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.
This short paper publishes a small fragment of Roman military diploma discovered in the territory of Drobeta, at Izvoarele, and republished another small fragment of a diploma found at Gîrla Mare (also in Mehedinţi county). The two fragments are copies of constitutions from the reign of Trajan, for the auxiliary units of Upper Moesia, respectively Dacia or Upper Moesia.
More...
Bodrog County is one of the tragic fate counties of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its history is typical, its medieval population and settlement network were almost completely destroyed in the 16th century, and most of its medieval resources disappeared. For this reason, the historical geographic research of Bodrog County is a major challenge. The aim of my research is to reconstruct the medieval settlement network of Bodrog County; to summarize the general history of Bodrog County, with special regard to the medieval and early modern administration and the changes in the settlement boundaries. This multidisciplinary research is based on written, pictorial and field-based archaeological, ethnographic, historical and geographical data.The most important element of the research is a GIS system developed for geographical settlement modeling, in which literature and field data are used; furthermore various remote sensing and map data were summarized and evaluated. Another unique methodological element of the research is the socalled “social archeology”, which provided a wealth of data during intensive archaeological field research. The fact that Bodrog County is located partly in the southern part of present-day Hungary and in the northern part of present-day Serbia has made the research more difficult. The size of the county changed several times during it’s slightly more than five-centuries-long existence. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, its area stretched from the Danube to the Tisza River in an east-west direction, and from the present Kiskunhalas in the north to Verbász (Vrbas, Serbia) and Szenttamás (Srbobran, Serbia) in Bačka in the south. The result of this research is a database of medieval settlements in Bodrog County, including maps and aerial imagery available from archaeological research and the literature to the present day. Simultaneously, the development of a printed and online database of the collected data has begun. The primary purpose is to make this database available to professionals and civil users. The research has revealed that many of the written sources of Bodrog County have been lost over time. However, compared to the surrounding counties, there are many medieval documents that contain a lot of useful geographical data suitable for settlement modeling.
More...
The finds (burials and commemorative places) of the post-Hunnic nomads in the steppes of Eastern Europe are examined, which testify to the Central Asian influence on the “chieftain”/“princely” culture of the steppe population of the middle 5th — mid 6th centuries. This is a set of horse equipment, weapons, women’s jewelry. It is likely that their appearance in the western part of the Eurasian belt of the steppes is associated with the movements of nomadic peoples — Onogurs, Saragurs, Urogs, Savirs. At the same time, when it comes to borrowing in the “chieftain” culture, the usual diffusion of the prestigious “princely” fashion, reflecting the military-political and cultural orientation of the ruling elites and not directly related to migration, is very possible.
More...
The territory of Transylvania was attacked by the Pechenegs from Moldavia since the 10th century. The attacks dated after the conquest of Transylvania by the kingdom of Hungary, in 1018, 1028, 1053, and 1068, affected several fortifications. The colonization of the Pechenegs as boundary watchers in the territory dominated by Hungarians and next in the kingdom began too by the middle of the 10th century, first in Transdanubia, and next in several places in Transylvania. The Pechenegs became sedentary, and their chiefs noblemen. The toponymy preserved the memory of the sedentary Pechenegs, especially in the borderlands. The last Pecheneg group took refuge in Hungary after their defeat by the Byzantine army in 1122. They were settled as boundary guards. The sedentary Pechenegs from Transylvania entered in contact with the Romanians who had the same mission to defend the boundaries. Silva Blacorum et Bissenorum was located between the Făgăraş Mountains and the Olt River valley, in the area with a considerable concentration of place names and river names of Türkic origin.
More...
The article is devoted to the consideration of the sites of the Catacomb culture, which are located between the Middle Dniester and Prut rivers, as well as on the left bank of the Dniester. Structure of the grave, position of the buried, funeral assemblage, with other sites of this culture from the North-Western Black Sea region are analyzed. The researchers note the infiltration of the population of the Yamna and Catacomb cultures into the Syan River basin, which was reflected in the ritual site Swente (Poland). Probably, the ways of moving of part of the steppe population to Central Europe in the early and middle Bronze Age could pass through the territory of the Middle Dniester. The proposals concerning the correspondence of civilization experiences of community groups, settling the north-western Black Sea Coast and the Baltic basin, should be treated as an important voice in the possible further discussion. It puts a «Сentral European perspective» on the Dniester Contact Area of interest to us. The data of radiocarbon dating of the Catacomb sites of the Middle Dniester region are also analyzed.
More...
The study examines the sites of the 9th—11th centuries located in the north-eastern part of the Carpatho-Nistrian lands, which are represented by round-shaped fortified settlements built a fundamentis, “long houses”, iron melting furnaces (about 70), craft workshops for manufacturing tools and weapons of iron or for manufacturing silver products, hoards with tools and weapons, battle axes and swords, miniature iron or bronze axes, hoards of silver items with Islamic and Byzantine coins, balance scales and iron weights in bronze foil, silver ingots, Scandinavian pendants with animalistic patterns, including ones of the “Gnezdovo” type, amber beads and blue, gold or silver barrel-shaped glass beads, burial mounds with cremations and so on.The appearance of round-shaped fortified settlements between the Dniester and the Răut and in Bukovina was associated with the penetration of the Vikings into the region, who followed the old route from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, along the Vistula and the Dniester, to the Balkans, to Byzantium, to Constantinople or to Baghdad. The fortified settlements served as intermediate military camps, gradually becoming military-administrative, craft and trade centers, in the creation of which the local Romanized population also took part. The fortified settlements were destroyed by nomad raids at the end of the 11th century.
More...
The presence of Avar warriors in Transylvania during the 7th—8th centuries is a reality that cannot be contested, as it is proven by the cemeteries and graves that belong, beyond doubt, to warriors of Avar origin.The first Avar incursions in the Transylvanian Plateau took place after 630 and aimed at occupying/conquering the salt-rich areas in the center of Transylvania. This was only possible after they established their direct control over the Gepid communities in the center of the Transylvanian Plateau. I do not believe we can speak of a conquest of Transylvania, but rather of an act of taking control over a territory that the Avars were interested in due to its salt resources. They did not decimate the Gepid communities, but lived alongside them and used them to extract salt.According to the archaeological data that can be attributed with certainty to the Avar warriors (cemeteries and graves), one can note the fact that the incursion of the Avars in the Transylvanian Plateau was not a large-scale phenomenon and the territory they actually dominated was much smaller than some specialistshave estimated. This territory was restricted to the area between Câmpia Turzii and Teiuș, where the Mureș turns south, on both sides of the river. Current data do not allow one to form a general picture of the way in which the Avar domination in Transylvania ended. The history of the central province of Romania during the first half of the ninth century still holds many uncertainties that only future archaeological researches might decipher.
More...
Caves which are the subject of this article are to be localized within the limestone hills range, with the height over a hundred meters above sea level and which is called Cheile Dobrugei. Seven of these caves have been included in archeological research programs; in five of them material has been found dated in the Early Medieval Period: they are La Izvor, Baba, Craniilor, Călugărilor and Casian cave. These caves constituted attractive if not ideal abode for humans due to some special qualities. They were inhabited seasonally, used as temporary shelters, as places of funeral rites or as places of voluntary retreat. Based on the archeological evidence found, 3 time horizons of their occupancy have been distinguished: 1) 7th century AD; 2) from the end of the 8th (?)/the beginning of 9th century AD to 11th century AD; 3) 12th century AD In this article, the caves have been analyzed in the context of their palaeolandscape and indicating their utilitarian, as well as symbolic values.
More...
The article puts the question: was the “Baltic” toponymy of the eastern and north-eastern parts of the (future) Old Russian area really left by the Balts or not? Considering the archaeological context of the issue, the author draw attention that the supposed archaeological “bearers” of “Baltic” toponymy for mentioned regions were constituted following some impulses and migrations from the area of the Kiev culture (which is strongly identified with the Slavs), or from the area of the Zarubinetskaya culture (on the basis of which the Kiev culture appeared). Basing on these facts, and taking into account the (emphasized by linguists) fundamental difficulty of differentiation between baltisms and for-Slavic dialectal archaic, the author suggests that we have to identify the “Baltic” toponymy of the eastern and north-eastern parts of the (future) Old Russian area with the Early Slavic migrations to the regions.
More...
The article takes a look at three images of the 7th century presenting the development of side-hanged, long, wedged weapons from three culturally differing parts of Eurasia — Byzantium, Sasanian Persia and East-European steppes.1) From Byzantium — the vessel with the Battle of David and Goliath from Lambousa Treasure, dated with control marks to 613—629. The weapon hanging on Goliath’s belt is with side placed scabbard attachments, single-edged, with inclined handle. The weapon is not typical of Byzantium of the period but rather of the “strangers” — the barbarians and Persia. Using an accepted idea that the plate presents allegorically the battle of Heraclius himself with a Sasanian general, the author assumes that the weapon is some kind of a marker of a “stranger”, i. e. it is not typical of Byzantine warfare, but it is not unknown either. That is the weapon known from Justinian’s Novels as παραµήρια or semispatha.2) The Plate of Pur-i Vahman. The details of garment, weapon and equipment of the rider date it immediately after the collapse of Sasanian Persia. The palash bears the features of similar ones, typical of Persia in this period. Its only exception is the crossguard, not characteristic of the Persian ones. It is an innovation inspired by Byzantium.3) The Saddle Bone plate from Verchniy Chir-yurt mound necropolis from the last third of the 7th century presents an image of a sabre.All three images tell about a rapid development of this type of weapon in the 7th c. and the mutual influences of different regions and cultures.
More...
It has been possible to examine and copies of the correspondence between Albanian and Italian Governments in establishing the Italian Archaeological Mission, including some telegrams of Italian Legacies and, manuscripts by Ugolini himself, etc. These documents found in the Central Archives of the State in Tirana are found at the documentary funds of the Ministry of Education, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Interior and the Italian Legacy in Albania. Based on these documents, the official date or the first step towards the realization of Italian archaeological excavations in Albania was taken on April 12, 1924, when the Ministry of Education notified the Ministry of Interior that Dr. L. Ugolini a, “well-prepared Italian archaeologist in the prehistoric studies” and “a friend of Albania” would be visiting. The Albanian Embassy in Rome had informed the Ministry of Education of his visit. The letter of Roberto Paribeni on March 15, 1925 confirmed the beginning of archaeological excavations. On October 14, the head of the Italian Legation of Durrës wrote to his office in Saranda that the Albanian President had ordered local authorities to permit archaeological excavations in Feniki (Phoinike). The archaeological excavations began only in December 1926 and were very successful. But a year later, in December 1927, Ugolini informed the Albanian Minister of Education that the Italian Mission proposed to change the place of archaeological excavations from Phoinike to Butrinti (near Vivari lake in Santi Quaranta), and begin on the January 15, 1928. Only in spring 1928 Ugolini moved from Phoinike to Butrinti. Ugolini excavated at Butrint for eight years (1928-1936) despite many health problems. The voluminous correspondence, preserved in the Archives, shows his special personality and great passion for archaeology. On the evening of October 4, 1936 Ugolini died in Italy. On December 4, 1936 the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Roberto Paribeni, President of Reale Istituto Archeologico, had proposed Pirro Marconi, professor of Archaeology and Art History at the University of Naples and University of Palermo, as the successor to Ugolini and to be named as the Head of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Albania. Marconi’s activity in Butrint lasted just one year, because of his tragic death, flying to Rome, in late April 1938. After his death the excavations continued in June and July under Igino Epicoco and later that year, in accordance with a proposal by Roberto Paribeni, Domenico Mustilli, professor at the University of Naples, was named the director of Italian Archaeological Mission. The Italian surrender of September 1943 effectively ended all Italian concern with Butrint and with the archaeology of Albania. Italy had other more pressing problems closer to home. 29 November 1944, the Liberation day of Albania, opened a new chapter in its long history, the period of communism or the so called ‘proletarian dictatorship’ and, archaeology came to be organized in a very different way.
More...
The textile objects which are part of this study came from an archaeological excavation from Alba Iulia and the Evangelical Church from Sebes. Brought to light in 1961, they were kept in the warehouses of the cultural institutions in the towns where they were taken. Only in 1996, in the case of those from Alba Iulia and in 2001 in the case of those from Sebes, some timid researches were started regarding their restoration. The archaeological textiles from Alba Iulia, come from the “Veterinary Hospital” area, from a burial tomb and belong to a young woman of noble rank and those from the Evangelical Church from Sebes, from two crypts in front of the altar that were demolished during the works of restoration carried out in this place between 1960 and 1964. The textile fragments in the first crypt belong to the priest Michael Lang, dean of the Evangelical Gymnasium from Sebes, and from the second crypt, the fragments belong to the widow of the intimate counsellor of Transylvania, Michael Huttern. The archaeological textiles from Alba Iulia benefited from detailed research, finalised with an attempt to reconstruct the vestment, an article about it being published by Ileana Partenie, in 2001. Due to the new research and the recovery of several elements that were not included in the initial study, we resumed the research in order to include them in the exhibition circuit. The restoration activity regarding the new elements appeared is in an incipient phase. The final results will be published soon, once the restoration activity is completed.
More...
The subject of this article is a unique epigraphic monument, found during the regular archeological excavations at site No 41 in the Outer Town of Pliska in 2018. It is a fragment of a limestone block with a well-smoothed front surface, on which engraved signs and drawings can be seen (epsilon flanked with vertical features, human image, ladder, Glagolitic letters, etc.). The different depth and nature of the signs and images suggest that the stone is "written" at least twice with different types of tools. The most distinct and deeply engraved on the stone is the proto-Bulgarian symbol, accepted as a runic sign - a combination of an epsilon and two surrounding vertical features - IYI. There are also several Glagolitic letters, well known from other epigraphic monuments from the early Bulgarian Middle Ages. The most interesting in this case is the human composition. The figure depicted on the stone from Pliska is apparently of a man, leaning towards the ladder with one end of the outer garment, i.e. probably by hand, and as if gripped by it. The grace of God's right hand falls right on man's head. This gives additional grounds for the figures to be perceived as a deliberately hatched composition, which in this case is reminiscent of an iconographic representation of a familiar biblical story. Most likely, the composition on the stone, including the ladder, the full-length human figure, and the hand of God, may be related to either the ladder from Jacob's dream (Genesis 28: 11-12), on which angels ascended to heaven and descended. her, or with the Ladder of John the Ladder (Sinai).
More...
The article discusses the migration processes in the territory of Northern Bukovina during the developed Middle Ages. This is the time of turbulent political events that subsequently influenced the further fate of the population inhabiting this territory.Local population developed in the mainstream of the evolution of ancient Rus lands. Intensive socio-economic development of the territory of Northern Bukovina in the 12th — early 13th century led to an increase in population and to episodic migrations.This picture changed in the late 13th—14th centuries. The Mongol-Tatar invasion negatively affected the development of the region. The population constantly suffered from the confrontation of Poland, Hungary, the Galicia-Volhynia principality, the Golden Horde and the Moldavian Voivodeship. Due to this (plus abnormal natural phenomena), these territories were sparsely populated. The majority of the population affected by the migration movement moved to the Prut-Siret interfluve or headed to the Carpathians.With the entry of this territory into the Moldavian Voivodeship, the situation changed. The domestic policy of the rulers and the change in the external international situation contributed to a significant re-emigration and re-settlement of the Prut-Dniester interfluve. Most settlements arise here in the late 14th — early 15th centuries. By the middle of the 15th century, the external reserves of colonization were exhausted, internal feuds intensified. All this led to a long decline in migration processes in the study area.
More...
Ecclesiastical architecture of the medieval Crimea is characterized by awide spread of one-nave constructions with a rectangular naos and an off-set semicircular or faceted apse; these churches were widely spread in fortresses, monasteries, residential quarters, mansions, communities and cemeteries. At this stage of studies, we can be more or less certain about two migration processes, which had an impact on the architectural evolution of the one-nave churches on the coastline of the peninsula. The first one dates to the 9th – 10th centuries and was connected with the targeted direct and complex (economic, military-political and cultural and religious) colonization of the Southern Crimea by the Byzantine Empire. This process involved some masters from Cherson and was associated with construction of churches of classical design. The second migration wave dates back to the late 13th – 14th centuries, when refugees from the regions conquered by the Golden Horde, particularly from Cherson, Eski-Kermen, Sogdeia and their environs, had to migrate to remote mountainous areas. This process produced numerous churches with lateral entrance.
More...
