Objects specific to the Poienești-Lucașeuca Culture in Transylvania. Research stage
Objects specific to the Poienești-Lucașeuca Culture in Transylvania. Research stage

Summary/Abstract: Transylvania is a distinct region framed by the Carpathian Mountains, which form a natural boundary. The term ‘Transylvania’ is often used to designate the entire area within the mountain range. Although seemingly isolated, Transylvania has always been connected to the territories to the east and south via a series of passes and valleys that cross the Carpathian Mountains and have been in use since prehistoric times. Transylvania is also connected to the Great Hungarian Plain to the west via the courses of several rivers. The Mureș and Someș rivers are the most important, having been used from prehistoric times to the present day. These geographical features have influenced the cultural evolution of Transylvanian societies throughout the Late Iron Age. Culturally and historically, this period can be divided into two distinct phases. The first is the ‘Celtic horizon’ (c. 350–190/175 BC), which was oriented towards Central European cultural patterns. The second is the ‘Dacian horizon’ (c. 190/175 BC to 106 AD), which predominantly followed North-Balkan and Mediterranean models. The period in which the Celtic horizon ends and the Dacian one begins is characterised by few finds, and their significance is sometimes unclear. Among these discoveries are several La Tène-level settlements containing elements with perfect analogies in the Poienești-Lucașeuca culture. The geographical setting in which the finds are reported provides an important detail for understanding the significance of the presence of these materials in the Transylvanian La Tène environment. They all come from sites located in the valley of the Mureș, the most important river in the area. The watershed of this river runs through the Transylvanian Depression and around it, the majority of human settlements are located. In this context, the role of the Mures as the main link between the Transylvanian Depression and Central Europe must be emphasised. The wide, easily accessible corridor created by this river facilitates communication between the two geomorphological units. Numerous historians and ancient authors such as Herodotus and Strabo have noted its importance for ancient trade. Building on these particularities, we aim to present our knowledge of some finds that can be considered ‘exotic’ in Transylvania at the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 2nd century BC, specifically the Poienești-Lucașeuca finds.

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