SESIUNEA “TEMPLES AND SANCTUARIES FROM PPN TO COPPER AGE. TYPE, CONTENT AND FUNCTIONALITY”
The conference “TEMPLES AND SANCTUARIES FROM PPN TO COPPER AGE. TYPE, CONTENT AND FUNCTIONALITY”
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The conference “TEMPLES AND SANCTUARIES FROM PPN TO COPPER AGE. TYPE, CONTENT AND FUNCTIONALITY”
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Interview with Professor Florin Curta, University of Florida, USA on Transylvania, Bucharest, Bessarabia, medieval Slavs and more ..
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Interview with academician Victor Spinei, Iasi, Romania
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The article introduces a new hoard of silver coins of Histria discovered occasionally in 2014 near Rezeni village in the Republic of Moldova (Ialoveni district). The time of its deposition could be assumed as the 3rd quarter of the 3rd century BC. This hoard (as many others from Durlești, Stolniceni, Doroţcaia) is definetely connected with Getian settlements. Basing on the chronology of these hoards the authors see no grounds to state that the Getian settlements of the Moldavian foreststeppe region ceased functioning in the last quarter — the end of the 4th century BC. It is obvious that the life of these sites continued even in the 3rd century BC. The discovery of silver drachmas of Histria from the hoard found at Nikonion (similar to those found near the Getian settlements) allows us to raise the upper date of this Greek city by 25 years — to the 3rd quarter of the 3rd century BC. An overview of the hoards with silver coins of Histria indicates that the period of their deposition (last quarter of 4th — 3rd century BC) was the time of the highly developed commodity-money relations. And the fact of the abundance of drachmas with “A” monogram indicates that the bulk of the Histrian coins came to the North-Western Black Sea Region during the period of the activity of this anonymous magistrate.
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The article deals with a qualitatively new phenomenon in the ancient Greek monetary production that occurred in the Pontine time kingdom of Mithridates VI: the invention of coinage of different denominations made of different copper-based alloys. For the first time, along with bronze (copper, tin and lead alloy), the use of brass (copper and zinc alloy) and “pure” copper begins. These conclusions are based on the analysis using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy of about 13 thousand coins from the collection of the State Hermitage, which belongs to the ancient Greek states of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.With the help of the analyzes, the first “pure” copper coins were revealed. They were Pontic anonymous obols with the head in leather helmet/eight-ray star, issued before 95 BC. The first brass coins appeared to be tetrachalkoi of Amisus and Dia with the Dionysos/cista struck during the preparation and the height of the First Mithridates war with Rome (89/88 BC). Both types of coins belong to the Pontic kingdom of the era of Mithridates VI Eupator.The purpose of coinage from various copper alloys is the issue of coins of conventional value of large denominations of cheap alloys, which at some stage could replace silver money. The introduction of new copper-based alloys into the coinage coincides with the First Mithridatic War with Rome and, apparently, was dictated by the urgent need to find additional funds to prepare for large-scale military operations, and to organize the peripheral coinage of the expanded Pontic state.
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Numismatics of the Ancient Bosporus has been studied for a few centuries now. Numerous varieties of the coins minted in Bosporus have been described. While working out their classification, the researchers focused on images and legends, including the coded as monograms. The present study focuses on ligature known from anonymous Bosporan obols. This monogram, like other similar monograms, has not been yet deciphered. We also considered that the same symbol was known from Chabacta's bronzes. We assume that the monogram can be attributed to Artaxerxes — one of the elder sons of Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysos. It is likely that he was one of the governors of this sovereign during the preparation of the march on Rome. Artaxerxes's sphere of influence was located on the Asian side of Bosporus. We hope that our findings will not only help decipher the monogram on anonymous obols, but will also shed new light on the history of the Northern Black Sea of the Pontic period.
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A hoard of Russian medieval coins was discovered in 2015 during archaeological excavations on the territory of Ladoga stone fortress by the Georgievsky brigade of the Staraya Ladoga Expedition of the Institute for History of Material Culture. The find consists of 116 Russian silver coins issued by Ivan IV, Fedor Ivanovich, Boris Godunov, Fedor Borisovich Godunov or Pseudo-Demetrius I and Vasily Shuisky. The small-coins denominations significantly predominate over larger ones. It is unusual for Russian medieval treasures of the late 15th—17th centuries. There are only twenty “kopeyka” coins (17.2 %), eighty three “den’ga” coins (71.5 %) and therteen “polushka” coins (11.3 %). The weight of the majority of “kopeyka” coins from the complex (16 out of 20) ranged from 0.64 to 0.68 g. The weight of most of “den’ga” coins (76 out of 83) corresponded to the limits from 0.29 to 0.34 g. “Polushka” coin varied by weight from 0.14 to 0.16 g. Such weight distribution proves that the coins were not intentionally selected by weight. The location of the hoard — within the fortress walls, suggests that the complex represents money received and hastly hid by a man who was in the service of the Ladoga garrison. The Amount of hidden money is not typical for long-time accumulation hoards and rather close to salary of a serviceman.
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The article offers a critical review of the traditional models for interpretation of the origin and definitions for identification of chronological and typological groups of englyphic stamps found in the Black Sea region. The author supports presence of various interactions in the following chain: production of containers, production of goods, commercial operations. He also considers possibility of various forms of government control over these relations. He points out that the traditional localization of the center which produced amphorae with englyphic stamps could only be a hypothetical construction. He reviews the criteria used by different researchers to determine typological and chronological groups of amphorae and disputes the tendency of some researchers to obtain such accuracy of the dating, which is impossible to substantiate. Some arguments are offered to disprove the idea that the stamps can be considered as an evidence of magistrate's powers and eponymic functions. Examples are introduced, when the stamps were written over in the interval between their application and baking of the vessel, which tells about some dynamic relations between the persons whose names were used to mark the amphorae. Based on the studied materials, the author concludes that practically all definitions underlying the traditional models for interpretation of the englyphic stamps are highly hypothetical. He points out a growing mismatch between these models and the new finds and suggests some promising directions for a deeper analysis of this type of amphorae and stamps, including some modern methods of chemical analysis of the clays they were made of.
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The article examines a special sign found on the legends of 4th century BC stamps with contracted names from Bosporan tiles. Its shape resembles a crescent or a lunar sigma/antisigma. The author attempts to determine its purpose, as well as the cases and time of use. The name “lunar sigma shape sign of abbreviation” is too well established within the academic community, however the available epigraphic data suggest no abbreviation signs used in the period under consideration. As evidenced by facts, between 380 and 310 BC, a small group of engravers worked in Panticapaeum, distinguished — among other details — by a particular use of this sign in the legends. In the paper, a speculation by N. F. Fedoseev is analysed, according to which the sign is considered as Achaeminids' crescent and interpreted as a symptom of influence of the Achaeminid Empire on the Bosporan Kingdom. However, some differences are revealed both in iconography and the position of this sign in the stamp's field, if we compare this emblem as stamped on the amphorae from Heraclea Pontica and the sign on the Panticapaeum tiles. Therefore we are not sure that it is possible to interpret this sign on the tiles as a crescent. However, considering this possibility, the sign could be read as a fashionable emblem of the time and a certain reflection of the political situation in the region, without hinting though to the direct influence of the Achaeminids' Empire.
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Amphorae stamps are one of the most informative categories of archaeological material discovered during excavations of the multilayered settlement of Chobruchi on the left bank of the Lower Dniester. Most of the stamps were read and dated. The stamp of the previously unknown Chersonesos astinomos Ἀγασικλῆς II ὁ Ἑ[- - -]ος is of apecial interest among the Black Sea stamps published for the first time. Analysis of all stamps of the Black Sea centers makes it possible to distinguish three stages of the receipt of imported products in stamped ceramic tare on the Chobruchi settlement: 1) 310—270 BC; 2) 269—240 BC; 3) 239—190 BC. Taking into account the coefficients of stamping, authors managed to calculate the absolute density of distribution of the Black Sea products in the ceramic tare that arrived in the Chobruchi settlement from the end of the 4th c. BC till the beginning of the 2nd c. BC.
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Lead seals are the most common sphragistic finds throughout the territory of Old Rus’. Pitifully, the information possibilities of Old Russian seals have not been comprehensively studied. Although the sites themselves have been in view of historians for almost one and a half centuries, even the total number of finds ihad not been determined until now. This paper publishes 35 seals and 5 blanks for seals of the pre-Mongol period found during excavations of 2015 in the Kursk kremlin (detinets). In the course of examination of the finds it turned out possible to distinguish two sphragistic series unidentified before. Among the princely signs represented on the seals, at least three types unknown before have been found. It is evident, that even relatively small series of seals enable us to supplement essentially our knowledge about monuments of Old Russian sphragistics in general. Therefore, the scientific publication both of new finds of medieval seals and unpublished earlier seals kept in museum and private collections is a task of great importance.
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Niniejsza praca została poświęcona zagadnieniu historycznego ukształtowania terenu palatium w Ingelheim nad Renem. Na topografię rezydencji znaczący wpływ miały zarówno czynniki naturalne, jak i działalność człowieka. Pomimo iż teren pod zabudowę pałacu został w dużym stopniu zniwelowany, naturalny spadek terenu do dziś widoczny jest w topografii stanowiska. Przedstawione tu zostały rekonstrukcja obniżenia terenu pod fundamenty pałacu oraz wczesno i pełnośredniowieczny poziom użytkowy (VIII/IX–XI w.). Obszar badań obejmuje teren palatium karolińskiego oraz ottońskiego, znajdującego się obecnie we wschodniej części Ingelheim (Saalgebiet), miasta leżącego w południowo-zachodniej części Niemiec, w kraju związkowym Nadrenia-Palatynat. Dane użyte w pracy zostały pozyskane podczas współczesnych badań archeologiczno-architektonicznych prowadzonych w dwóch głównych kampaniach w latach 1963–1971 oraz 1993–2009. Należą do nich punkty wysokościowe i granice obiektów archeologicznych. Dodatkowo cennym źródłem informacji okazały się publikacje dotyczące jednych z najstarszych badań prowadzonych na tym terenie przez historyka sztuki Christiana Raucha na początku dwudziestego stulecia. Do odtworzenia przebiegu fosy wczesnośredniowiecznej, stanowiącej element topografii stanowiska, został użyty zgeoreferencjonowany plan Marksburg. Proces georefencji został uzupełniony o analizę kartometryczności źródła. Dla pozyskanych informacji przestrzennych stworzona została geobaza w programie ArcGIS 9.2. Wszystkie operacje na danych przeprowadzone zostały również w tym programie. W drugiej fazie projektu wybrana została metoda interpolacji danych wysokościowych. Znaczący wpływ na wybór metody generowania Numerycznych Modeli Terenu miała możliwość włączenia do procesu linii nieciągłości, w tym przypadku były to granice obiektów archeologicznych i architektonicznych. Kolejny etap projektu stanowiła weryfikacja danych poprzez próbne interpolacje. Do tego celu wybrane zostały dwie metody: metoda krzywej sklejanej oraz metoda odwrotnych odległości. Wykonane modele zostały zwizualizowane w programie ArcScene 9.2 i sprawdzone pod względem swej poprawności. W ocenie wizualno- subiektywnej zostały wzięte pod uwagę następujące aspekty: wysokość danego obszaru względem sąsiadujących przestrzeni, architektoniczną zgodność sąsiadujących przestrzeni, zaburzenia wewnątrz danego obszaru. Dalszą weryfikację oraz analizę porownawczą NMT przeprowadzono za pomocą algebry mapy oraz cięć profi lowych. Niniejsza praca jest probą zastosowania metod interpolacji do odtworzenia topografii stanowiska ukształtowanego w wyniku dwóch rodzajów czynników, naturalnych i antropogenicznych. Proces ten starano się zautomatyzować poprzez wybór konkretnej metody generowania Numerycznych Modeli Terenu. Ważną rolę w badaniach odgrywała kilkuetapowość weryfikacji danych oraz zastosowanie Systemów Informacji Geograficznej (GIS).
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Les fouilles archéologiques entreprises pendant la deuxième moitié du siècle précèdent dans les régions de l’espace carpato-danubien-pontique et liées aux réalités du millénaire de grandes migrations ont donné de nombreux et importants résultats. En se fiant à ces résultats, l’auteur de cette étude entreprend une nouvelle analyse des aspects concernant la romanisation de la population géto-dace entre le Ier et le VIème siècle après J. Ch. On a supposé toutefois que les regions de l’est et du sud des Carpats, qui n’ont pas été détenues par l’Empire Romain, ont tout de même pu être engagée dans un processus plus large de romanisation, au déroulement duquel ont contribué non seulement les échanges économiques et culturels intenses avec les régions du sud du Danube, mais aussi la présence de nombreux prisonniers latinophones emmenés ici par les barbares, les transfuges venus de l’empire ou certains groupes de Romains provenant de l’ancienne province de la Dace romaine. L’auteur considère que les prisonniers emmenés au nord du Bas Danube suite à de nombreux raids entrepris par les migrateurs entre IVème et le VIème siècles après J. Ch., les transfuges provenant de certains régions de l’empire réfugiés ici ou les groupes de population romaine-byzantine disloqués par l’arrivée et l’établissement temporaire de nombreux barbares au sud du fleuve ont contribué à l’augmentation de la survenue des éléments ethnolinguistiques romaines qui existaient déjà dans l’espace carpato-danubien. L’analyse de la culture matérielle des Vème–VIIème du type Ipoteşti-Cândeşti a rélévé son origine romaino-byzantine certaine et le fait que ceux qui l’on véhiculés dans les régions situées entre les Carpates du sud et le Danube ont été surtout les groupes latinophones disloqués par les invasions des Gotes, des Hunes, des Slaves et des Avares. Il est également possible que certains groupes de latinophones aient pénétré à l’Est et le Sud de Carpates depuis la Pannonie ou la Transylvanie. Quelques éléments du type Ipoteşti-Cândeşti ont été attestés aussi à l’Est du Carpates.Pendant la période suivante, notamment aux VIIIème et Xème siècles. Lorsque les invasions des migrateurs baissent et un relatif calme politique s’installe, la société autochtone subit un visibil revirement économique et culturel, soutenu parle nombre considérable d’objectifs et par la cristallisation de l’ancienne culture roumaine du type Dridu, répandue presque sur tout l’espace carpato-danubien-pontique. L’extension progresive de l’aire de l’ancienne habitation roumainea probablement eu lieu à la même époque, qui finira par inclure également les régions plus au nord où certains groups géto-daces avaient probablement été slavisés durant les VIéme et VIIème siècles après J.Ch. Cette même époque a également vu survenir l’assimilation des groupes d’allogènes qui se sont définitivement établis dans certaines régions au nord du Bas Danube.
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On the archaeological map of Romania there are certainly many white spots. We do not think it's worth talking about all the causes that are responsible for this. It is hoped that a series of evidenced elements will be discussed during the archaeological research carried out in Bucşani and Crevedia Mare (Giurgiu district). In practice, our area of interest is limited to the south by the confluence of Neajlov with Dâmbovnic and to the north, in the subjective way, by the general level curve of 100 m. From a geomorphological point of view this area is very well individualized. The natural boundaries as the valley is the terraces of Neajlov is also the Neajlov-Dâmbovnic interfluve and the Dâmbovnic valley on these last 4 km draw a unitary area. On 8.5 km of bird-like valley, between the confluence with Dâmbovnic south of Vadu Lat and north of Dealu village the valley has a width between 0.6 and 1.6 km. The terraces are high and steep and the marsh rate is higher in this stretch of Neajlov. All these particularities are unique for the middle course of Neajlov. Moreover, they imposed a certain density of Gumelniţa tells and rather their stratigraphic and therefore historical evolution.
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The necropoleis of Braniște and Gura Secului, both found in the village of Nemțișor (Vânători-Neamț commune, Neamț County, Romania), and of Târzia (Brusturi-Drăgănești com., Neamț Co.) produced several small lenticular artefacts made of glass, which were interpreted as counters, pieces used in tabletop games (Germ. Spielsteine). Similar items have been found especially in forts (castra) inside the Empire, particularly along the Rhine, but also in the province of Dacia. Furthermore, such objects have also been recorded in sites from the Barbaricum, which confirms the wide spreading of such games in the Europe of that time. Besides certain links, more extensive than generally agreed, between lands inside the Empire and those outside of the limes, the aforementioned discoveries also signal the adoption of specifically Roman customs, a phenomenon that had profound implications in changing mindsets inside the barbarian world.
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The article describes seven new hoards of metal objects belonging to the Cucuteni-Tripol'e Culture from the Middle Dniester area (Ukraine). The data on these hoards, discovered by amateurs by means of metal detectors, were obtained from web sources. The component parts are summarized, and the chronological and cultural position of the hoards is determined, in relation to already known complexes. Based on the composition and conditions of discovery, the existence of two groups of hoards is revealed: a Southern one (where deposits from the early stages, Precucuteni and Cucuteni A prevail) and a Northern one (in which exclusively deposits of later phases occur).
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A field research in the village of Popești (Iași County) revealed the existence of a possible prehistoric complex and of a fireplace reported in a hill-spur known as “La Lutărie”. From the commune’s territory several fragments of pottery were also collected dating from Prehistory to the middle Ages; they point to the archaeological diversity and wealth in the southwestern part of the Iasi County.
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