Le Cavalier de Surcea (Fin IIe – Début Ier s. av.n.è.)
The Horseman from Surcea (Late 2nd – Early 1st Century BC)

Summary/Abstract: The paper studies a group of objects made of silver with gilt and of iron, found in the area of the settlement Surcea, Covasna region, in Transylvania, in the Eastern Carpathians, during the Dacian antiquity. It consists of a not very big oval plaque (phalera?), a smaller round phalera, four semicircular objects – all of which made of silver with gilt – and other finds. The oval plaque is decorated with a horseman in armour, with greaves and with a bird with spread wings above his head. A winged griffin is depicted on the smaller phalera. According to the author, the objects had been made by a travelling craftsman who worked in a Dacian environment. There is a wide area of dissemination of such objects, covering the entire Balkan-Pontic area. There are differing views on the dating of the treasure: from the 3rd to the 1st century BC. A chronological ordering of phalerae is made, which shows the continuity from the Bronze Age to the New Iron (La Tène) Age. The similarity between the image of the horseman from Surcea and the phalera from Galiche is pointed out. Different hypotheses have been expressed on the origin of this type of objects, e.g., in the direction of the Pontos Euxeinos. Another possible lead can be considered to be Celtic, which can be illustrated by means of certain artefacts from the civilisation of the eastern branch of the Celts. The Celtic necropolis near Ciumeşti is such an example, which yielded the following finds: armour, greaves, spears and – above all – an iron helmet on which metal eagle with spread wings is perched. This is evidence of real presence of Celts and of their art along the borders of the Dacian world. They are in harmony with the information on the march of Burebista against the Celts. The author also adduces examples of coins of Celtic origin found in the territories in question. Following this line of thought, the bird above the head of the horseman from Surcea apparently tends to be evidence of Celtic rather than of Northern Pontic influence. The helmet, the shield, the torques, the bracelets, the fibulae and other similar finds from the grave in Ciumeşti are typically Celtic. On the other hand, the ceramic finds are of Dacian type and belonged to the Hallstatt tradition. Consequently, that burial testifies to a process of amalgam between Celts and Dacians. The necropolis is dated ca. 300 BC. In conclusion, the author claims that the appliqué with the horseman and the bird is evidence of the dual character of the theme under consideration, combining the constant of tradition with the added foreign influence.

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