Cristina Cordos

The article is focused on the possible functionalities of a peculiar fragmentary clay object found in the outer settlement of the Middle Bronze Age site from Toboliu Dâmbu Zănăcanului (Bihor County, Romania). The artefact was discovered on the freshly ploughed surface during a field campaign conducted in 2022, in an area located approx. 200 m north of the central mound. Its general aspect (shape, dimensions) suggests that it was potentially employed as a domestic tool. Its active side presents a series of punctured holes, which might have held some type of insertions. As such, the artifact probably resembled a brush or a curry comb. Arguably, it could have been used as a tool to decorate soft surfaces (potentially suitable for creating the so-called broom-stroke/Besenstrich pottery decoration. As well, it could have had a role in textile processing, used a hackling or carding implement.

It is nowadays generally well acknowledged that archaeological excavation and documentation methods have a major impact on interpretations of the record. In the last decades, the effort to mitigate potential biases became increasingly visible, generally by combining high-resolution excavations with detailed accounts of employed methodologies. However, this also highlighted the uneven quantity and quality of data obtained throughout the history of archaeological research, stressing the need to re-evaluate past interpretations. In order to understand the degree of these issues in the particular case of Romanian Palaeolithic research, a brief comparison between the ‘traditional’ excavation and recording methodologies in use between 1950 and 1990, and new documentation methods, based on 3D geodetic total station-aided recording, multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental sampling and systematic chronometric assessments, is proposed. Based on their comparable sedimentological background, two sites located in the Eastern Carpathians (Bistricioara-Lutărie I/II and Bistricoara-Lutărie III) were chosen for this task. The goal is obviously not to criticize an already abandoned methodology, but rather to offer a more realistic image of the state of preservation of these particular archaeological sites, with implications for defining relevant analytical units.  Overall, this endeavour stressed the fact that filtering potential interferences caused by syn- and post-depositional processes is a difficult task without the input of the additional data offered by a multi-proxy approach.

The settlement of the bronze age of Toboliu-Dâmbu Zănăcanul is known in the literature since the mid-twentieth century. Archaeological research itself was carried out by Nicolae Chidioşan, Sever Dumitraşcu and Doina Ignat in the 60's and 70's of the last century. New research was initiated in 2014, continuing to date. As a result of these researches it was found that this is a multi-layered settlement attributed to the Ottoman ceramic style, which functioned during the middle bronze (about 2000 / 1900-1600 / 1500 BC). The central part of the site is an anthropic mound, surrounded by two concentric ditches and a large secondary settlement.

Feature 96 (Cx 96) from Site 9 at Sânpaul–Usturiș is a unique discovery in the Gáva culture. This feature is a pit in which were found: a partial human skeleton, one unattached human long bone, the complete skeleton of a hare, a part of a channeled amphora and various other potsherds, a small fragment of a hearth-surface, and a fragment of a sandstone with traces of burning. The characteristics of the feature shed new light on our knowledge of the ritual practices of the Gáva communities.
Based on parallels of the pottery and the radiocarbon dates obtained for the human and hare skeletons, it could be established that the feature dates to the interval 985–843 cal BC. Correlations with other discoveries dated by radiocarbon allow the narrowing down of this interval to the first
half of the 10th century BC. Therefore, we consider that this rchaeological feature can be attributed to the end of the second phase or the beginning of the third phase of the Gáva culture — i.e., it belongs to the Early Iron Age at the chronological level corresponding to the Ha B1 horizon in the chronology based on metal objects

The aim of this paper is to provide a brief overview of recent archaeological investigations undertaken at the Bronze Age tell settlement from Toboliu in western Romania.
New research on the tell and its surroundings initiated in 2014 has revealed the existence of a complex site consisting of a central mound, two concentric enclosing ditches, and an impressive contemporary outer settlement, all dating to the Hungarian Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000/1900–1500/1450 BC).

Așezarea de epoca bronzului de la Toboliu-Dâmbu Zănăcanului este cunoscută în literatura de
specialitate încă de la jumătatea secolului al XX-lea. Cercetări arheologice propriu-zise au fost efectuate
în anii 60 și 70 ai secolului trecut de către Nicolae Chidioșan, Sever Dumitrașcu și Doina Ignat. Noi
cercetări au fost inițiate în anul 2014, fiind continuate până în prezent. În urma acestor cercetări s-a
constatat că este vorba despre o așezare multi-stratificată atribuită stilului ceramic Otomani care a
funcționat pe parcursul bronzului mijlociu (cca. 2000/1900-1600/1500 BC). Partea centrală a sitului este
reprezentată de o movilă antropică, înconjurată de două șanțuri concentrice și o așezare secundară de
mari dimensiuni.

In the late summer of 2017 we identified on Google Earth maps a structure which we supposed that is the result of human activity in the past. After examining the Austrian historical land surveys and the contemporan maps we noticed what appeared to be an earth mound field west of our interes area. Consulting archaeological literature refering to Şişterea area we find only two informations. First referring to one Jászladány type copper axe (Dumitraşcu 1974; Vulpe 1975: 41, nr. 143, taf. 19/143) and another one relating to an „tumulus field” in the close proximity, at Fegernicu Nou, which is the same with what we noticed on historical maps (Dumitraşcu, Hadnagy 1980). After that we organized an archeological survey. On-site, we found a lot of pottery, adobe, stone blades and splinters. At the surface was visible some rectangular structures, probably the remains of houses. The artifacts belong to the Late Neolithic period, probably Herpály culture.

In 2018, the Iaşi Institute of Archaeology received from ABA Prut–Bârlad the results of LIDAR scans performed on the basins of the Prut and Bârlad rivers. Corroborating the study of LIDAR data with that of orthophotograms and satellite imagery from Google Earth, we identified near Bobuleşti village, Ştefăneşti commune, Botosani county a fortification. Our field survey found inside the 24 ha precinct named „Zamoca Veche” lead to the discovery of numerous ceramic belonging to the Sântana de Mureş – Černjachov culture. Of special interest are the fragments of Roman Amphorae: Kapitän 2, LRA 2, Shelov C. A unique occurrence in the East Carpathian Area is the presence of a North-African Amphorae that could be identified with the type of Keay XXV Q. These elements indicate that the community, despite being located hundreds of kilometres away from Limes, had trading relations with the Roman Empire. The dating of the fortress and its relation with the artefacts found on the surface remains unclear, since the bearers of the Sântana de Mureş – Černjachov culture ussualy did not build such fortresses. A dating in the Iron Age (Late or Early) is difficult to support at this moment. Taking into account the analysis of the historicall sources, we can presume – as a hypothesis – that we are dealing with a Late Medieval temporary military fort. It could be the camp near the Corovia / Corogea river of the Moldavian army lead by Ştefăniţă Vodă who in 1518 fought and defeated a Tatar invasion near Ştefăneşti.

The archaeological site from Salca terrace in Oradea is already well known from previous accidental discoveries and archaeological investigations. The areas investigated in May-June 2014 (uneven in size and adding to about 1 ha), are situated between Ceyrat Street and Rulikowski Cemetery and were overlapped by the municipal plan nursery. Visible excavations and other modern interventions made it clear from the beginning that the archaeological layers were altered almost entirely. After removing the top disturbed soil, a number of 116 features were identified, among them a few natural root holes and modern garbage pits.
Judging from the size, shape and content, most of the
features probably functioned either as storage pits or garbage pits. As well, a few clay extracting holes were also identified. Of a greater interest are two earth ovens (dated to the 14th century A.D.) both build in a similar manner, with a service pit and a clay hob. Three ditches crossing the second investigated surface were also observed, two of them relatively narrow and parallel to each other and a considerably wider one, overlapping the smaller ones. Another type of feature found here is represented by dwellings, four such structures being identified for certain. Even thou these are dated to entirely different periods (Bronze Age, La Tène and Medieval period), the building techniques and dimensions are rather similar, with roughly rectangular shape and traces of post holes. Four other features could function as dwellings of huts. In the southern area of the second surface, close to the edge of the terrace, an inhumation grave was discovered oriented on a SV-NE axis. The deceased was laid on its back, with upper limbs along the torso and lower limbs fully extended. An iron spear head, an iron blade and a bronze coin were discovered near or on the body. The coin was dated to the 347-348 A.D.
From a chronological point of view the site is heterogeneous, comprising finds from different periods: Late Neolithic, Early Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Middle Age, various cultural manifestations within this periods being represented. The material finds are also diverse. Pottery from all above mentioned stages is well represented (with many fragments nicely decorated), but other artefacts, such as spindle whorls, loom weights, adobe, bone and antler fragments were found. Apart from the already mentioned grave goods, among special finds we mention a few Neolithic stone blades, two bronze pendants and an iron fibula (brooch).

The new archaeological investigations from Toboliu-Dâmbu Zănăcanului, started in 2014,  were resumed in July 2015. The main objective set for 2015 was the exhaustive investigation of Trench 2. As a secondary objective, we tried to finish the excavation and documentation of all modern graves revealed in Trench 1. All our objectives were successfully completed. Thus, a complete stratigraphic sequence for the Bronze Age tell settlement was obtained. Five individual habitation levels were observed in Trench 2, each corresponding to a distinctive structure. However, considering that the uppermost phase in Trench 1 seems to be younger than the uppermost phase in Trench 2, we have to consider the possibility of 6 individual Bronze Age habitation levels for this site.
Among the archaeological discoveries, we mention structures (compacted clay dwelling platforms, fire hearths, pits, postholes), as well as a rich collection of artefacts, consisting of numerous ceramic fragments, animal bones, bone and antler tools, miniatare cart wheels, spindle whorls and clay weights.
Regarding the cultural and chronological assignment, the discoveries are specific to the 2nd and 3rd Otomani cultural phases, datable to the MBA II - MBA III/LBA I. The three AMS dates, processed the Debrecen laboratory,  show that the chronological evolution of the site occurred between 1898-1695 BC and 1679-1528 (cal BC)

Archaeological investigations in the Bronze Age tell settlement from Toboliu Dâmbul Zănăcanului were started in 1960 and were led by N. Chidioşan, continuing with a series of other campaigns, last conducted in 1972. With the exception of a stratigrafic profile and a few archaeological materials, the results of these campaigns have not been published. The former name of this objective was Girişu de Criş „Alceu”, but presently it belongs to the village Toboliu with the toponym „Dâmbu Zănăcanului”. Investigations here were resumed in 2014, consisting of excavations and non-intrusive methods (topographic survey, aerial photography, systematic survey and resistivity profiling). Regarding the actual excavations, three trenches were dug, named „Caseta” I, II and III respectively. The first trench (7x5 m.) was located on the highest point of the tell settlement. In this part, a modern cemetery disturbed the upper layers of the prehistoric site, a total number of 13 graves being exposed, arranged on three parallel rows. Seven of these graves were fully investigated, revealing remains from one adult and six infants. Copper and bronze coins (the earliest was issued in 1812 (Francisc II (I)) and the latest in 1879 (Franz Joseph), as well as metal and porcelain buttons were identified. It was also observed here that the burial pits cut through a Bronze Age structure, from which a large number of pottery fragments (still in situ) were recovered. The second trench (4x2 m) overlapped an old archaeological trench and was intended as means of verifying and comparing old and new results. The third trench (7x5 m) was excavated in the eastern part of the mound. After removing the top soil and a disturbed layer, patches of compact adobe were observed, belonging to a surface dwelling. Unfortunately, here too we encountered an old archaeological trench (1,5 m wide), crossing our section on a NNE-SSV axis and cutting trough the prehistoric structure.
Archaeological finds consisted of pottery, bone and adobe fragments, as well as other special finds, from which we mention a few whole or well preserved vessels, miniature cart wheels, a bone pendant and a bivalve casting mould for obtaining a socketed chisel. Based on ceramic style, the upper layer investigated was dated in Middle Bronze Age III (Bz B1), assigned to the Otomani III Cultural phase. From the surface of the house in Caseta I (features 10,12) a bone was sampled for Radiocarbon analisys. The result places the house between 1600-1500 B.C..

A presentation summarizing the results of non-invasive investigations and excavations undertaken on two tell-settlements in the Eastern Carpathian Basin.
Within the project Living in the Bronze Age tell settlements. A study of settlement archaeology at the Eastern frontier of the Carpathian Basin, numerous sites located in Western Romania were investigated through various non-invasive methods. The neighboring sites from Toboliu and Sântion (located only 7 km away from each other) were also chosen to undergo excavations.
After the end of the aforementioned project in late 2016, investigations at Toboliu continued with the financial support of the Chair for the Archaeology of the Metal Ages, Department of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Cologne.

New schedule for the 2015 Archaeological Summer School at the tell settlement from Toboliu - Dâmbul Zănăcanului, Bihor County Romania. 
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