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PROCEEDINGS OF THE 12THINTERNATIONAL

CONGRESS OF THRACOLOGY

The Thracians and their Neighbors inthe Bronze and Iron Ages

- Volume I -


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Institutions involved in the organization of the Congress:

Dmbovia County Council

Valahia University of Trgovite

Institute of Archaeology Vasile Prvan

Center of Thracology Bucureti

International Union of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences

30thCommission

Curtea Domneasc National Museum Complex of Trgovite

Braov County History Museum

Museum of Brila

Persons involved in the organization of the Congress:The Honorary Committee

Prof. univ. dr. Ion Cucui, president

Conf. univ. dr. Clin D. Oros, vice-president

Conf. univ. dr. Adrian uuianu, vice-president

Acad. Alexandru Vulpe, vice-president

Prof. univ. dr. Marin Crciumaru, secretary

Organizing CommitteeProf. dr. Valeriu Srbu, president

Prof. dr. Cristian Schuster, secretary general

Conf. univ. dr. Marian Cosac, vice-president

Dr. Ovidiu Crstina, member

Dr. Radu tefnescu, member

Prof. univ. dr. Ionel Cndea, member

Secretariat

Prof. dr. Cristian SchusterDr. George Murtoreanu

Dr. Ana Ilie

It is the authors who are responsible for the contents and the quality of studies. Due to the late reception

of manuscripts, the Editorial Board could not in all cases intervene to any significant extent in order to

ensure a standard language.


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DMBOVIA COUNTY COUNCILINSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGYVASILE PRVAN BUCHAREST

CURTEA DOMNEASCNATIONAL MUSEUM COMPLEX OF TRGOVITE

VALAHIA UNIVERSITY OF TRGOVITE

The Thracians and their Neighborsin the Bronze and Iron Ages

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 12THINTERNATIONALCONGRESS OF THRACOLOGY

TRGOVITE10TH-14THSEPTEMBER 2013

Settlements, Fortresses, Artifacts- Volume I -

Editorial BoardCristian Schuster, Ovidiu Crstina,Marian Cosac and George Murtoreanu


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Covers: Valeriu Srbu, Dana Smaznov

DTP: Dana Smaznov, Valeriu Srbu

Descrierea CIP a Bibliotecii Naionale a Romniei

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THRACOLOGY. Proceeding(12 ; 2013 ; Trgovite)

Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Thracology :the Thracians and their Neighbors in the bronze and Iron ages : Trgovite, 10th-

14th September 2013. - Trgovite : Cetatea deScaun, 2013

2 vol.

ISBN 978-606-537-208-5

Vol. 1 : Settlements, fortresses, artifacts / editorial board: Cristian Schuster, OvidiuCrstina, Marian Cosac and George Murtoreanu. - Bibliogr. - ISBN 978-606-537-207-8

I. Schuster, Cristian (ed.)

II. Crstina, Ovidiu (ed.)

III. Cosac, Marian (ed.)

IV. Murtoreanu, George (ed.)

904(398.9)(063)

ISBN general 978-606-537-208-5

ISBN vol. I 978-606-537-207-8

Editura Cetatea de Scaun, Trgovite, 2013

www.cetateadescaun.ro , email: [email protected]


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SUMMARY

FOREWORD......................................................................................................................................... 9

A NEW BANIABIC TYPE AXE FROM SOUTHERN ROMANIARadu Bjenaru(Bucharest Romania),Alin Frnculeasa(Ploieti Romania) ............................. 13

A SPECIAL RED DEER ANTLER ARTEFACT FROM THE DACIAN SETTLEMENT OFUNIP, TIMI COUNTY, ROMANIACorneliu Beldiman(Bucharest Romania) ..................................................................................... 17

DATA ABOUT THE OSSEOUS MATERIALS ARTEFACTS FROM DACIAN HILLFOR OFARDEU, HUNEDOARA COUNTY, ROMANIACorneliu Beldiman(Bucharest Romania),Iosif Vasile Ferencz(Deva Romania),Diana-Maria

Sztancs(Bucharest Romania) ........................................................................................................ 39

WOMEN AT PISTIROSJan Bouzek(Prague Czeh Republic),Lydia Domaradzka(Sofia Bulgaria) ............................... 67

WHETSTONES WITH A HANGING HOLE IN STEPPE ZONE CULTURES OF THENORTHERN PONTIC AND THE GREAT HUNGARIAN PLAIN FROM THE LATEBRONZE AGE AND THE EARLY IRON AGE

Marcin Burghardt(Rzeszowsk - Poland) ........................................................................................ 83

REPERES CHRONOLOGIQUES OFFERTS PAR LA CERAMIQUE GRECQUEIMPORTE

Livia Buzoianu,Maria Brbulescu (Constana Romania) ............................................................ 95

VIEWPOINTS IN INTERPRETING LATE IRON AGE HILL-FORTS AND FORTIFIEDSETTLEMENTS BETWEEN THE SOUTHERN CARPATHIANS AND THE DANUBE (2ND

CENTURY BC 1ST

CENTURY AD)Vlad Crbii,Monica Nicolescu(Bucharest Romania) .......................................................... 111

THE TRIBAL WORLD OF ANCIENT THRACEPeter Delev(Sofia Bulgaria) ....................................................................................................... 127

DATA ON LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT IN THE IRON AGE HABITATION FROMCRLOMNETI (BUZU COUNTY), IN THE LIGHT OF RECENTARCHAEOZOOLOGICAL RESEARCHGeorgeta El Susi(Reia Romania) ............................................................................................ 135

TEI CULTURE SETTLEMENTS IN BUCHAREST AND ILFOV COUNTYElena-Florentina Gavril(Bucharest Romania) ......................................................................... 153

FIRST MILLENIUM BC THRACIAN SETTLEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE UPPERMARITSA REGION AND ITS ADJACENT AREAS

Alexei Gotzev(Sofia Bulgaria) .................................................................................................... 169


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The Thracians and their Neighbors in the Bronze and Iron Ages

6

LEXPLOITATION DES SOURCES SALES DU BASSIN SUPRIEUR DE LA RIVIREIALOMIA, DE L GE DU BRONZE JUSQUAU IER SICLE AP. J.C

Ana Ilie, Gheorghe Olteanu, Ovidiu Crstina, Adrian Puna, Bogdan Ilie

(Trgovite, Roumanie) .................................................................................................................. 183

SPARADOKOS: BRUDER ODER SCHWAGER DES ODRYSENKNIGS SITALKES?Dobriela Kotova(Sofia Bulgarien) ............................................................................................. 207

LES SPCIFITS DE L'EMPLACEMENT DES HABITATIONS DU PREMIER ET SECONDGE DU FER DANS LA ZONE DE STEPPE BOISE DE LA MOLDAVIE CENTRALE

Alexandru Levinschi(Chiinu R. Moldavie) ............................................................................. 213

IN QUEST FOR QUALITY STONE: LA TNE ROTARY QUERNS FROM IDOVAR,SOUTH BANAT

Marija Ljutina(Belgrade Serbia) .............................................................................................. 225

MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN THE PRUT-DNIESTERINTERFLUVEBARBARICUMSergiu Mateev(Kishinev R. of Moldova) ................................................................................... 237

ON A POSSIBLE FUNCTION OF THE GETO-DACIAN DECORATED HEARTHSAlexandru S. Morintz(Bucharest Romania) ............................................................................... 255

LA FORTIFICATION GTE DE HORODCA MICA, RPUBLIQUE DE MOLDAVIE:TECHNIQUES DE CONSTRUCTION ET PHASES DE LDIFICATIONOctavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi(Chiinu R. Moldova) ................................................. 269

DIACHRONIC EVOLUTION OF SITES FROM SAHARNA AREA,THE REGION OF MIDDLE DNIESTER

Ion Niculi,Aurel Zanoci,Mihail B(Chiinu R. of Moldova) ............................................. 295

LESPOLEIS-EMPORIAET LES MARCHES THRACES DU ROYAUMEODRYSE (VE MILIEU DU IVESIECLE AV. J.-C.)Kalin Porozhanov(Sofia Bulgarie) ............................................................................................. 315

HELLESPONTUS, THE THRACIAN BOSPORUS AND INFORMATIONRELATED TO THRACIANS ON THEIR COASTS DURINGTHE HALF OF THE FIRST MILLENIUM BC

Alexandar Portalsky(Blagoevgrad Bulgaria) ............................................................................. 321

DISCOVERIES OF CELTIC NATURE ON THE MIDDLE AND SUPIRIOR COURSE OFTHE OLT RIVER IN THE SECOND IRON AGE

Lucica Savu(Braov Romania) ................................................................................................... 327

DIE GETISCHEN DAVA VON RADOVANU IM LICHTE

DER NEUSTEN FORSCHUNGENCristian Schuster(Bukarest Rumnien),Done erbnescu(Oltenia Rumnien),Alexandru S.

Morintz(Bukarest Rumnien) ..................................................................................................... 335

THE GETO-DACIAN FORTRESS OF PIETROASA MIC GRUIU DRII, BUZUCOUNTY (ROMANIA)Valeriu Srbu(Brila, Bucharest - Romania) Sebastian Matei (Buzu - Romania) ...................... 347

NEWLY DISCOVERED MONUMENTS OF THE ANCIENT IRON METALLURGY:RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Nino Sulava,Rusudan Chagelishvili,Nino Kalandadze, Tamar Beridze (Tbilisi - Georgia) ........ 375


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SPECIAL ASPECTS OF GRAECO-BARBARIAN CONTACTS IN THE EARLYCOLONIZATION PERIOD OF THE NORTHERN BLACK SEA COASTAL REGION INTHE LIGHT OF THE EXAMINATION OF THE MATERIALS OF THE CITY-SITENEMIROV ON THE RIVERSIDE OF SOUTH BUG

Marina Vakhtina,Maya Kashuba(Saint-Petersburg - Russia) ...................................................... 379

TRANSCARPATHIAN FINDS OF STAMPED CERAMICS

Izabela Wnuczek(Rzeszow - Poland) ............................................................................................ 397

THRAKISCH UND DAKISCH SPRACHEN ODER DIALEKTE?Svetlana Yanakieva(Sofia Bulgarien) ......................................................................................... 407


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FOREWORD

Our country has previously hosted once more this Congress, 17 years ago, when the 7thedition

was held at Constana-Mangalia-Neptun/Olimp. Since then, other editions of this congress have been

organized by colleagues from Bulgaria (2000), Republic of Moldova (2004), Greece (2005) and Turkey

(2010). In 1996, when the 7thedition of the Congresswas held, the status of this research direction

Thracology was most probably different than today both in Romania and in the other countries. At

that time, our research field benefited from the existence of an independent institution (The Romanian

Institute of Thracology, director prof. dr. Petre Roman), with its own juridical status and budget. Today,

the Centre of Thracologyactivates harmonically as part of the Vasile Parvan Institute of Archaeology

of theRomanian Academy.

As other peoples from antiquity were dedicated distinct branches of research that includedhistorical, archaeological, linguistic, anthropological, archaeo-zoological, and ethnographical

investigations it was only natural that the Thracians also had their own distinct discipline. The

Thracology was and still is a field of extremely interesting scientific disputes. An example in this

direction is the dispute concerning the appearance of the first Thracians in the Balkans.

Many research opportunities are still offered by the study of antic written sources. The

archaeology and the linguistic studies permit (and most surely will still do so in the future) the discovery

of new faces of the material and spiritual culture of this people.

The development and the evolution of the Thracians cannot be fully comprehended without

knowledge of their neighbors and of the connections between the Thracians and the Celts, the Greeks,

the Macedonians, the Scythians, the Romans, etc. This is what justifies the theme of this congress,

namely The Thracians and their Neighbors in Antiquity, in the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Of course, not all the specialists that research the Thracians accept the existence of a separate

field of research dedicated to this people. Some do it out of belief, having, in their opinion, the necessary

arguments in this direction, others, unfortunately, do it for reasons that include fashion or pure

opportunism. As long as the disputes are carried at a scientific level, the things subscribe to normality.

But, unfortunately, we notice that sometimes this pseudo-conflict is transferred to the relations between

institutions or even between persons which is damaging to the scientific research.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, we convey our thanks to everyone for the personal,

scientific and financial efforts made in order to attend this prestigious scientific event.

We need to express our gratitude to the Dmbovia County Council, and to its President Professor Adrian uuianu, who, understanding the meaning of a scientific manifestation of the

amplitude of the present one, accepted from the start to grant us a decisive financial help without which

we could not have organized this event. We also thank the Valahia University, its rectors Professor

Ion Cucui and Professor Clin Oros, who allowed us to use their International Conference Centerand

the Campus. And we also thank the colleagues, Dr. Marian Cosac and Dr. George Murtoreanu, for their

support. We must not omit from the thank you list the Curtea Domneasc National Museum

Complexfrom Trgovite and its director, Dr. Ovidiu Crstina and his colleagues, theBrasov County

Museumand its manager Dr. Radu tefnescu, and the Brila Museumand its director Professor

Ionel Cndea. Another thank you we direct towards the manager of the Vasile Parvan Institute of

Archaeology Academician Alexandru Vulpe and to the colleagues from the Centre of Thracology.

We also want to express our high appreciation towards the efforts of Professor MarinCrciumaru, who, with his well-known ability and determination, was the generator of energy that made

all the people involved in the organization of the Congressto resonate in unison.


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TheInstitute of Archaeology, an institution with a smaller budget compared to the other partners,

wishes to thank for the financial help granted by theArchaeoCommunity Foundationfrom the USA and

Sebastian Morintz Foundationfrom Oltenita and to Cristina-Hannelore Schuster.

One can say and many have said upon departure and in messages sent afterwards that this

congress was a scientific and cultural success, but also a success in terms of the interpersonal relations.

The congress was attended by 96 distinguished researchers, from 14 countries, which held 67

lectures of great topical, geographic and chronological diversity.

Without a doubt, the lectures and the discussion that took place resulted in a significantly

wealthier body of knowledge on the Thracians and neighboring peoples. Furthermore, the publishing,

before the end of the year, of the lectures will result in the quick adoption by the international scientific

world of many finds, ideas and interpretations of the phenomena in question.

It is worth noticing that the participants voted, unanimously, in favor of establishing an

association with legal personality The International Association of Thracian Studies ,whichwillbe able to include all the specialists across the globe involved in the research and scientific and cultural

application of the Thracian vestiges, of course as interacting with the neighboring peoples. This

association will be able to promote a more fruitful scientific cooperation across borders, between

researches with such interests.Also, all the participants to the Congress adopted a Statementof protest against the destruction

of historical monuments, in general, and of Thracian vestiges, in particular, destructions which have

multiplied lately.

The lectures held at the congress will be, for topic and financial reasons, published in 2013, in

two volumes. The first volume, containing the lectures on the topic Settlements, Fortresses, Artefacts,

will be published in Trgovite, while the second one, on the topic Necropolises, Cult places, Religion,

Mythology, will be published in Braov.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee,

Prof. Dr. Valeriu SrbuChairman

Prof. Dr. Cristian Schuster

Secretary General


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TheparticipantsattheCongress


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DIACHRONIC EVOLUTION OF SITES FROM SAHARNA AREA,

THE REGION OF MIDDLE DNIESTER

Ion Niculi, Aurel Zanoci, Mihail B

(Chiinu R. of Moldova)

Keywords:Middle Dniester, Early Hallstatt, Thraco-Getae, fortification, civil settlement

Abstract: The archaeological research and survey at the sites situated around Saharna village from

Rezina region of Republic of Moldova have revealed 24 sites which correspond chronologically to the end of 12th

c. 3rdc. BC. The archaeological investigations undertaken in the last 10 years have resulted in great discoveries

which made possible to trace four development periods: 1) end of 12thc. 11thc. BC; 2) 10thc. first half of 8th

c. BC; 3) second half of 8thc. 6th/5thc. BC; 4) 5th/4th-3rdc. BC. The character of the settlements varies from one

period to another, but in most cases they were grouped in agglomerations/nests which included fortificationsand civil settlements. These agglomerations represented probably the vital space of some political-territorialformations from the Middle Dniester region.

Geographic space

The investigated territory represents a stripe with the width of 2,0-4,5 km and the approximate

length of 8,5 km placed on the right bank of Dniester (Fig. 1/1), between the villages Stohnaia (47 43'

37" North, 28 57' 53" East) and Buciuca (47 38' 55" North, 28 59' 35" East) and is located in the

borders of Saharna village (Fig. 1/2) from Rezina region of Republic of Moldova.

This territory is part of Dniester Plateau with absolute heights of 250-347 m above sea level,

segmented by a network of rivers and valleys (Rmbu 1982, p. 12, 14). The Dniester Valley in this area

is characterized by highly eroded ravines developed into compact sedimentary rocks (limestone, marl,

sandstone, shale). They got the shape of canyons with steep slopes (20-30), sometimes very abrupt (40-

70) (Rmbu 1982, p. 33, 46) and are crossed by a network of small rivers, tributary of the Dniester

(Fig. 1/3).The hills and the valley coasts are covered with clayey-sandy, ashy and chernozem soils, which

developed a specific forest steppe flora, characterized by presence of oak, lime, maple, beech etc.

(Mihilescu et alii2006, p. 112-130).Thus, the physical-geographical conditions, favorable to the human habitat, contributed greatly

to the population of this territory from oldest times.Chronological framework

The lower limit (12th/11thc. BC) is determined by the time when in the region of Middle Dniester

appeared monuments specific to hallstatt period, while the upper limit (end of 3 rd c. BC) by the

abandonment or destruction of Thraco-Getian sites. During this period in the mentioned space many

cultures and cultural groups developed and which were attributed to sedentary populations of Thracian

Tmoani-Holercani-Hansca/Sihleanu-Rmnicele-Saharna Mic(Hnsel 1976, 122; Lszl 1986, p.65-91; Leviki 1994, p. 219-256; Nicic 2008), Cozia-Saharna (Hnsel 1976, p. 134; Lszl 1989, p.111-129; Kauba 2000, p. 241-488; Niculi et alii2008, p. 14-24, 51-68, 71-87),Basarabi-oldneti(Meljukova 1958, p. 64-76; Lapunjan 1979; Kauba 2007, p. 369-380; Kauba 2008, p. 37-50) and

Getae-Thracian origin.Research stage

Thesurveys and archaeological research uncovered in this area 25 monuments (Fig. 3) with a

different research degree (Fig. 2/1). Some of these, such as the settlements Saharna Mare/DealulMnstirii, Saharna Mic, Saharna La an, Saharna iglu, Saharna La Revichin and thenecropolises Saharna Gura Hulboacei, Saharna iglu were investigated by means of

archaeological excavations. However, most of them are known by surface survey only.The biggest issue in studying the archaeological objectives form the region of Middle Dniester

is to establish the periods of their foundation, development and abandonment. Although being still at a

quite modest level of research, the analysis of discovered materials makes possible to establish the


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diachronic evolution of these monuments. Therefore, as a result of archaeological investigations at sites

from micro-zone Saharna were highlighted four evolution periods: 1) end of 12th 11thc. BC; 2) 10th

first half of 8thc. BC; 3) second half of 8th 6th/5thc. BC; 4) 5th/4th-3rdc. BC (fig. 2/3).

Cultural-chronologic distribution of monuments

I. End of 12thc.-11thc. BCThis horizon has been documented by archaeological excavation at the open settlements Saharna

Mic, Saharna iglu and Saharna Mare/Dealul Mnstirii (Fig. 3/1). Most eloquent traces of livingwere discovered at Saharna Mic(Fig. 4) were are know three constructions, six pits and a rich ceramic

material, ornamented exclusively with incising or in relief decoration (Niculi et alii2008, p. 14-24,fig. 3-11, photo 4, 5, 8, 9).

At Saharna iglu(Fig. 5/1-7) to this horizon is attributed a pit (no. 8) were was discovered

pottery with trumpet shape neck, truncated bowls with wavy walls and the rim slightly thickened within

and cups with profiled neck and biconical body, some examples have one raised handle with a cylindrical

button in the upper part, ornaments with transversal incised stripes interrupted by flattened supports

(Niculi, Nicic 2008, p. 227, fig. 17/2-10) similar to those from pit no. 1 from Saharna Mic (Niculi

et alii2008, p. 19-20, fig. 9/1, 3-11) or with ,,fir leaf patterns. All the ceramic material from pit no. 8is entirely attributed to the period of the end of 12 thc. 11thc. BC. This pit is overlapped partially by

another complex (pit no. 9) with a filling of different pot fragments with in relief and pressed decorationcharacteristic to the ceramic assortment discovered at the monuments of Cozia-Saharna culture

(Niculi, Nicic 2008, p. 228-229, fig. 17/1, 18/1-9). The overlapping of the two complexes with

different materials demonstrates clearly that pit no. 8 was used long before the pit no. 9 and which

indicates to the existence of an initial settlement in the area of Saharna iglu site just like at SaharnaMic and which functioned at the end of 12thc. 11thc. BC.

A similar situation was attested at Saharna Mare/Dealul Mnstirii1(Fig. 5/8-13). Here, in

the south-western part of the interfluve was discovered a pit (no. 119) whichs filling contained various

ceramic fragments with transversal and horizontal incised patterns, shaded triangles or relieved bands

(Niculi et alii2012b, p. 134, fig. 27/4, 8-23). Above the pit was discovered an ashy layer with thewidth of 0.5 m, overlapped by an agglomeration of human bones deposited following mostly the

anatomic position. Some ceramic fragments were discovered near the bones; they have incised, pressedor in relief decoration (Niculi et alii2012b, p. 141-144, fig. 33-35). The fact that there are no traces ofdisarrangement of pit no. 119 filling by those who set the agglomeration of human bones, but also thedifference of layers ( 0.5 m) between the two complexes demonstrates that they were used in different

chronological periods: the pit at the end of the 12thc. - 11thc. BC, while the agglomeration of bones

in the next centuries. From topographic viewpoint, the listed sites are situated in their immediate vicinity

to one another forming an agglomeration of three settlements.II. 10thc. - first half of 8thc. BC.From this period (Fig. 3/2) in Saharna area are kwon 11 settlements and two necropolises

Saharna iglu (Smirnov 1955, p. 119; Kauba, Golceva 1991, p. 197-209; Kauba 2000, p. 368-390), Saharna Gura Hulboacei (Smirnov 1955, p. 117-119; Meljukova 1955, p. 58-63; Meljukova1958, p. 84-87; Kauba 2000, p. 390-396). Only two of these settlements have been archaeologically

investigated Saharna Mare/Dealul Mnstirii and Saharna iglu. At Saharna I it were conductedonly small surveys (Kauba 2000, p. 414-416, fig. XLVIII/2, 5, 7-11, 13, XLIX).

The best researched among the Early Hallstatt settlements from Middle Dniester is the one from

Saharna Mare/Dealul Mnstirii. Initially here existed an open settlement which occupied the

south-western and central part of the interfluve. After a certain period, at its south-eastern periphery

(Fig. 6/2) was built a semi-oval citadel with the dimensions of 6064 m (circa 0.32 ha). It wasdelimited all-round by an artificial defensive system made of a wall with an adjacent ditch (Fig. 6/3).

1In Previous publications (Kauba 2000; Kauba, Haheu, Leviki 2000, p. 126; Niculi, Nicic 2007; Niculi, Zanoci, Arnut2008, p. 51-68 etc.) for the period from the end of 12 thc. - first half of 8thc. BC were mentioned two distinct sites: Saharna

Mare and Saharna Dealul Mnstirii. As a result of the archaeological investigations from the last 10 years was found outthat in this period existed only one site which occupied the entire surface of the settlement known under the name DealulMnstirii, also including the southern and central part of interfluve Saharna Mare. From these considerations and in ordernot to create confusions, it was decided that the settlement from the end of the 12 thc. - first half of 8 thc. BC to be namedSaharna Mare /Dealul Mnstirii.


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The research established that the wall consisted of two facades made of wood beams situated at around1 m from each over, while the space between them was filled with earth and stones (Fig. 6/4). The ditch

was dug in front of the wall and had the width of 4.2-6 m and the depth from the ancient step level of1.2-1.6 m (Niculi et alii2011a, p. 226-236, fig. 3; Niculi et alii2012b, p. 112-114, fig. 4, 9, 10).

On the north-western side of the citadel was discovered another premises, semi-oval inshape with the dimensions of 5578 m delimited by a ditch whichs ends united with the defensive ditch

of the citadel (Fig. 6/1). Ceramic fragments were identified in the inferior part of the ditch whichcorresponds to pottery characteristic to Cozia-Saharna culture and which allows us to date the defensive

construction together with the citadel with the Early Hallstatt period (Niculi et alii2012b, p. 124-126, fig. 18-20).

As a result of the archaeological investigations undertaken in the perimeter of the civil

settlement were discovered two huts, 45 household pits and a rich archaeological material (Fig. 7; 8/1)

(Niculi, Nicic 2007, p. 225-248; Niculi et alii2008, p. 51-68, 71-87, fig. 40-67, 69-84; Niculi etalii2009, p. 193-225; Niculi, Nicic 2012b, p. 169-184) attributed to Cozia-Saharna cultural horizon.Also, within the settlement were attested some complexes related to the funerary practices of the

inhabitants of the site (Niculi, Nicic 2011a, p. 225-235). Inside the citadel were discovered a surfaceconstruction, over 40 household pits, a cult complex and a diverse archaeological inventory (Niculi et

alii2012b, p. 126-161, 21-45) typical to Cozia-Saharna findings.Saharna iglusite represents an open settlement with the surface of around 300m2situated

on the high bank of Dniester. Here, as a result of archaeological investigations were discovered a hut,

two surface constructions, over 40 household pits and a rich archaeological inventory (Niculi, Nicic

2008, p. 205-232) attributed to the Early Hallstatt horizon of Cozia-Saharna type (Fig. 8/2).

While investigating the distribution of Early Hallstatt monuments in the area of Saharna we

notice a grouping of them into an agglomeration occupying a stripe on the right bank of Dniester withthe length of 8 km. The citadel from Saharna Mare is situated at an equal distance from the extremitiesof this agglomeration which makes us assume it to be the administrative-political centre of thisterritorial unit.

III. The second half of 8th- 6th/5thc. BC.

To this evolution stage belong the sites from Saharna Mic and Saharna Mare ( Fig. 3/3). Thearchaeological research demonstrates that towards the middle of the 8thc. BC - the beginning of the 7th

c. BC Saharna Mic promontory is populated again. Stating with this period here was a fortified

settlement with a wall and an adjacent ditch (Fig. 9/1-3). As a result of the investigations wasestablished that the wall consisted of two facades made of vertical wooden beams united withhorizontal wooden straps. The space between them was filled with debris, sand, clay and stone.

Therefore, here was built a real wall with the width of around 6m. The ditch had a large opening at the

surface of 5.4 m and a depth of 2 m. The discovery among the ruins of the wall of Thraco-Getaeceramics dated with the 7th-6thc. BC offers the possibility to assume that the wall from Saharna Micwas built and functioned precisely in this period (Niculi et alii2008, p. 25-28, pl. 1, photo 3). Withtime, as a result of the increase in number of population and the need for more space, the defensive

system was been demolished. On the top of the wall and also in the upper ditch layer were foundtraces of construction, while the archaeological inventory can be dated with the 4th-3rdc. BC. (Niculi

et alii2008, p. 28-34, fig. 12-13). This situation demonstrates clearly that the defensive system existedbefore these buildings.

In this period, the site from Saharna Mare has been fortified with a palisade on the western

part of the interfluve dividing it from one edge to another. A ditch was preserved from this defensive

construction, trapeze shaped in section with the width at surface of 1.2-1.8 m, at bottom of 0.20-0.36 m

and the depth of around 1 m (Fig. 9/4-5). This ditch was probably the foundation/place were the beamsof the palisade were fixed into (Niculi et alii2008, p. 87, fig. 50-51, photo 11; Niculi et alii2010, p.363-364, fig. 7).

IV. 5th

/4th

-3rd

c. BC.In this period the number of sites increases significantly. The surveys (Niculi et alii2013, p.26-28) and the archaeological investigations identified in his region 11 fortifications and eight civil

settlements (Fig. 3/4). Among these, archaeological excavations were conducted only at four fortified


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sites: Saharna Mare, Saharna Mic, Saharna Revichin and Saharna La an. At Buciuca fortresswas conducted a small archaeological survey which established the period when the defensive system

was build (Niculi et alii2012a, p. 17-19).Saharna Mare fortification occupies in this period the central and the eastern part of the

interfluve on a trapeze shape surface on the high terrace (the altitude of about 140 m from the river bed)

of the right bank of Dniester. The northern, eastern and southern sides of the interfluve are marked by

high steep banks of the promontories that unite in the western part of Saharna village. For the defense

of the fortress from the 5th/4th-3rdc. BC was used a circular defensive system surrounding a surface of 6

ha (Fig. 10/3). The defensive elements from the western side had a length of around 385 m and consisted

from a wall (Fig. 10/5) with an adjacent ditch, three bastions with own ditches placed on flank and inthe center (Fig. 10/4). As a result of the archaeological investigations was established that the wallhad a width of around 5.6 m and was built from wooden hull with four facades, filling of earth, sand,

gravel and stone. The ditch had the width in the upper part of 15 m and the inferior 6 m and the depth

of around 3.2 m. The bastions on the western side were placed on the entrance gates and were

semicircular in shape, with the diameter of around 70 m the central one, and around 30 m those from

flanks. For the building of the bastions was used the same building technique as for the premises wall wooden hull with filling (Niculi et alii2007, p. 27-62; Niculi et alii2008, p. 89-99, pl. 5-7, photo

13-26; Niculi et alii2010, p. 365-371, fig. 8-11). On the northern, eastern and southern sides, whichare currently quite steep, the site was defended by a wall whose remains were traced on a total lengthof 650 m. The wall is wavy on the eastern side forming eight bastions grouped by four at the north-eastern and south-eastern flanks. The bastions (Fig. 10/1, 2) have a semi-round shape with a diameter

of 9-11 m and are situated at the distance of 5-6 m from one another, the distance from the two groups

of bastions being of 34 m. The bastions are situated in such a way to defend both the flanks and the

frontal part of the fortification. As a result of the archeological investigations was established that the

same building technique was used for the construction of the wall and the bastions: wooden hull madeof two facades with filling of earth and stones. The width of the wall varies from one portion to another

but stays within the limits of 1.1-1.6 m.

The archaeological research from the Thraco-Getian fortress Saharna Mare revealed traces of

four surface constructions, nine hearths, over 130 household pits and a rich and varied archaeologicalmaterial represented by tools, weapons, horse harness parts, adornment objects (Niculi et alii2011b,

p. 193-204), local and imported pottery (Niculi et alii2008, p. 102-140, fig. 92-159).The fortified fortress Saharna Mic is situated north of Saharna Mare being placed on a

promontory with the altitude of around 160 m with slopes almost impenetrable steep slopes on the south-

western, south and south-eastern parts (Fig. 11/1). The settlement was defended by two bastions in the

north and north-eastern part. The northern bastion wall formed a semi-circle with the diameter of 50m and was built from a hull of wood beams with the width of 8m and filled with earth and stone ( Fig.

12/1-3) (Niculi et alii 2010, p. 374, fig. 14). For the construction of the north-western bastion was usedanother building technique. It had a stone semicircle foundation (Fig. 11/2) with a length of 37 m and

width varying between 5 and 9 m. Two to nine rows of broken stone (Fig. 11/3-4) remained from this

wall (Niculi et alii2008, p. 25, 169, fig. 2).As a result of the archaeological investigations of the layer dated with the 5 th/4th-3rdc. BC were

discovered four constructions, 19 household pits and a varied archaeological material (Niculi et alii2008, p. 28-46, fig. 12-39).

The fortification Saharna La Revichin is situated at 2.2 km north-east of the fortress

Saharna Mic on the right bank of Dniester which is 80-100m above the river bed on this parts.

It is semi-circular in shape and has a surface of 15070-75 m. It is protected on the east-north-

east side by the high steep bank of Dniester and on the rest sides by a built defensive system

consisting of a wall with an adjacent ditch. The investigations established that the wall was builtfrom wood beams hull with a width of around 5m and a filling of earth and sand. The ditch was 8 m

width and 5.5 m deep (Levinschi et alii2002, p. 41-44, fig. 1; Levinschi 2004, p. 64, 74). Insidethe citadel were found three constructions deepened into the ground, 12 surface constructions anda varied archaeological material represented mostly by Getae-Thracian and imported ceramics

(Levinschi et alii2000, p. 87-100; Levinschi 2001, p.103-111; Levinschi 2004, p. 65-80, fig.1-6).


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The fortress Saharna La anwas situated to the south of Saharna Mare on the high and

steep bank of a canyon (Valea Crac) and consisted of two premises (fig. 12/4). The first was irregularpolygonal in shape with the dimensions of 307254 m. It was delimited on the north and west by the

abrupt slopes of the depression, and on the south and east by a built defensive system representing a

ditch and probably a wall or palisade forming a semi-circle with the total length of 458 m. The second

premises was semi-oval with approximate dimensions of 17560 m and was situated on the north-

eastern extremity of the first premises. Therefore, the fortification was naturally protected on the north

by the abrupt slope of the canyon and in the west, east and south by an artificial defensive system: a

wall with an adjacent ditch. The investigation conducted at this defensive system revealed that thewall consisted from beams hull 3 m wide filled with earth and stone (Fig. 12/5-6). In front of thewall at the distance of 2.7 m were discovered the traces of a ditch 2.2 m wide in the upper part and0,5m deep from the ancient step level. The modest proportions of the ditch do not correlate with the

characteristics of a defensive element; they were used most likely for water drainage (Niculi et alii2008, p. 151-153, pl. 9, photo 27-30). The archaeological research conducted in the premises, modest

though, uncovered nine household pits and a varied archaeological material dated with the 5th/4th-3rdc.

BC (Niculi et alii2008, p. 153-162, fig. 162-173; Zanoci, B 2011, p. 116-130).From topographic viewpoint was noted that the sites from this period are grouped on the banks

of the canyons which take their beginning from the Dniester river bed and go inside the land. The fortressSaharna La Revichin is an exception in this context, being situated directly on the high and steep bankof Dniester. The investigated region has three canyons which connected the Dniester with the

surrounding territories. The first is situated near Stohnaia village, who hosts three fortifications

(Stohnaia I, Sohnaia III, Stohnaia IV) and a civil settlement.

The second canyon begins on the territory of contemporary Saharna village and bifurcates

towards west of monastery Sf. Treime. In this area are attested five fortifications (Saharna Mare,Saharna Mic, Saharna La an, Saharna Valea Grimidon, Saharna La Vile) and four civilsettlements. The third canyon is located to the north of Buciuca village on whichs bank are attested

two fortifications (Buciuca and Saharna Hulboaca) and a civil settlement.These concentrations/agglomerations of civil settlement sites situated in the immediate

vicinity of the fortifications formed a so-called extra-murus area. For example, to the north of SaharnaMic fortress was recently investigated a civil settlement from the same period. This observation is valid

for other fortresses, such as Saharna La an in whose vicinity were found three civil settlements orSaharna Hulboaca with an adjacent civil settlement etc.

Based on the topographic location of the sites from Saharna area and on the results of

archaeological investigations we can assume that in the 5 th/4th-3rd c. BC on this territory was an

administrative-territorial formation with a possible center/capital at the fortification Saharna Mare.

Conclusions

Several layers of habitat dated with the 12 th/11th-3rd c. BC were discovered at the

archaeologically investigated monuments but also at some sites were surveys were conducted. (Fig.

2/2). Currently, the entire cultural-chronologic spectrum was attested at only one site Saharna Mare,

starting with the aspect Tmoani-Holercani-Hansca/Sihleanu-Rmnicele-Saharna Mic and ending

with the 3rdc. BC. At Saharna Mic were discovered three living levels (end of 12 th-11thc. BC; the

second half of the 8th-6th/5thc. BC; 5th/4th-3rdc. BC). Among the site with two living levels attested are

those from Saharna iglu (end of 12thc. BC-11thc. BC; 10t-first half of 8thc. BC); Stohnaia I (10th-first half of 8thc. BC; 5th/4th-3rdc. BC) etc. However, most numerous (10) are the monuments with only

one attested level of living - 5th/4th-3rdc. BC.2.

Mapping of monuments from the 12th/11th-3rdc. BC from the area of Saharna and the comparison

with the situation from other regions populated by communities from that period, especially Cozia-

Saharna and Thraco-Getians, allow us to talk about a quite densely populated space. Although the

number varies from one period to another we can conclude about a permanent living on this territory(Figs. 2/3; 13). Demographic explosions are attested in the 10th-9th/8thc. BC and in the 5th/4th-3rdc.

2More levels of living could be identified in case of deeper research of these monuments.


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BC a time when most of the sites functioned. The decrease in number of sites can be caused by some

cataclysms which produced in the respective periods or by the insufficient research degree ofarchaeological monuments3.

Regardless of the period, the settlements were not isolated but formed groups of several sites.

These agglomerations are usually formed of fortifications, open settlements and necropolises. Thenumber of sites within the agglomerations varies from one period to another, most rich being specificto Cozia-Saharna and Thraco-Getian cultures (5th/4th-3rd c. BC). These agglomerations represented

probably the vital space of some political-territorial formations from the Middle Dniester region.

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Ion Niculi, State University of Moldova, Chiinu

Aurel Zanoci, State University of Moldova, Chiinu

Ee-mail: [email protected]

Mihail B, State University of Moldova, Chiinu

E-mail: [email protected]


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