Power Centres

Contents
10TH AND 11TH CENTURY BURIAL SITES, STRAY FINDS AND TREASURES IN THE TRANSYLVANIAN BASIN, THE PARTIUM AND THE BANAT
IX.1. The geography of the Transylvanian Basin, the Partium and the Banat
IX.2. List of the 10th–11th century cemeteries, stray fi nds and treasures in the Transylvanian Basin, the Partium
and the Banat
IX.3. A historical review of the research of the cemeteries, stray finds and treasures of the 10th–11th centuries in the regions of the Transylvanian Basin, the Partium and the Banat
IX.4. The evaluation of the archaeological research of the 10th–11th centuries in archaeology IX.4.1. The evaluation of the Hungarian Conquest and its directions in Transylvania in the archaeological publications. The Hungarian Conquest and the concept of Hungarians in the archaeological publications
IX.4.2. Cemeteries: the remains of the Hungarian Conquest, opinions on the burial places in literature
IX.5. Analysis of the burial customs
IX.5.1. On the general characteristics of burial customs
IX.5.2. On the sizes of cemeteries
IX.5.3. The topographical location of the cemeteries
IX.5.4. Graves
IX.5.5. The problem of the continuation of 10th century burial rites into the 11th century
IX.5.6. Conclusions
IX.6. The analysis of the material culture of the 10th–11th century cemeteries, stray finds and treasures. The relative chronological system of the 10th–11th century cemeteries
IX.6.1. Elements of dress and/or of fashion
IX.6.2. Weapons
IX.6.3. Articles of personal use
IX.6.4. Horse equipment
IX.6.5. Pottery
IX.6.6. Coins
IX.7. The material culture of the 10th–11th century and the issues connected to continuity and discontinuity .
IX.8. The chronological system of the cemeteries, stray fi nds and treasures of the 10th–11th centuries. The issues connected to the relationship of the 9th–10th century horizons of the finds
IX.9. On the gender characteristics of inventories of the 10th‒11th century burials in short
IX.9.1. On child burials in short
IX.10. Conclusions
IX.10.1. The occupation of the territory. Populations in the 10th century Transylvania, Partium and Banat
IX.10.2. A social model as it is supposed: the 10th century „Hungarian” social model
IX.10.3. Possible military and political centers in the Transylvanian Basin, the Partium and the Banat.
Landscape, topography and hierarchy: the conquerors and the conquered
IX.10.4. ‘Border zones’ and crossroads
IX.10.5. The 10th–11th century cemetery types
IX.10.6. The quantities of (precious) metal in the cemeteries
IX.10.7. The issue of 10th–11th century graves and the spread of Christianity
IX.10.8. Conclusions

X.1. Rövidítés- és irodalomjegyzék
X.2. List of the fi gures and the plates
X.3. Képek és táblák forrásjegyzéke/Bibliography of the sources of the fi gures and the plates

Based on an analysis of the field situation, within all available documentation and data, this article revises the original interpretation of the “circular pagan shrine” in southern part of the Northern suburbium of the Early Medieaval hillfort Mikulčice – Valy. There is realized an correction of previous assumption that this was a cultic feature and also casts doubt upon its intentionality and dating of this feature to the end of the Great Moravian Period. According to the new theory this was an irregular recessed area, formed partly on the bank of the northern suburbium and partly over a silted-up Early Mediaeval channel, probably fluvial. The revision of the documentation and published arguments has shown that there is absolutely no relevant proof that this feature (building) served a cultic purpose.

Podstatou článku je revize publikovaných závěrů, týkajících se tzv. kruhového kultovního objektu v Severním podhradí mikulčického hradiště, dokládajícího údajnou pohanskou recidivu v období po rozpadu velkomoravského státního útvaru. Má se jednat o tzv. "kruhový pohanský kultovní objekt" s údajně dřevěným kůlem pro modlu a "zajímavými stopami ohňů", ležící na "jižním mysu" Severního podhradí mikulčického hradiště, datovaný do konce velkomoravského období. Ačkoliv terénní výzkum tohoto objektu proběhl již v 70. letech, teprve o mnoho let později byly výsledky výzkumu poměrně jednoznačně funkčně i chronologicky interpretovány vedoucím mikulčického výzkumu Z. Klanicou (1985a, b; 1997; 2007a) a následně logicky přejímány i jinými autory. Bohužel jsou však tyto citace opřeny právě o statě Z. Klanici, který nikde nepublikoval podrobnější rozbor archeologické situace tohoto objektu. Dle konfrontace publikovaných závěrů s dostupnými daty, především z originální dokumentace, je nutné interpretaci popisovaného objektu jako pohanského kultovního kruhového příkopu s hořícími ohni a dřevěnou stélou považovat za neudržitelnou. Žádná kůlová jáma evokující pohanskou stélu nebyla v úrovni objektu zaznamenána. Jáma 932, kterou připomíná Z. Klanica, leží stratigraficky pod domnělým kultovním objektem, a to v přímé superpozici. Stejně tak nebyly reálně terénním výzkumem registrovány ani žádné výrazné koncentrace uhlíků, jež by měly dokládat přítomnost pohanských kultovních ohňů. Objekt neleží na nijak exponovaném místě charakteru "mysu", jak ho nazývá Z. Klanica. Jedná se o přirozené ohbí toku řeky. Pro kultovní funkci neexistuje vůbec žádný doklad, nálezová situace dokonce hovoří pro neintencionální původ tohoto žlábku.

The analysis of the historical topography of the Alcalar settlement allowed us to identify two occupation horizons, with differentiated architectures that translate different forms of territorial political management. The old horizon with bell beakers, corresponds to the phase in which the Alc7 monument is constructed, coinciding with the affirmation of the settlement of Alcalar, from 2800 a.n.e., as the power centre of the surrounding territory of the Bay of Lagos. The settlement of Alcalar, with circa 60 acres, extends to the north bordering a monumental necropolis, organized in nuclei. In the transition from the Third to the Second millennium b.c.e., the recent horizon with bell beakers, corresponds to the final phase of the occupation of the Alcalar settlement, coinciding with the dissolution of the power centre. A time marked by the absence of public works and the use of space by non-collective domestic architectures.

The analysis of the historical topography of the Alcalar settlement allowed us to identify two occupation horizons, with differentiated architectures that translate different forms of territorial political management. The old horizon with bell beakers, corresponds to the phase in which the Alc7 monument is constructed, coinciding with the affirmation of the settlement of Alcalar, from 2800 a.n.e., as the power centre of the surrounding territory of the Bay of Lagos. The settlement of Alcalar, with circa 60 acres, extends to the north bordering a monumental necropolis, organized in nuclei. In the transition from the Third to the Second millennium b.c.e., the recent horizon with bell beakers, corresponds to the final phase of the occupation of the Alcalar settlement, coinciding with the dissolution of the power centre. A time marked by the absence of public works and the use of space by non-collective domestic architectures.

The Trondheimsfjord runs from the Norwegian west coast far to the east, from where routes along the rivers lead to the Gulf of Bothnia. Continuity in power and prosperity at the mouth of the fiord is discussed, with the starting point in material culture from ca. 800 BC–1200 AD. Ørlandet at the mouth of the fiord is important, and the vicarage at Veklem there is used as the main example. There we find the perhaps biggest grave mound in Sør-Trøndelag County and a stone church with its roots in 1000–1300 AD. Archeological excavations in the decades around the year 2000 have revealed remains from 800–1200 AD there. The first pollen analysis combined with macrofossil investigations to shed light over a prehistoric farm in Trøndelag is done at Veklem. FJORDMUNNINGER OG MAKT Fjordmunningene langs norskekysten har i alle tider gitt grunnlag for maktoppbygging. Det var godt om mat, både på land og i sjøen. Fjordmunningene er knutepunkter mellom ferdsel langs norskekysten og inn og ut fjordmunningen. En fjordmunning som leder inn 1. Thyra Solem er ansvarlig for vegetasjonshistorien i artikkelen og Birgitta Berglund for arkeologien og kulturhis-torien ellers.