Alte und neue Bronzefunde aus Rotbav, „La Pârâuţ“
Old and new bronze findings from Rotbav, “La Pârâuţ”

Summary/Abstract: The authors present new and old bronze objects, partly unpublished, from the settlement of Rotbav, place “La Pârâuţ”. The archaeological site is located outside the village of Rotbav (Braşov Country), on an old terrace of the Olt River. First investigations were made in the '70s by A. Vulpe and M. Marcu (plate I). Since 2005, the archaeological excavations have been resumed. So far, there are documented different settlements belonging to the cultures Coţofeni, Wietenberg, Tei, Noua and Gáva (plate III/2-5). Many bronze objects were found in the systematic excavation, others were identified in the area of the settlement or during the field surveys. Bronze objects. Description, context, and chronology:1. Needles1a. Needle with nail shaped head – “Nagelkopfnadel” - (plate II/3), found on the surface of the settlement (N. Croitoru, 1965).The best analogy for this kind of needles can be found in the western area of the Piliny culture. According to M. Novotna, this falls chronologically between the Salka phase and the old phase of Piliny culture or earlier. Furmánek advocates the dating in Reinecke B1 to B2 / C1 corresponding to the classical phase of the Wietenberg culture.1b. Needle with ear – “Ösennadel” (plate II/2), discovered in 1972 in Trench VI, section 68/69, -0,30cm depth (lower edge of the vegetation layer). The best analogy is represented by the ash-box from Petruşeni, belonging to the Noua culture. Similar pieces were discovered in Poland, in the area of the pre-Lausitz culture and dated by Gedl to Reinecke Bz. C2-D. Based on those elements, the piece could be dated in the Noua culture level of the settlement from Rotbav.1c-d. Needles with rolled head – “Rollenkopfnadeln” (1 c. plate II/1, 1d. plate II/4); the first one was discovered in 1972, Trench VI, Section 70, depth -0,40cm, in the layer belonging to the cultures of Noua or Gáva; the second one was found in the vegetation layer of the Trench VIII/2005. The needles with rolled head can be found from Neolithic to Hallstatt, on a very wide territory and do not allow a precise chronological or cultural assignment. In the Noua culture, there are 31 needles of this type, while from the Wietenberg culture there are only three. The shape with the short and straight body of the needle 1d, and the analogies coming from settlements and cemeteries of the Noua culture (see list), from the Late Tei culture and deposits from the Upper Guşteriţa and Uioara de Sus are strong arguments to date it in the Noua culture. 1e. Needle with bi-conical shaped head (plate I/4) discovered on the surface of the settlement (N. Croitoru). Needles of this type are present from the end of the Middle Bronze Age until Early Hallstatt. Many pieces are known from Slovakia and Serbia, especially from Gáva culture context.2. Bracelet with ribs (plate II/6) discovered in 2007, Trench IX /15, depth 481.20 over 0 point (in the cultural layer of Gáva culture, respectively Mediaş Reci). Similar pieces come from the deposits from Suseni, Caransebeş and Uioara de Sus, series Cincu-Suseni, dated to the Ha A1, and M 245 Cândeşti, phase II b Monteoru. Both the discovery context and analogies allow the assignment of the bracelet to the settlement of Gáva culture, Medias Reci group respectively.3. Sickle of “archaic” type (plate II/8) discovered at the surface of the settlement area (1964, N. Croitoru). The piece was incorrectly published by Florescu as “sickle with button” and also by him was assigned to the Noua culture settlement from Rotbav. Even on the published photo it can be seen that the sickle has no button, but is of “archaic” type according to Petrescu-Dâmboviţa classification. A similar sickle comes from a Tei cultural complex from Căţelu Nou. Assigning the sickle to the Wittenberg settlement is supported by the discovery of similar sickles in the settlements dated to Wietenberg culture from Livezile, Obârşie and Sighişoara.4a-b. Bronze stitching awls (plates II/8 and I/3). The first one was found in 2007, Trench IX/15, at a depth of 481.30 (the layer of Gáva culture) and the second was accidentally discovered in 1965, near a stone cist grave, at the edge of the settlement. Giving the absence of a more precise chronological context, the pieces are atributed to the Noua culture settlement from Rotbav based on the discovery context.5. Chisel or awl (plate II/5), discovered in 1970 in Trench I, section 82, depth -0.45 m (the layer of Noua culture). The piece, broken in ancient times, was discovered in a stratigraphic context belonging to the Noua culture. The lower part of it was published by Florescu; in this study it is presented only the complete drawing of the piece.6. Fragment of a stone mould (plate I/1-2) accidentally discovered in the area of the settlement by N. Croitoru. 7. A fragment of raw bronze discovered in the vegetation layer in the Trench VIII/2015.The study reveals both the stratigraphic context and the relationship between certain types of objects and the importance of the Rotbav settlement as center for production of bronze objects

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