We kindly inform you that, as long as the subject affiliation of our 300.000+ articles is in progress, you might get unsufficient or no results on your third level or second level search. In this case, please broaden your search criteria.
The conservation state of archaeological wood can be defined by its preservation conditions: either in dry medium, either the wood preserved underwater that has developed stability in this medium. The evaluation of the conservation state of the archaeological wood saturated with water was based on results from measuring the maximum humidity content, mass density, loss of wooden mass and the maximum contraction index of the analysed samples. After comparing the values obtained for the five samples it was established to which degree the archaeological wood is affected by the raise of humidity content in relation to the mass density value. The archaeological wood contraction is higher than the raw wood’s and it can reach values that justify the deforming, the cracking or even the breakage of the object. Thus, the drying of the objects that have been lingering under water becomes the main issue in the conservation of archaeological wooden objects.
More...
August 24th 79 A.D. Vesuvius’ eruption was covering the city of Pompeii and buries the last inhabitants under meters of pumice, lapilli and volcanic ash. More than a millennium and half later, in 1748, abbacy Martorelli uncovered the first human remains. The excavations are abandoned and restarted in 1772 when 18 skeletons are discovered in Villa di Diomede. After the first half of the 19th century, once the digging approach changed, in 1863, Giuseppe Fiorelli makes the first plaster cast using the impression of a victim’s body in the volcanic matter. By 2012, there were made more than 80 casts of the victims of Vesuvius’ eruption using the same technique and different materials. The microclimate conditions, the characteristics of the constituent materials, the numerous relocations and other factors led to the degradation of these important vestiges. An ample interdisciplinary project was initiated in 2014 to study and restore these witnesses of Pompeii from almost two millennia ago.
More...
Composition and Deterioration of Archaeological Window Glass Fragments Discovered in 2015’s Excavations from Timișoara87 fragments of blown type, crown glass, belonging to bullseyes circlets, as part of a glazed panel, were recovered from preventive archaeological research carried out in St. George’s Square from Timişoara. The fragments were extracted from a preOttoman archaeological layer and they are probably the oldest stained glass pieces found in Banat.The investigations carried out included: scanning electron microscopy, Xray dispersed energy spectroscopy, Xray fluorescence, Xray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy.The bullseyes circlets are made of soda-lime-silica glass. The investigations results match the fragments production before the modern period and validated the archaeological data which fit them chronologically in the 16th century
More...
The object herein is the examination of the clay mould for brooch casting discovered in site 7 of Ecser (Hungary), investigated during May 2004 – June 2006 by rescue archaeological excavations performed prior to the construction of the express road M0, a bypass of Budapest. The mould was found in feature 4180 linked to the 3rd century AD Sarmatian settlement. Based on the morphological analysis of the Ecser mould, the author notes it was used for making brooches type Almgren group VII, series I, the headknob variation, external chord and vertical catchplate and by no means a pattern for casting Roman brooches. The recent typological analysis of brooches of the type shows that the mould was used for making brooches type Cociș-Bârcă B2a1a1, mainly used between the last two decades of the 2nd century AD and mid 3rd century AD.The presence of the mould in the settlement at Ecser evidences the production of brooches of type Almgren group VII, series I, the headknob variation, external chord and vertical catchplate (B2a1a1) in territories inhabited by the Sarmatians in the Great Hungarian Plain, as well as an existing workshop for their making nearby.Based on the origin, diffusion area of these brooches and the workshops producing them, but also certain historical and archaeological realities, the author maintains that the making of such brooches in the settlement at Ecser must be ascribed rather to an artisan arriving to the territory inhabited by the Sarmatian Iazyges or in connection with the Germanic world.The frequent presence of brooches of the type beside other brooch types and Germanic artefact categories evidence contacts and cultural and economic interferences between various populations, but it also very clearly establishes the movement direction of certain groups of Germanic populaces starting with the last quarter of the 2nd century AD
More...
We shall discuss here the bronze cauldron discovered in 1932 in the perimeter of the Daco-Getae settlement of Piatra Șoimului (Calu). The vessel was dated by R. Vulpe to the 3rd century AD and the 1st century BC by Gh. Bichir. According to its features, the Piatra Șoimului (Calu) cauldron belongs to type VI, variation 1, subvariation A in S. I. Demidenko’s typology. Although the earliest cauldrons of type VI.1.A come from a series of features of the second half of the 2nd century – end of the 1st century BC, they are mainly specific to the mid Sarmatian period, the majority originating in graves dated to the second half of the 1st century – early 2nd century AD. The Piatra Șoimului (Calu) cauldron is the single vessel of the type from the space between the Dnieper and the Carpathians, while the closest parallel is the vessel of Boguslav, a place located to the left of the Dnieper. The remaining cauldrons in type VI (over 60 specimens), come from territories in the Don river basin, the Kuban region and the area of the lower Volga river course. Upon the analysis of the Sarmatian date cauldron finds from Ukraine and the R. of Moldova, the author notes their small number and the fact they belong to types specific to the mid Sarmatian period, representing, together with other item classes, one of the innovations of this period (1st century – mid 2nd century AD). Furthermore, it is mentioned that most come from features and contexts with a marked eastern nature of the period between the second half of the 1st century – first half of the 2nd century AD. Considering that most cauldrons in type Demidenko VI were discovered in territories inhabited by the Alani Aorsi and Siraces and based on the dating of features containing identical cauldrons and the Sarmatians’ entry and settlement of the north and north-west Pontic area, the author concludes that the Piatra Şoimului (Calu) vessel, beside the other cauldrons specific to the mid Sarmatian period from the north and north-west of the Black Sea, reached the east Carpathian area sometime in the second half of the 1st century AD and by no means later than the events by early 2nd century AD.
More...
The province of Thrace was established in ca. AD 45-46 on the territory of the last Thracian Kingdom. In the course of more than two hundred years, between the second half of the First and the late Third century, ceramic production was developed in an unprecedented scale in this territory, in both rural and urban context. A number of rural settlements in Thrace, including agricultural estates (villae), agrarian and artisan’s villages (vici), have accommodated pottery and tile workshops since the second half of the First – the beginning of the Second century. From the late First – early Second century onwards potteries were established also in towns and cities.The data analysed and presented for the location and internal organisation of the ceramic workshops in Thrace indicates that the most widespread type of organised production was the individual workshop. Some of these ateliers were clustered near available resources and developed trade routes, and occasionally incorporated in single settlement units. However, the considerable size and complex layout of the workshops from the early phase of ceramic production under Roman rule could be viewed as a proof that the craft was initially developed by people with certain financial abilities and social status (local dynasts, immigrant civilians, enfranchised itinerant and indigenous army veterans). These individuals were among the first to perceive and advertise the Roman way of life through, on the one side, the new construction techniques and materials, and, on the other, the concomitant culture of eating and drinking, visible through the archaeological discoveries of pottery and other vessels used for these purposes.
More...
The preventive archaeological research which took place in the summer of 2014 at Bălata – Schit, Șoimuș commune, Hunedoara County, enriched the information on one of the most important sites on the Mureș Valley, where many historical periods have been documented so far. Amongst the numerous discoveries, fragments from at least two bronze cauldrons have been unearthed. The morphological characteristics, especially the cross-shaped handle attachments, decorated with geometric patterns, allow their dating in the final stage of Ha B2, as shown by the analogies in Transylvania. The vessels belong to the categories Merhardt B1 and B2a. The bronze recipients from Bălata reveal an unknown chapter in the archaeology of Early Iron Age in south-western Transylvania, offering new data on the spirituality of the respective times.
More...
The purpose of this study is to highlight the results of recent rescue excavations carried out at Turnu fortress as part of a restoration and preservation project. The project proposed the restoration and consolidation of the central tower and the first two walls of the enclosure, the landscaping outside the enclosure and the construction of an annexe building. The archaeological research followed three objectives: 1) the investigation of a surface located outside of the enclosure where the annexe will be built, 2) survey trenches dug inside and outside of the fortress in order to establish the stratigraphy and the building stages of fortification, 3) excavations between the central tower and the first ring of fortification to reach the depth intended by the restoration project. Due to the constraints of the project, our rescue excavations cannot be compared with a systematic excavation, with specific research objectives for a medieval or late medieval fortress, but we consider the publication of the achieved results of any rescue excavation is compulsory and the final step of a archaeological research.
More...
Author discusses several subjects concerning pre-Roman and Roman Burnum (Dalmatia). Earlier authors presumed that the main centre of the Liburnian Burnistae should be located on Gradina in Puljani, a pre-Roman promontory fort located on the left bank of the river Krka. However, since Pliny the Elder mentions that river Krka forms a border between the Liburni and the Delmatae, it would be strange that the Liburnian civitas would place its centre on a promontory fort located on Delmatean side of the river. By surveying the wider landscape of the Liburnian frontier, the author argues that the centre of the Liburnian Burnistae should be located at Radučka glavica, the most dominant hillfort in the area of Kistanjska Bukovica. In the second part of the paper, the author reveals the existence of a Roman auxiliary fort at Čučevo, which is – so far – the fourth known auxiliary fort located on the right bank of the river Krka.
More...
The present paper is focusing on the interpretation of a coin deposit found within a sacred area at one of the key fortresses in Iron Age Dacia – Costești-Cetățuie. Based on a detailed catalogue, the analysis is taking into account the closest analogy, the geographic area of coin type distribution, the monetary iconography and the comparison with similar situations from other parts of ancient Europe prior to the Roman conquest. Following these aspects, the conclusions are emphasizing the votive function instead of economic one of certain coins when deposited in specific areas and in association with particular artefacts. It is demonstrated that this ritual practice at the Costești is part of a general pattern. Chronologically, this votive deposit may be connected with the ritual activity at the Costești fortress in the aftermath of the Dacian king, Burebista, campaign at the Black Sea shore (second half of the 1st century BC).
More...
We examine herein the golden plaque identified in the looted Sarmatian grave identified at Dunaharaszti. On its surface are rendered three wolves (?) running left and a tamga, all in relief. The tamga is in the shape of two adjoining volutes. The loops are waving inward on the first, and outward on the second. The symbol is believed similar to that ascribed to king Farzoios for whom Olbia struck golden coin grosso modo by the end of AD the 50’ies – end of the 70’ies. Tamga symbols of king Farzoios are mainly known from coins and are in the shape of two half-circles set by the extremities and joined by a vertical line.Upon the examination of the symbol on the plaque from Dunaharaszti it was noted that parallels mentioned for it differ much, while its’ ascribing to king Farzoios farfetched. The author agrees that tamgas with certain deviations from those on the coins for Farzoios had belonged to other individuals, likely, from amongst the group led by this king or from within a group of Sarmatians under the control of the kingdom of Farzoios.The author mentions for the tamga on this plaque a few analogies identical or similar from the north-Pontic area, arguing that some are specific to the region on the right bank of the Dniper. In terms of dating, it is noted they are specific mainly to the period comprised between mid 1st century AD and mid 2nd century AD. It is further mentioned that in the north-Pontic area tamgas with parts similar with that from Dunaharaszti are numerous (in particular, the volutes with loops waving inwards), yet, these are not parallels with the tamga discussed here, according to the author.Last but not least it was noted that the tamga on the plaque at Dunaharaszti is practically the single authentic symbol on a valuable object from the Sarmatian Iazyges environment of the Great Hungarian Plain. Another observation is related to the fact that the tamgas in the Sarmatian Iazyges environment of the Great Hungarian Plain come from a series of finds that span over a period of ca. three centuries, while their number is insignificant. The small number of the tamgas in the Sarmatian Iazyges environment confirms they were used by a restricted number of Sarmatian tribes, the Iazyges from the Great Hungarian Plain not included. This further underlines also that tamgas in the Germanic environment were not adopted from the Iazyges, but reached the Germanic peoples upon contacts and military conflicts with the Sarmatian world from the north-west Pontic area.The plaque at Dunaharaszti dates most likely to the second half of the 1st century AD and reached the Great Hungarian Plain sometime towards the end of the 1st century AD (AD 80’ies) when very likely another Sarmatian migration occurred in the area. The tamga on the plaque evidences, according to the author, the presence in this area of the elites and is evidence, given the approximate period of Farzoios’s rule, that not those Sarmatians in the first wave carried the plaque to the Great Hungarian Plain. This confirms, together with other finds, that the Sarmatians entered this area in a few waves over the second half of the 1st century AD, possibly even by its end. Also, it is concluded that part of those migrating to the area were connected or even formed part for a short while from the Sarmatian group led by Farzoios and Inismeos.Lastly, it is not excluded that the plaque from Dunaharaszti indicates, beside a series of artefacts and elements from several archaeological finds, the presence within the wave of Sarmatians that entered the Great Hungarian Plain of individuals from the elites of the Sarmatians (Alani/Aorsi) who settled the north-west Pontic area starting with mid 1st century AD. This is possible, according to the author, should one keep in mind also that such elite might have been involved in the Iayzgian aristocracy from the north-west Pontic area. Regardless the facts, it is very likely that its representatives played an important role within this wave.
More...
The archaeological campaign from 2017 was held from May 22 to August 12, and between October 20 to November 10, with the main purpose of continuing the research of the previous years in the area SpI and opening a new research unit toward the center of the terrace from Rapoltu Mare-La Vie, where the noninvasive investigations indicated the presence of important buildings. They were identified parts of buildings belonging to the second and third centuries AD, and also prehistoric structures from Paleolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age.
More...
Only a couple of graveyards with marbles recorded as stecaks necropolises went through probe archeological excavations in the last decade in the area of western Serbia, which is in professional and scientific circles marked as the territory of stecaks. Among them there are three necropolises carrying the same toponym in the name - Mramorje - in Middle Podrinje (Municipality of Bajina Basta), map 2, images 1-7. Results of their excavations, as well as for the first time published results of earlier excavations of two necropolises with marbles in Donje Polimlje (Municipality of Priboj) in southwestern Serbia (images 8-10) offered new insights and confirmation of the earlier in terms of the form of burial, dating and existence of the Church next to the graveyard with typical late medieval forms of monuments. At the same time they renewed the issues around studying stecaks from Serbia, which appeared with adopting of that term for all tombstone monoliths in Bosnia and Herzegovina that were being studied as a special "type" of monuments in relation to the monuments in the region. The result of this was that all graveyards in Serbia which contained gabled tombstone were treated as stecaks necropolises (map 1), while only some of the numerous tombstones of other forms but from the same period were classified as stecaks. Others with the same form were not classified in that way, although there is an obvious similarity between them especially in regards to ornaments, content of epitaphs or the form of burial. Those are numerous registered monuments in the form of boards, low coffins and butts and their variant forms from the village graveyards or graveyards formed next to church buildings, some feudal endowments and many monastery churches from the entire territory of Serbia, which were studied without comparison to phenomena related to stecaks. According to the last listing (1996) 4.118 medieval tombstone monoliths (from 203 sites) labelled by the term stecak come from the territory of Serbia. That is not even close to the real number of tombstones in Serbia due to the above mentioned reasons. Discoveries of the new monuments and locations with medieval tombstones in the systematic surveys conducted in the entire territory of Serbia (images 11-16), showed that among them there were types of tombstones specific for certain regions, but also those which could be connected to stecaks according to certain elements. They pointed out the necessity of systematic registration and establishment of the unique typology of the monument forms in the entire territory of central Balkan, which should be treated under the general determinant of the medieval tombstones characteristics. They also draw attention to the necessity of archaeological excavations under marbles and including interdisciplinary research, as well as reviewing the justification of not only the categorizations through which stecaks entered into science but also of the term stecak.
More...
In 1942, following readjustment works of the road connecting the Săveni and Avrămeni communes, a barrow was destroyed, resulting the find of a bronze cauldron. A. Nițu deemed the vessel of Avrămeni as part of the series of cauldrons coinciding with the civilisation and expansion of the Sarmatians by the Don and Lower and Mid Danube in the 1st – 4th century AD and dated it to this chronological span. Gh. Bichir argued that the Avrămeni cauldron is somewhat later than that of Piatra Șoimului (Calu), which the scholar dated to the 1st century BC. The vessel’s shape resembles that of a “bell” cast together with its handles, while the biconical foot was made separately, the two parts being attached by a bronze cast-made plug. On the body, the vessel displays several repair traces. According to its features and specificities, the Avrămeni cauldron belongs to type Demidenko II.1.B, being the single of the type in the area between the Don and the Carpathians. The remaining resembling specimens come from 2nd – 1st century BC complexes from territories left of the Lower Don and the Kuban region. The author believes that according to its shape, the curved vertical handles decorated each with a knob as well as its making manner and foot attachment, the Avrămeni vessel is an artefact joining elements specific to the Sauromatian cauldrons used in the Volga and Lower Don area, but also in the Kuban region also in the 2nd – 1st century BC. Within the context of its analysis are also discussed the cauldrons of Bubueci and Velikoploskoe, both from “ritual hoards/deposits” part of a larger group of such features of the 3rd – 1st century BC from territories comprised between the Volga – the pre-mountain area from North Caucasus in the east and the Lower Danube - Prut to the west. The cauldron of Bubueci belongs to type Demidenko I.3.A. It has a body cast together with the handles, while the iconical foot, surviving fragmentarily, was cast separately. Similarly to the Avrămeni vessel, that of Bubueci is the most western find of a cauldron of the type. The body shape, curved vertical handles decorated each with three knobs, the lip shape and its making manner, how the handles start from the cauldron rim as well as how they were made, indicate that the vessel combines elements specific to the Sauromatian and early Sarmatian cauldrons. In the case of the Avrămeni and Bubueci cauldrons, as well as those similar, the author concludes they are either a continuation of ancient casting traditions or were produced sometime earlier, yet continued to be used for a good period of time after their production cease. The exhibited repair traces and presence far from their territories of origin, where they were made and used, as well as their find together with 2nd – 1st century BC artefacts confirm, according to the author, their use for a longer time span. In the case of the Avrămeni vessel, its deposition might have occurred sometime during the 2nd century BC as well as between the end of the 2nd – first decades of the 1st century BC. With respect to the dating of the “ritual hoard/deposit” of Bubueci, the author believes it dates no earlier than the 2nd century BC, and that its framing sometime between mid 2nd century BC and early 1st century BC is very likely. In the case of the Velikoploskoe cauldron, its body shape and sizes resemble those of the Demidenko VI type cauldrons emerging in the 2nd century BC, yet the remaining elements specific to this vessel type are missing. The rudimentary attachment procedure of the foot to the body, rim shape, its making manner, as well as how the handles start from the vessel rim, are according to the author, specific to the Sauromatae and early Sarmatian cauldrons (types Demidenko I-III, V) used in the first centuries BC, which hinders its ascribing to a certain type. Therefore, it was concluded that the Velikoploskoe vessel seems to be intermediary between the 5th - 3rd century BC cauldrons, mainly Sauromatae, and those of the early and mid armatian periods between the 2nd century BC and mid 2nd century AD. Its elements and making manner allow, according to the author, for its dating to the 2nd – 1st century BC, likely only sometime during the 2nd century BC, which is not contradicted by the remaining artefacts in the find.
More...
During July 2018, near the site of the registered national monument, the archaeological site of Mili – the coronation and sepulchral church of Bosnian kings, Arnautovići, The City of Visoko, rescue research was conducted to determine the archaeological potential of the affected area. On this occasion, the planned rescue research included the area of the future road alignment stretching over a surface of about 1200 m2. The research was carried out by the consortium comprised of the Regional museum in Visoko, the Institute of Archeology of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo and a private company called GeoAVAS d.o.o. The rescue research was conducted using a number of different methods of excavation that combined machine-dug test trenches and hand-dug test pits when it was deemed necessary. Four archaeological trenches (approx. 613 m2 of the combined surface) were opened, which contained numerous archaeological features, including 5 graves, 2 prehistoric fire pits and numerous smaller archaeological features. Detailed excavation of the trenches and features revealed 5268 archaeological finds, which can be dated to the Late Neolithic, Late Antique and medieval periods. From one of the graves (Grob 1), a tooth sample was dated to 1316-1437 B.C. (95,4 %). The results of the rescue excavation and analysis of finds and features made it possible to more precisely determine the potential of the site of Mili in Arnautovići. The site consists of several zones with multi-layered archaeological stratigraphy, and encompasses an area of the medieval church and its surroundings on an elevated plateau containing material from the Neolithic and Medieval period, as well as traces from the ancient Roman period. The Neolithic material, in a typological sense, has similarities with the material found on the site of Donje Moštre.With the aim of more detailed determination of the distribution and representation of chronologically and typologically heterogeneous archaeological material, it is necessary to conduct trial research on the whole area of the site Arnautovići, which would provide a better understanding of all periods, their duration, continuity and discontinuity.
More...
Silver coins of Khan Beg Sufi (ruled in the Crimea in 822—824 AH) are studied by the method of the analysis of dies for minting coins. Graphic reconstructions of imprints of 20 obverse dies and 49 reverse dies were made. They worked in 93 die pairs. Schemes of die conneсtions were drawn up, the dating of coins that do not bear the date indication was proposed. A review of the main scientific publications on the topic was prepared, the metrology of the emissions was analyzed, the average weight of the dangs (0.84 g) was determined — silver content of these coins was explored.Aspеrs with the name Beg Sufi were minted by 13 die pairs; 7 obverse dies and 5 reverse dies were used in minting process. The average weight of aspеrs is 0.88 g. Copper anonymous Crimean puls, minted during the reign of Beg Sufi and dated 823 AH, were also analyzed. Catalogue of silver coins with the name of Beg Sufi khan is published: photographic images and graphic reconstructions of die pairs with which dangs and aspers of Beg Sufi were struck are reproduced, reconstructions and translations of coin legends are proposed.
More...
Combining forensic archaeology and numismatic methods of investigations, the present study identify a new Roman hoard buried in the context of the Dacian wars.Furthermore, the composition and the findspot of this hoard reveal the Roman functionality of the site where the hoard was discovered.
More...