MICROSCOPY OF PREHISTORIC SYMBOLIC ARTEFACTS. WIETENBERG DECORATED ANTLER PLATE DISCOVERED AT ŞOIMENI, HARGHITA COUNTY (II)
MICROSCOPY OF PREHISTORIC SYMBOLIC ARTEFACTS. WIETENBERG DECORATED ANTLER PLATE DISCOVERED AT ŞOIMENI, HARGHITA COUNTY (II)

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents other data issued from the analysis regarding a unique symbolic artefact made of red deer antler discovered in the archaeological site of Şoimeni – “Dâmbul Cetăţii”, Păuleni-Ciuc Commune, Harghita County, Romania. Thus, we continue the presentation of the discoveries from this site started in the previous issue of Apulum (see Beldiman et alii 2014). The object was recovered during the 2000 excavation campaign from a Wietenberg Culture complex (Hut 7). The study was done using a unitary methodology (Beldiman 2007) which takes into account all quantifiable data. Systematic microscopic examination of the piece has been performed; photos taken (general views, detailed views, and microscopic views) were added to the previous image database. A special attention was drawn to technological aspects (manufacturing, traces of use) that have been studied and defined on the basis of data issued from microscopic analyses. There are attested some specific procedures as fracturing, splitting, abrasion, chopping, grooving. The artefact: Fragment of a decorated plate. Dimensions: lenght 35 mm; initial diameter cca 50 mm. Red deer antler. Triangular fragment. Circular (?) plate made from a red deer antler beam fragment (compacta tissue). Black uniform colour resulted by burning. The ornamentation consists in two parallel grooves, made probably with a metal blade. The possible manufacturing chain includes several stages: extraction, shaping, drawing the ornamentation (circle). The piece seems to have been intentionally broken and coloured probably by intentional burning. This is a type of artefact which had not been found in other systematically studied Bronze Age sites and assemblages from Transylvania or other regions of Romania. This belongs to the Middle/Late Phase of the Bronze Age in Romania, Wietenberg Culture (Middle Phase, II; cca 1800 – 1600 BC). We have here a rare/unique red deer antler plate that have been attested for the first time in this site and are rarely present in the area of Wietenberg Culture. The analysis offers new chrono-cultural, typological and paleotechnological markers for complex and extensive analysis of symbolic behaviour of Bronze Age communities from Transylvania region.

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