Dacians from the Lower Danube and the Carpathians: elites and warriors (2ndc.BC -1st c. AD)
Dacians from the Lower Danube and the Carpathians: elites and warriors (2ndc.BC -1st c. AD)

Summary/Abstract: The area between the Balkan Mountains and the Carpathians, particularly near the Lower Danube, has yielded a plethora of vestiges from the 2nd to the 1st century BC, classified as part of the Padea - Panaghiurski Kolonii horizon. Their characteristics, particularly their ethnic attribution, have been the subject of much debate and contradictory opinions for almost a century. However, with the advent of more detailed analysis and better documentation, we can now clean a deeper understanding of these intriguing artifacts.South of the Danube, in the north-western Balkans, the tombs are typically flat and infrequently tumular, with the majority containing cremation remains and only rarely inhumation burials. North of the Danube, only flat tombs of the cremation type are found, with incinerated bones directly deposited in pits, seldom in urns. In Transylvania or in the Upper Tisza Basin, such discoveries are, also, in the vicinity of Dacian forts or settlements.The funerary objects discovered consist of various armaments, including spearheads, javelins, swords, daggers, shields, and spears, as well as an assortment of ornaments, clothing accessories, and, on occasion, ceramic vessels; the ceramic vessels, for the most part, are Dacian. Based on the inventory, most of the tombs are attributed to warriors, the majority of whom were cavalry. Rarely can they be ascribed to women and children. They date from 180/160-30/20 BC. Also from the same area, a series of discoveries are known with similar inventories (weapons, ornaments, and clothing accessories), but in which no human bones were found; are these cenotaphs or votive deposits?North of the Danube, from the same period and area, there are also groups of tumular tombs, all of them with cremation remains, discovered near Dacian residential centres; the predominant inventory consists of defence and attack equipment and weaponry, harness items, and also Dacian ceramic vessels or Hellenistic imports. Based on the characteristics of the arrangements and inventory, it can be estimated that these are tombs of Dacian aristocrats, predominantly cavalry.While it may be challenging to determine the ethnic origin of certain archaeological finds, a careful analysis of the artifacts and relevant historical documents suggests that these tumuli, flat tombs, and votive offerings were most likely associated with the Dacian aristocracy and warrior classes.

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