Carnuntum

The Hinterland of Carnuntum as an Economic Region during the Roman Imperial Period

Thanks to far developed methods of production in the agriculture a process took place from the simple rural economy to  surplus producing  enterprises  during  the  early  imperial period. Recipients were not only the people from Carnuntum and  the  surrounding  settlements  but  primarily  the  Roman army. As consumers the soldiers formed the prerequisite and solid basis for farming, crafts and trades of any type. They needed food, weapons, pottery and other goods, which they obtained from farmers, craftsmen and dealers from the town and the  surrounding countryside. The possibility of selling products of one’s own and purchasing goods opened up for local producers. The increasing monetary valuation as well as the infrastructural opening up of the region had a beneficial effect on the business life.
Manual and commercial activities in the hinterland of Carnuntum are proved mainly by finds. In most cases occupational groups can be named only relatively generally, nevertheless specializations can be assumed. The manual production covered the local need as well as the demand of the surrounding area. While the concentration of the manual production was distinctive in the town and in the vici, the on surplus production oriented villae rusticae were specialized on the supply with agricultural goods.
Conflict with peoples from outside the Empire led to a fall in the economy from the 4th century AD onwards. The withdrawal of the Roman troops from Carnuntum and the invasion of the Huns from the east meant an essential economy downturn and with that the cessation of the main source of income.

The importance of the small group of Roman gold jewellery from Gerulata (Rusovce) consists in its form and context, with notable interpretive value. Five items are known from the area of Rusovce and its close surroundings. Almost all of them come from archaeological excavations, except for one ring (no. 5). Head decoration is represented by one earring and a pair of earrings. The analysis of the single earring (no. 1) and its technology of production pointed to a trade, personal or manufacturing relation between Gerulata and Scarbantia. The wire surface of the older single earring (no. 1) from the 1st–2nd century AD is compact and glossy and has tiny ends. The surface of other earrings (no. 2), dated to 3rd–4th century AD, shows visible lateral lines and is made of thin twisted gold plate. The bracelet (no. 3) is made of round golden pearls, beads of various shapes and a circular fastening. At least the last segment is here ascribed to the local, provincial workshop. The archaeological context of the bracelet with the circular bead points to the 3rd–4th centuries AD, despite the most frequent use of this decoration being documented for the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. A pendant (no. 4) from thin gold plate displays a scene of a trophaeum and the goddesses Victoria and Minerva or Libertas. It can be interpreted as personal talisman or amulet. The ring (no. 5) is a unique find. An analysis of the gemstone points to similar specimens from Carnuntum. The evaluation of this quite small group of jewels from the area of Rusovce also allowed to show relations between Gerulata and Scarbantia, possibly also with Carnuntum. For definitive future confirmation of the visual analysis, it could be helpful to undertake more detailed laboratory analysis of the materials‘ surface and structure.

Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die bis dato erfassten Fabrikate der Titelware aus Teilen der Zivilstadt Carnuntum.
Diese Untersuchung gilt einer Becherform, die um 90 n. Chr. "become the dominant vessel form for colour-coated fine ware beakers in the Rhineland, East and North Gaul and Britain. It remained so until the end of the 2nd. century."  Für Oberpannonien gilt das noch im größeren Ausmaße: hier blieb der Becher Hees 2 und seine Derivate noch im 3. Jh. n. Chr. die dominanteste Form dieser Gattung. Die frühen Becher mit echtem Karniesrand in Carnuntum, durchaus Importe aus Gallien und Germanien, sind den späteren Formen, hauptsächlich Faltenbecher mit verschliffenem Karniesrand angenommener lokalen oder regionalen Herstellung zahlenmäßig unterlegen. Die ersteren standen zeitweise im Mittelpunkt der Forschung, so dass manche Produktionen gut erkennbar und definiert (Argonnen-Ateliers, Trier, Köln), andere noch immer unbekannt oder nicht nachvollziehbar sind. Die regionalen und lokalen Produktionen sind dagegen wenig erforscht.

„Look, here's the Hungarian Pompeii and Herculaneum!” The four ornaments of Pannonia are the amphitheaters of Aquincum and Carnuntum

The basic aim of my thesis to examine more thorough amphitheatres within the territory of Pannonia inferior. Pannonia was divided by Marcus Ulpius Traianus Emperor at the beginning of the second century AD, which extended to the territory of present day four countries. Amphitheatres built in these provinces could not compete with the ancient world’s most famous building, Amphitheatre Flavium, which is better known as the Colosseum, in terms of capacity or size. In the nearly two centuries since then, Aquincum, Hungary's largest archaeological enterprise, has been the subject of more than 1 000 excavations up to 2019 and has resulted in the creation of 23 archaeological ruin parks. The history of Carnuntum and Aquincum are closely linked in the past and present. The importance of the two cities and their role in history show that two amphitheaters have been built on their territory.

Buchbesprechung/review/compte-rendu: Gabrielle Kremer, Götterdarstellungen, Kult- und Weihedenkmäler aus Carnuntum. CSIR Österreich, Carnuntum Supplement 1 (Wien 2012). isbn 978-3-7001-6950-5
Mit Beiträgen von Christian Gugl, Christian Unlir und Michael Unterwurzacher

En este trabajo se examinan, comentando o revisando, las siguientes publicaciones: Noticia breve acerca de la restauración de un monumento funerario militar en Britania. Continúo en esta entrega la serie iniciada en AQVILA LEGIONIS 1, 2001, 85-112, donde reviso o simplemente informo de inscrip-ciones militares que, a mi juicio, tienen particular interés. En esta ocasión comento textos relativos al exercitus hispanicus (ya sean documentos militares de Hispania o de hispanos) [items 1-3]. Concluyo con una nota de distinto signo, de carácter informativo y museístico, referida a un extraordinario monumento militar funerario romano de Colchester, el retrato ecuestre-funerario del duplicarius Longinus Sdapeze, en Colchester.