PIESE DE HARNAŞAMENT DIN BRONZUL TÂRZIU. DESPRE DOUĂ PSALII DE CORN DIN MOLDOVA
Harness Pieces from the Late Bronze Age. Notes on Two Antler Cheek-Pieces from Moldavia

Summary/Abstract: The present study focuses on two antler cheek-pieces recently discovered in the eastern part of Romania (Moldavia). The first piece was discovered in the village Hârtoape (Iasi County), and the second on the site at Negrilesti (Galaţi County) during the archaeological diggings. Both pieces are made of deer antler and present oval perforations that allow attachment to the bridle. The piece from Negrilesti presents, on the lower part, a simple, incised decoration. Although there are several typologies for this type of object we will refer to the latest, by N. Boroffka; according to this typology, the two pieces can be ascribed to the a and b2 versions of type II. Since the piece from Negrilesti was discovered in an archaeological level ascribed to the LBA and the specimen from Hârtoape comes from an area rich in similar archaeological finds, we consider the harness accessories as pieces belonging to the Noua culture; chronologically speaking they may belong to the 16th-12th centuries BC. The two pieces have close analogies in the north-western Pontic area, in contemporary archaeological cultures such as Sabatinovka and Coslogeni; horses played an important part in the economy of those communities, not only for consumption but also for traction and riding. In order to present a complete image of the frequency of the antler cheek-pieces in Moldavia during Late Bronze Age, a list of all the discoveries known so far was attached at the end of the article.

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