this completed by a
database in the form of an open web platform to manage the 3D models, which
may be later completed by other scanned 3D models, is the way to proceed for
as many as possible monuments and artefacts.
The worlds of the Living and the Dead – same offerings. An upsidedown perspective from Colonia Dacica Sarmizegetusa
in L. Bârliba, E. Varga, R. Ardevan, F. Matei-Popescu, O. Țentea, Studia epigraphica et historica in honorem Ioannis Pisonis. Philippika 181. Wiessbaden: Harrassovitz Verlag, 2024, 443-462.
https://www.harrassowitz-verlag.de/title_7515.ahtml
Ask for the paper in a private message
during the archaeological excavations conducted in 2010 prior to the construction
of the Arad-Timişoara motorway, at the site conventionally termed Arad B_06. The
archaeological investigations carried out at the site, within the limits of the motorway
route perimeter, identified and exhaustively explored 132 stratigraphic units,
three of which were Sarmatian inhumations. Out of the total researched features,
106 were discovered in the northern half of the excavated area, while three burials,
alongside another feature (Cx 45), lay midway in the project area. The inhumations
were isolated from both the 106 northern features and the 22 found southwards.
The 107 assemblages belong to a Dacian settlement broadly dated to the 2nd – first
decades of the 3rd century,1 while the graves date to late 2nd century and the first
decades of the 3rd century. Features emerging in the southern half of the research
area belong to a different chronological and cultural level (the 4th–5th century).
Out of the 107 assemblages, handmade cups or shallow bowls were identified in 23
of them; their typology and parallels on the Hungarian Plain and on the Western
Plain of Romania are extensively discussed here.
Hill, have as result the discovery and the entire investigation of a Roman construction, possible a villa
rustica, unknown until now (Pl. 1, 2). The poor conservation state of the construction and material
discovered during researches leads to the conclusion that this villa functioned from the second half
of the second century AD until the first half of the third century AD.
Although this area was subject of powerful terrain slides during time, we were able to identifiy
and reseach the main spaces inside the Roman construction. The discovery made during the summer
of 2008 is one extremely important and happily complets the image we had until now concerning
the Roman villas in Dacia, particulary those positioned North of Napoca. Today, we know three
constructions of this kind. This proves the importance of the area situated in this part of Dacia
Porolissensis.
(Abstract)
The object of this article is to analyse of the bronze cauldron removed from a barrow destroyed in 1942 subsequent to adjustment works performed on the road connecting Săveni commune to Avrămeni commune. The vessel shape is similar to that of a “bell” cast together with its handles and separately added biconical foot, the two parts being joined via a cast bronze peg. The vessel body still preserves several repair traces. According to its features and specificities, the Avrămeni cauldron belongs to type II.1.B in S. V. Demidenko’s typology, being the single vessel of this type in the space between the Don and the Carpathians. The other similar exemplars originate from within the 2 century BC complexes, situated on territories located to the left of the Lower Don and the Kuban region. The author considers that the body shape, curving vertical handles each decorated with a knob as well as the manufacturing and the foot attachment manners indicate that the Avrămeni cauldron is an artefact mixing elements specific to Sauromatae cauldrons used in the Volga area and the Lower Don but also in the Kuban region, and that they date back to the 2 nd - 1 st century BC. The Avrămeni cauldron is the most Western discovery of vessels of the type and is evidence of their use until the mentioned chronological interval. The author also notes that the Avrămeni vessel is, beside other finds, either an example of ancient continued casting traditions or the result of earlier production processes, yet still in use for a long period of time after their production cease. Last but not least, the author concludes that its deposition might have occurred both over the course of the 2 nd century BC and the chronological interval between late 2 century - first decades of the 1 st century BC.
– May 2022 in Alba Iulia city, at Republicii Blvd. no. 3.
The research perimeter lay within the Olympic Pool area, both inside the
former courtyard of the property, on the east and north sides related to the
existing building, as well as outside the courtyard, on the same sides.
The land plot is situated in the northern side of the city, on a high terrace, at
3.2 km north-west the Mureş, respectively 2.1 km west stream Ampoi, within
an area that yielded multiple archaeological finds.
The archaeological investigations identified a number of 216 features, entirely
examined and excavated, dating to the Bronze and Iron II Ages, the Roman
and post-Roman periods, respectively the Modern period.
The prehistoric remains are represented by three features and a series of
potshards, similarly to those of the La Tène, of which feature Cx 143, a horse
burial, stands out.
Roman date features are statistically most numerous, while amongst these,
burial structures (graves or set-ups of the funeral space) overwhelmingly
illustrate the nature of the finds from this chronological cultural sequence of
the excavated site sector.
The Roman graves unearthed during the archaeological campaign performed
in the spring of 2022 are widely similar in terms of the burial ritual with those
previously investigated on adjacent land plots, the biritual specificity of the
cemetery being noted in this sector as well. Synthetically, it is worth mention
that inhumations numerically dominate to the detriment of the cremations,
with 61 inhumations, respectively 39 cremations found.
Post-Roman date remains, few in number, are represented by habitat and
burial structures, the latter being inhumations of the migrations period dated
by late 5th – first two thirds of the 6th century AD.
Among Modern date finds counts a house, which according to the identified
artefacts dates starting with the second half of the 18th century.
point “Hladik 1” of a Sarmatae cemetery of which a number of 139 inhumations and 16 flat circular ditched burial
structures were investigated. Although the grave number is significant, it represents only part of the cemetery,
as it stretches also outside the limits of the excavated area, northwards, and north‑eastwards. Pits grave are
mainly rectangular, often with rounded corners, while the deceased were placed with head to the south, south‑west
or south‑east.
Burials encircled by a ditch from the research area compose two groups, surrounded by burials that are not encircled
by a ditch. Inside most of these investigated structures, there was a single burial assemblage, in two cases being two,
and in one, four.
Grave furnishings, rather varied and rich, is represented by handmade and wheel‑thrown vessels, household and
domestic objects, toiletries, silver coins, jewelry and dress items, weapons etc. The preliminary analysis of the grave
goods widely evidences the dating of this burial group grosso modo to the chronological period comprised between
late 2nd century AD and the last decades of the 3rd century AD.
cemetery of which 139 burials have been investigated, some encircled by a ditch. The grave goods in the Timișoara
– „Hladik 1” burials, rather varied and rich, are represented by handmade or wheel-thrown pots, domestic and
household objects, toiletries, silver coins, adornment and dress items, weapons, etc. The preliminary analysis
of the grave goods dates grosso modo the graves’ group to the chronological frame comprised between late 2nd
century and last decades of the 3rd century AD.
Subsequent to the analysis of the archaeological finds, it was concluded they evidence that the Iazygian antiquities from the Pannonian plain date no earlier than the second half of the 1st century AD and that the finds containing artefacts with a more accurate chronological framing date towards late 1st century AD, and in some cases, even by late 1st century AD and early 2nd century AD. On the basis of the origin, parallels and date of the artefacts in the group of finds ascribed to the so-called “golden horizon”, the author concludes that most features in this horizon date mainly to the chronological span comprised between the last quarter/late 1st century and early 2nd century AD.
These archaeological facts, confirmed by the written ancient sources as well, show, according to the author, that the first Iazyges emerged in the northern part of the territory between the Danube and the Tisza likely around AD 50, unless not precisely in AD 50, during the events from regnum Vannianum.
The author also concludes that the arrival of the first Sarmatae group in the Pannonian plain was most likely followed, until late the 70’s – early 80’s of the 1st century AD, by other few Sarmatae entry waves in the area between the Danube and the Tisza. Another important aspect noted subsequent to the examination of certain artefact classes is that the settlement of the Sarmatae in the Pannonian plain occurred only after previous contacts with the new Sarmatae tribes (the Aorsi, the Siraces, the Alans) arrived in the north and north-west Pontic area starting with mid 1st century AD.
Last but not least, it was noted they settled, during a first phase, mainly the northern part of the region between the Danube and the Tisza, as proven by the archaeological finds ascribed to the Sarmatian Iazyges, which clustered in said territory, yet also by the ancient literary sources, which mention these in respective period in the specified area or in connection with the northern bordering populaces.
First mirrors of the type emerged in the eastern Sarmatian environment during the final stage of the Early Sarmatian period (the 2nd – 1st century BC), while their maximum use period in the Sarmatian world lies in the 1st century AD, being discontinued in the Volga-Don region by late this time span. In the north-Pontic area west of the Don, such artefacts remained in use until early 2nd century AD, while the graves to which they belong, with one exception, date to the second half of the 1st century – early 2nd century AD.
In the north-Pontic Sarmatian environment west of the Don, these mirrors diffused, beside other eastern origin artefact classes, mainly owing to the entry and settlement of new migratory groups arriving from the east, with close contacts and relations with the Central Asian region.
Based on the fact that the majority of these mirrors were discovered mainly in graves from the region east of the Don, the dating of the features containing such mirrors as well as the Sarmatians’ entry and settlement of the north-Pontic area west of the Don, the author here concludes that the item of Poiana, together with other eastern origin artefact classes, reached the east-Carpathian area most likely sometime in the second half of the 1st century AD, however no later than early 2nd century AD, as supported also by the context in which the specimen of Poiana was discovered.
Last but not least, the author here concludes that the mirror from the Geto-Dacian settlement of Poiana, beside other object categories of Sarmatian origin or mainly used by the Sarmatians discovered in the pre-Roman Geto-Dacian environment, furthermore evidence the Sarmatian presence in the east-Carpathian area during the 1st century AD, as well as the Geto-Dacian and Sarmatian relations.