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ACADMIE ROUMAINE

INSTITUT DARCHOLOGIE V. PRVAN

D A C I A
R E V U E D A R C H O L O G I E
ET DHISTOIRE ANCIENNE
NOUVELLE SRIE

LIX

2015

EDITURA ACADEMIEI ROMNE

RDACTION
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ACADMIE ROUMAINE
INSTITUT DARCHOLOGIE V. PRVAN

DACIA LIX, 2015


REVUE DARCHOLOGIE ET DHISTOIRE ANCIENNE
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANCIENT HISTORY
ZEITSCHRIFT FR AR CHOLOGIE UND GES CHICHT E DES AL TERTUM S
X
SOMMAIRE
CONTENTS
I N H A L T

TUDES
MONICA MRGINEANU CRSTOIU, De larchitecture hellenistique de Callatis: une expression originale du style
ionique ...
STELUA GRAMATICU, On the metrology of the city of Istros in the autonomous period .
GEORGE CUPCEA, Careers in the guard of the Dacian Governor
FELIX MARCU, GEORGE CUPCEA, Recent developments in the fort of Bologa and on the northwestern Dacian
limes ..
ROBERT GINDELE, Die rmerzeitlichen Barbarensiedlungen von Livada/Ciuperceni Photovoltaik-Anlage GPSP
Solaris und Supuru de Sus Togul lui Cosmi. Neue Angaben bezglich der rechteckigen Gruben mit gebrannten
Wnden aus dem 2.-5. n. Chr. im oberen Theiss-Becken .
DANIELA TNASE, Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat
DANIEL-CLIN ANTON, Ethnische und chronologische Verhltnisse im Grberfeld Nr. 3 von Brateiu, Siebenbrgen
DANIELA MARCU ISTRATE, Byzantine influences in the Carpathian Basin around the turn of the millennium. The
pillared church of Alba Iulia ..

5
21
49
67

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127
153
177

NOTES ET DISCUSSIONS
FRED C. WOUDHUIZEN, The Sea Peoples: superior on land and at the sea
ADRIAN BLESCU, VALENTIN RADU, MIHAI CONSTANTINESCU, SORIN-CRISTIAN AILINCI,
Animal exploitation in Babadag culture. Satu Nou Valea lui Voicu site (Oltina, Constana County) ..
EMILIAN TELEAGA, Die La-Tne zeitlichen Grabfunde aus Brateiu, jud. Sibiu, Rumnien. Ein Beitrag zum
Grabwesen Siebenbrgens .
ALEXANDER RUBEL, Afterlife and the living. The Arginusae trial and the omission of burying the dead ..
CORIOLAN HORAIU OPREANU, A detachment of the legio VII Gemina Felix at Porolissum. When and why?
FLORIN-GHEORGHE FODOREAN, Distances along the Roman roads in the ancient itineraries: from Britannia to
Asia. A short comparison ...
CRISTINA MUJA, ADRIAN IONI, Sexual dimorphism and general activity levels as revealed by the diaphyseal
external shape and historical evidence: case study on a medieval population from Transylvania ..
SERGEY BOCHAROV, ANDREY MASLOVSKY, AYRAT SITDIKOV, The beginning of glazed ceramics production
in the Southeast Crimea during the last quarter of the 13th century the first quarter of the 14th century
CTLIN NICOLAE POPA, Late Iron Age archaeology in Romania and the politics of the past

DACIA N.S., tome LIX, Bucarest, 2015, p. 3-388

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299
311
319
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337

PIGRAPHIE
CONSTANTIN C. PETOLESCU, Notes prosopographiques (VIII) ..
RAINER WIEGELS, Zwei gestempelte Silberbarren und ein sptantiker Goldbarren aus Crasna (Rumnien) .

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COMPTES RENDUS
Ion urcanu, Antichitatea greco-roman la Nistru de Jos i n teritoriile nvecinate, Editura Cartier, Chiinu, 2014,
760 p., 238 fig. (Thibaut Castelli)
Ennio Sanzi, Iuppiter Optimus Maximus Dolichenus. Un culto orientale fra tradizione e innovazione: riflessioni
storico-religiose (I Saggi, 52), Roma, 2013, 398 p. (Florian Matei-Popescu)
Materiale i Cercetri Arheologice (serie nou), X, 2014, Bucureti, Editura Academiei Romne, 300 p. (Liana Oa)..
ABRVIATIONS .

377
378
379
383

CONSIDERATIONS ON THE ARCHAEOLOGY


OF THE EARLY MIGRATIONS PERIOD IN BANAT*

DANIELA TNASE**
Keywords: early migration, chronology, settlements, cemeteries, monetary hoard
Abstract: All through the D1 stage of the early migration period, the Banat Plain was intensely populated. The
settlements from this region, alike those from the Pannonian Plain experienced a period of prosperity, reflected by the
wealth of the ceramic material on which the post-Cerneahov influences are to be noticed, most evident on the
technology of pottery production, their morphology and decoration. Although cemeteries with numerous graves are
characteristic of D1 stage, so far in Banat none had been exhaustively investigated. In the cemeteries from this period
new elements of ritual and funerary furniture of Eastern origin are to be noticed. During the D2 stage one can observe
a restriction of the dwelling area in Banat, as compared with the previous stage (D1). The artifacts come mostly from
graves found by chance in the 19th century. Only the cemetery at Timioara Freidorf had been systematically
investigated between 1988 and 2006. Finding of lavish pieces in Banat (in the graves from Izvin and Periam and also
in the grave? with gold coins from Denta) indicates the presence of a tribal elite revolving around a Hun powerhouse,
located most probably in the region west of the confluence of Mures and Tisa rivers. A less intensive dwelling is to
be noticed for the D3 stage, when Banat fell under the domination of the Gepidic Kingdom, only two discoveries
being archaeologically certified so far.
Cuvinte-cheie: migraii timpurii, cronologie, aezri, cimitire, tezaur monetar
Rezumat: n etapa D1 a epocii timpurii a migraiilor, Cmpia Banatului a fost intens locuit. Aezrile din aceast
regiune, la fel ca cele din Cmpia Panonic, au cunoscut o perioad de prosperitate, reflectat de bogia materialului
ceramic la care se observ influenele post-cerneahoviene, mai evidente n privina tehnicii de producere a vaselor,
precum i a morfologiei i a decorului acestora. Dei etapei D1 i sunt caracteristice cimitirele cu morminte numeroase,
pn n prezent, n Banat, nu a fost cercetat nici unul exhaustiv. n cimitirele din aceast perioad apar elemente noi
de ritual i de mobilier funerar, de origine rsritean. n etapa D2 se observ o restrngere a ariei de locuire n Banat,
comparativ cu etapa precedent - D1. Artefactele provin mai ales din morminte gsite ntmpltor n secolul XIX,
doar cimitirul de la Timioara Freidorf a fost cercetat sistematic, ntre anii 1988-2006. Descoperirile de piese
fastuoase din Banat (mormintele de la Izvin i Periam, mormntul? cu monede din aur de la Denta) indic prezena
unei elite tribale care gravita n jurul unui centru de putere hunic, situat cel mai probabil n regiunea de la vest de
confluena Mureului cu Tisa. O locuire puin intens se constat i n etapa D3, cnd Banatul intr sub dominaia
regatului gepid, fiind atestate arheologic pn n prezent doar dou descoperiri.

Archaeological evidence points that starting with the last third of the 4th century AD in nowadays
Banat emerged the first archaeological reflexes of an era that will lead to important changes in the political,
social and economic, but also in the ethnic structure of vast territories and will foreshadow the map of
Medieval Europe: the migration epoch.
For the migrations period, one of the most controversial and at the same time fascinating period in
European history in the first millennium AD, as written information is contradictory, the main course of
investigation is archaeological research. Based on the interpretation of archaeological sources, I shall try to
*

This study represents a synthesis of the works published in 2013 (Tnase 2013a and 2013b), with subsequent
additions and conclusions.
**
Muzeul Banatului din Timioara; danielaetanase@yahoo.com.
DACIA N.S., tome LIX, Bucarest, 2015, p. 127-151

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Daniela Tnase

sketch the historical and cultural context of the Banat plain (the region between Mure, Tisa and Danube
Rivers and Banat/Poiana Rusc Mountains) during the early stage of the migration period.
In the current state of research, given the absence of extensive archaeological excavations in Banat
(excepting perhaps the site from Timioara Freidorf) and because of partial publication of discoveries or
failure to publish the results of research, we know very little about archaeological landscape of this period.
The precariousness of archaeological information and the fact that we do not have a better chronology for
the published discoveries, connected to Central European chronology of the Roman era and the early
migration period resulted in a distorted image of the archaeological realities of this historical period in
Banat.
DISCUSSION ON THE CHRONOLOGY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
In the Romanian specialized literature the archaeological finds from the Banat belonging to the
antique and the migration period have never been related in any way with the chronological system1 for
Central and Eastern Europe proposed by the V. Bierbrauer2 and J. Tejral3 , although this would have been
possible, given the analogies with the findings from the Pannonian Plain, as an attempt in this respect was
initiated in Romania during their '90s of last century4. Thus, it was preferred the dating of long intervals of
time, 1st-4th centuries AD, 3rd-4th centuries AD, or 2nd-5th centuries AD, although chronological distinctions
could have been made between the cultural layers and the dwelling complexes, as recently done for the
archaeological site from Timioara Freidorf 5. For this reason, it was alleged that the last quarter of the
4th century AD in Banat is still unknown in terms of material culture6. Lately, the chronology of the early
migrations in nowadays Romania is under discussions, with particular reference to Transylvania and extraCarpathian region7. References to the discoveries from Banat are only circumstantially8.
The period of the 4th-5th centuries AD, specifically the last two to three decades of the 4th century and
the first half of the 5th century AD is defined in the Hungarian specialized literature as the Hun era9, and
divided into two historical periods. The first is the period before the arrival of the Huns, when population
of Iranian and Germanic lineage living in the steppe north of the Pontus and outside the Carpathian arch,
fled from their way and took refuge in the Sarmatian territories of the Pannonian Plain. The second period
is called the Attilas Hun era, marked by the settling of Huns in the Basin Carpathian and hence the change
of political power in Barbaricum. As a result, the spread of the so-called artefacts of eastern origin is a
phenomenon encountered in both periods mentioned10.
In my opinion, concerning the interval between AD 380 and 410/420, for the Carpathian Basin it
would be more appropriate to use denominations connected to a chronological system based on the analysis
of archaeological artefacts from settlements and cemeteries, stage D1 respectively, or generic names, such
as the beginning of the period of migration. Although there was a penetration of eastern artefacts before the
invasion of the Huns in the Carpathian Basin, one can notice evident cultural changes post 420 that have
been archaeologically distinguished and assigned to stage D2 (410-450)11. In terms of material culture,
there is still a goal of the research in defining specific artefacts of the two chronological horizons D1 and
D2 (especially the ceramic forms). Until now there is no clear division for the archaeological materials
from the settlements dated to the so-called Hun epoch with its two periods, some considering that there was
a continuity of material culture from the last quarter of the 4th century to the battle from Nedao in 454.
1

Schmauder 2002, p. 26 Tab.1, p. 28.


Bierbrauer 1980, p. 131-138; Bierbrauer 1994, p. 133, 139, note 278.
3
Tejral 1997, p. 351, 391.
4
Harhoiu 1990; Harhoiu 1998, Pl. CXXXVIII-CXL.
5
Mare et alii 2011, see chapters II and IV.
6
Harhoiu 1999, p. 64.
7
Opreanu 2002; Stanciu 2008; Ciuperc, Mgureanu 2008.
8
Ciuperc, Mgureanu 2008, p. 123, 125.
9
Vaday 1989, p. 209-210; for a more detailed approach, see Tnase 2013a, p. 62-63.
10
Vaday 1994, p. 105.
11
Schmauder 2002, p. 26, Tab.1.
2

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

129

Only in terms of cemeteries research, it could be noticed that in the Pannonian Plain begins to take
shape an archaeological horizon contemporary with the end of the Sntana de Mure - Cerneahov culture.
It is characterized by the use of combs with semi-circular or sharpened handle, buckles with thickened ring
and square plate, fibulae with the foot backed underneath, made of iron, 8-9 cm long, fibulae with plate on
the head and foot made of silver and bronze, certain eastern forms of beads and pendants etc.12.
Chronological limits of stage D2 (400/410-450)13 for the Pannonian Plain correspond to the
flourishing period of the Hun Empire that ruled a vast territory, from the Asian steppes to the centre of
Europe. The settling of the Huns here around 420 and then the collapse of their power in the year 454 was
essential. The fact is that one can broadly notice the cultural changes caused by these events, both in terms
of artefacts and everyday life.
Once settled in the Pannonian Plain, between the Tisa and Danube14, the Huns led a major policy
against the Roman Empire, on the one hand receiving fabulous sums as tribute for peace, on the other hand
starting wars, organizing predatory and looting raids in the empire that left traces deep in the memory of
the contemporaries. In that period, especially during Attilas reign (434-453), in the barbarian world there
were handled huge quantities of precious metal, gold as monetary subsidies and lavish attires and
jewelleries or luxury vessels, received as gifts or representing spoils of war. Gold collars, necklaces, silver
fibulae decorated in a polychrome style or decorated with palm-like ornaments and provided with knobs
with bud-like ornaments, cricket shaped fibulae and appliques, gold plaques, gold buckle belts with square
plate decorated with floral motifs, golden rings, shoe buckles decorated in cloisonn style, mirrors or
drinking services are characteristic of stage D215.
Although a transitional period (D2/D3), dated around the middle of the 5th century16 is accepted, the
D3 stage is broadly dated between 450 and 460-480/49017. This stage would be marked by the collapse of
the Hun Empire after the battle of Nedao (454). It marked the ascent of the Gepidic Kingdom in the Tisa
Plain, and the leaving of the Ostrogoths from Lower Moesia towards Italy in the year 48818 (Jordanes, LVII,
292). These chronological schemes are still approximate and regional differences may arise related to the
socio-political situation, the perpetuation of some rituals or prolonged use of some types of artefacts, which
makes the difference between certain regions and the generally accepted chronologies19.
We reiterate here that there are certain clothing fashion trends and thus of the metal processing
technique that were changed because of certain events that led to population displacement. So, one can
notice the disappearance of certain ornaments and objects of eastern origin: tiaras, hood ornaments and
caldrons. New types of ornaments came into fashion, some of certain Byzantine origin20, such as chains of
gold braided wire for hanging, according to the Byzantine fashion, gold pendants and beads of very diverse
form and decoration21, or pectoral ornaments and gold fibulae with onion-shaped knobs. Also, cultural traits
and habits highlighting specific clothing items for Germanic people, Gepids and Ostrogoths became
obvious, while Eastern steppe features disappeared.
With the D3 stage of the early migrations, lavish artefacts made of gold, decorated with almandine
in cloisonn style and rarely with cabochons are associated 22: earrings, pendants, fibulae, plaque buckles,
bag fittings, shoe liners and also the emerging gilded silver fibulae, with the head plate usually decorated
with three buttons and a diamond-shaped foot plate completed by a bird or animal head23. In addition, for
this phase Kerbschnitt technique decorated objects are characteristic, which can be found on fibulae or belt
12

Schmauder 2002, p. 29.


Bierbrauer 1980, p. 131-138; Bierbrauer 1994, p. 133, 139, nota 278; Tejral 1997, p. 351, 391; Schmauder 2002,
p. 26, Tab. 1, p. 28.
14
Bna 1991, p. 198.
15
Schmauder 2002, p. 31-32.
16
Harhoiu 1998, p. 155.
17
Bierbrauer 1994, p. 142; Schmauder 2002, p. 26, Tab. 1.
18
Bierbrauer 1994, p. 139-140.
19
Tejral 1997, p. 351-352.
20
Harhoiu, Gora 2000, p. 37.
21
Harhoiu, Gora 2000, p. 57.
22
Harhoiu, Gora 2000, p. 37.
23
Harhoiu 1998, Pl. CXXXIX.
13

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Daniela Tnase

pieces, decorated with volutes and coiled stalks24. At the end of this phase ends the era of gold and
almandine in the Middle and Lower Danube region. The domination of silver begins, along with bronze,
which will be the material of choice in making jewellery pieces until the last third of the 6th century25.
Therefore, the finds of gold pieces, which can be attributed to the Gepidic Kingdom during the first two
thirds of the 6th century, are very rare26.
STAGE D1
1. Settlements
Starting with the last third of the 4th century AD, the settlements in the Banat Plain, as those from the
Pannonian Plain, experienced a period of prosperity reflected the richness of ceramic material27; cultural
elements of eastern origin reflected in both settlements and in cemeteries began to emerge.
In the Banat Plain several settlements dating from the post-Roman period were investigated28, but
not in the context of large-scale excavations allowing full delineation of the habitation space, except for the
archaeological site of Timioara Freidorf where the almost entire surface was investigated. Only few
researched settlements provided data about habitation levels that can be dated in the late 4th century beginning of the 5th century AD.

Fig. 1. Discoveries belonging to D1 stage.

24

Bierbrauer 1980, p. 137, Schmauder 2002, p. 32.


Harhoiu, Gora 2000, p. 63.
26
For the discovery of a Gepid princely with golden artefacts at Tisa Plain, see Tnase 2010, p. 141-147.
27
Vaday 2011, p. 234.
28
Bejan 1981a; Bejan 1981b, Mare 2004, p. 27-61, Benea 1996, p. 222-300.
25

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

131

Thus, in the settlement from Timioara Freidorf a habitation level dating from the last third of the
4th - beginning of the 5th century AD was found 29, characterized by the presence of a significant share of
the slow wheel made pottery made of a sandy paste, brick-red or brown coloured, slightly rough, with a
rich decorative palette: beams of wavy lines, indented lines of slash wheel and rows of stitches. As for
forms there are pots of different sizes, lids, bowls and colanders (fig. 5-6). This pottery was used mainly
for cooking. There had been also found a large quantity of fine ceramics, worked at the fast wheel, made
of a fine grey paste, with different shades. The typology of vessels includes various forms, some of them
polished (fig. 3/1, 8, 10 and fig. 4/6-7): pots, amphorae, jugs, bowls, glasses, which were employed to
preserve supplies, cooked food and dining.
Another settlement with a habitation level datable (in our opinion) to D1 stage has been documented
at Foeni Selite (Timi County)30. Along slow wheel shaped pottery, made from a sandy, brick-red
coloured paste, a censer decorated with alveoli on the base, typical for the late 4th century AD was
discovered31. A rectangular cult vessel with tamga type drawings, found in Timioara Cioreni32 could be
an indication that there was a habitation level belonging to D1 chronological horizon in this settlement. At
that time, in the Carpathian Basin tamga drawings did not serve as tribal mark, as in the eastern part of
Europe33. So that these containers had rather a function related to the cult of the sun and fire, being spread
east of Middle and Lower Tisa River course, i.e. that part of the Carpathian basin where the Alans reached,
who knew and practiced this cult in their homeland34. The D1 habitation level from Timioara Cioreni is
attested by the discovery of conical cups with handle and alveoli on the base and colanders35, ceramic forms
specific only of the last third of the 4th century AD. The settlement was dated to the 3rd and 4th centuries
AD36, as the existence of a habitation level from the 4th century was recognized only on the basis of the
vessel with drawings considered to be paleo-Christian37.
Recently published results of the excavations in a settlement south of Mure River, Arad Barrier,
where eight houses and their annexes were unearthed, along with exterior ovens, smokehouses and
fountains. All are to be dated in the second half of the 4th century38. Without providing a remarkable
archaeological material, the settlement can be ascribed to the archaeological landscape of stage D1, based
on analogies with artefacts found in settlements investigated in other areas of the Banat Plain.
In Banat Plain there are few documented archaeological sites where excavations were made, but
some little laconic information was published. So, near Izvin (Timi County) surface collections and a
small-scale test trench were performed, of which results are still unpublished. The discoveries, consisting
in grey wheel made pottery, are specific of the Sntana de Mure culture39. From a settlement discovered
nearby Ictar-Budin (Timi County)40 comes a comb with semi-circular handle, but we do not know the
context of discovery. We only know that it was found in 1971 as a result of archaeological research41 (fig.
8/1). Another comb with semi-circular handle was discovered at Giarmata (Timi County), in a pit
belonging to a settlement investigated in 201042. It should be mentioned here that the combs with semicircular handle begin to appear in the Pannonian Plain only after the second half of the 4th century AD43.
29

Tnase 2011a, p. 52-56.


Szentmiklosi, Timoc 2004-2005.
31
Timoc, Szentmiklosi 2008, p. 118.
32
Benea 1995-1996, p. 369-370.
33
Vaday, Medgyesi 1993, p. 87.
34
Vaday, Medgyesi 1993, p. 87-88.
35
Benea, Bejan, Mare 1986, p. 22-23.
36
Benea, Bejan, Mare 1986, p. 28.
37
Benea, Bejan, Mare 1986, p. 28.
38
Grumeza, Ursuiu, Copos 2013, p. 15-22, 52.
39
Moroz-Pop 1983, p. 473.
40
Moroz-Pop 1993, p. 153.
41
Mare 2005, p. 35, 47, note 3.
42
The comb was discovered during archaeological investigations carried out in 2010 on the Arad-Timioara
highway, site 10, km 43+300 43+600. I thank for the information to dr. Lavinia Grumeza, County Museum of
Ethnography and of the Border Regiment in Caransebes.
43
Pintye 2009, p. 177.
30

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Daniela Tnase

A particularly interesting discovery is that from Lenauheim (Timi County), which consists of seven
integer vessels (bowls, amphorae and amphorae-like pots) for which, unfortunately, we do not know the
context in which they occurred. It is known only that were found together44 (fig. 7). The vessels were dated
to the 4th century AD45. It is still uncertain the purpose of storing these vessels: is it the case of a store of a
potter or the pantry of a wealthy person, especially that no archaeological research have been undertaken
at the site. Although we do not know the context of discovery, it is clear that there was a settlement there
and the vessels were not isolated deposited.
The discovery of Lenauheim is not unique. Also in Banat, at Vrac Crvenka (Serbia), a group of
seven grey ceramic vessels was recovered from a pit with burnt walls, partly destroyed, and have been dated
to the second half of the 4th century AD46. Depositing of the vessels at Lenauheim, Vrac Crvenka,
Subotica (Serbia) and in other places from the Middle Tisa plain is considered by A.H. Vaday as a
consequence of attacks of the Gepids, following the fight from Nedao (454) and the destruction of the Hun
Empire and of Sarmatians settlements47. Given the current state of research and while the contexts of
discovery of those vessels is often uncertain, one can only formulate the hypothesis that storage of pots was
not necessarily because of invaders, but it rather represented a way of preserving food in optimal conditions
of temperature, especially in summer or, why not, a pottery deposit. There are also indications that these
vessels are to be dated rather in D1 stage, as some of them are decorated with stylized animal motifs, being
the product of a pottery which operated in southern Pannonian Plain towards the end of the 4th century AD
and whose goods were spread in this region48.
In the last decades of the 20th century, excavations were undertaken in the settlements located in the
nowadays Serbian Banat. S. Trifunovi made a chronological division of the investigated settlements,
which dates from the end of the 3rd - middle of the 4th century AD (alongside with those from Baranda
Ciglane, Alibunar Male Livade and Selite, Banatski Karlovac Ciglana-stari iskop) and the end of the
4th - beginning of the 5th century AD (Padej Ciglane and Banatski Karlovac Kalvarija)49. However, all
archaeological sites mentioned above are to be assigned rather to the chronological horizon D1, having
clear analogies both in the settlement from Timioara Freidorf and other settlements from the Southern
Pannonian Plain dated to the last third of the 4th century and the first or second decade of the 5th century
AD. In these settlements, sherds of pottery made at the slow wheel were found, brick red coloured,
decorated with wavy lines50, which emerged only after mid-4th century AD51. On grey fragments of pottery
made at the fast wheel, a polished decoration in a rhombic shaped mesh appears52, used especially during
the Late Sarmatian - Hun period53. The same motif appears on a grey ceramic barrel-shaped bowl, found in
Banatski Karlovac Ciglana-stari iskop54, specific of the same era55.
2. Cemeteries
Though cemeteries with numerous graves are characteristic of stage D1, so far in Banat no one is
exhaustively investigated. We know of the grave from Timioara Pdurea Verde56, N-S oriented, the part
of cemetery from Dudetii Vechi Movila lui Dragomir, with graves oriented S-N57 and the recently
excavated six graves from Giarmata oriented S-N (five of them) and N-S (one)58. Only in Novi Kneevac
44

Bejan 1973, p. 131.


Bejan 1973, p. 136.
46
Simovljevi 1957, p. 62, 65, Pl. VII/1-7.
47
Vaday 1997, p. 106-107.
48
Vaday 1980-1981, p. 127-128.
49
Trifunovi 1999-2000, p. 82.
50
Trifunovi 1999-2000, p. 85, Pl. I/30-36.
51
Vaday, Medgyesi 1993, p. 63.
52
Trifunovi 1999-2000, p. 86, Pl. II/9; p. 89, Pl. V.
53
Vaday 1989, p. 161.
54
Trifunovi 1999-2000, p. 89, Pl. V.
55
Vaday 1989, p. 159.
56
Radu 1973, p. 147-149.
57
Tnase 2002-2003, p. 233-234.
58
I thank for the information to dr. Lavinia Grumeza.
45

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

133

(Serbia) ten graves were found59, apparently S-N oriented60 and 12 graves at Vrac Crvenka61, oriented
N-S. In a destroyed grave from urjan (Serbia), a fibula with semi-circular head plate and rhombic foot
plate was found. From another grave discovered in Starevo (Serbia) comes a comb with semi-circular
handle, while other five bone combs with semi-circular handle were found in Stara Palanka (Serbia)62. The
two tombs discovered in the northwestern corner of Banat, in jszentivn and Klrafalva B (Hungary)63
seem to be related to the same chronological horizon.
Until recently, in Banat there was no published data on an archaeological site dating from the early
migration era in which both the settlement and the related cemetery had been investigated. Archaeological
researches along the Timioara-Arad section of the highway, south of Mure River, have unearthed a
settlement and a cemetery in the site of Arad Barier64. Among the dwelling complexes several graves
were found, which led to the conclusion that they belong to the settlements cemetery65. The analysis of
settlements and cemeteries from the Tisa Plain indicates that the cemetery were located at some (more or
less) distance from the settlement66. So it is unlikely that in this case the settlement and cemetery had
functioned simultaneously, especially since the graves are located very close to houses67 or even in an
abandoned one68. Probably the cemetery is to be dated later than the abandonment of the settlement, which
was used for a short period of time, as shown in stratigraphic context69.
In Timioara Pdurea Verde archaeological complexes belonging to a settlement70 and a grave71
were discovered. Researches were made at the beginning of the second half of the last century and in year
200072, but no connections could be made between complexes (whether they do or not belong to the same
settlement). In my opinion, the complexes, on the basis of ceramics, seem rather to belong to the end of the
3rd - first half of the 4th century AD. In 1969, a woman grave was discovered oriented N-S, dated at the end
of the 3rd - first half of the 4th century AD73. Subsequently, it was dated at the end of the 4th century74, which
seems more likely. In the grave two fibulae were discovered, a situation usually encountered in cemeteries
from the area ruled by the Goths, suggesting contacts between the bearers of Cerneahov culture and
Sarmatians from Banat plain. Besides, the biconical form of mugs body and the maximum diameter line
placed near the bottom is common in the area of culture Sntana de Mure - Cerneahov75.
A discovery alike that of the Timioara Pdurea Verde from 1969, comes from Snpetru German
- Hotarul Rech (Arad County), where a few pieces were found by chance, probably deriving from a single
grave. They were two fibulae with the foot backed underneath, two semi-circular necklaces bronze and
faceted amber beads76. The presence of this two fibulae indicates a later dating of the discovery of the
Snpetru German, towards the end of the 4th - beginning of the 5th century AD.
The cemetery from Vrac Crvenka with graves oriented N-S, can be ascribed to the chronological
horizon D1, originally being assigned to an interval between the end of 3rd and the end of the 4th century
59

Prducz 1957, p. 94-98.


Prducz 1957, p. 94.
61
Simovljevi 1957, p. 57-58, 63-64.
62
Ivanievi, Bugarski 2008, p. 42.
63
Vaday, Medgyesi 1993, p. 82. Fig. 16/1-5, 16/24-37; p. 83 with bibliography.
64
Grumeza, Ursuiu, Copos 2013, p. 9, 23.
65
Grumeza, Ursuiu, Copos 2013, p. 23.
66
Vaday 1997, p. 105.
67
Grumeza, Ursuiu, Copos 2013, p. 102, Pl. II.
68
Grumeza, Ursuiu, Copos 2013, p. 24.
69
Grumeza, Ursuiu, Copos 2013, p. 51.
70
Tnase 1998.
71
It is possible that the cemetery was larger, as other pieces entered the collections of the Banat Museum, coming
from the area of the former Mechanic Plant, most probably from graves. See Tnase 2013a, p. 69-70.
72
Medele, Tnase 2001.
73
Radu 1973, p. 149.
74
Smpetru 1992, p. 141.
75
Stanciu 2008, p. 155.
76
Drner 1970, p. 454, Fig. 11/4, p. 455-456.
60

134

Daniela Tnase

AD77. But in grave no. 7 two fibulae had been found, a crossbow-shaped one and the other with the foot
backed underneath, which is not characteristic of Sarmatian attire and a cup with biconical shape and
maximum body diameter line marked by an edge, a form that can be ascribed to stage D178. In the case of
the findings from Vrac Crvenka no connection could be established between the settlement to which to
the group of the above-mentioned vessels belonged and the cemetery.
A rectangular vessel decorated with concentric circles, similar to the one from Vrac Crvenka79,
was found in a grave from jszentivn80. Another, undecorated one comes from grave no. 54, found in the
cemetery from Klrafalva B. At Klrafalva B there were investigated graves dated in Sarmatian, Avar and
Arpadian period. The graves from the Sarmatian period are oriented S-N and N-S (one) and were dated in
the late Sarmatian period81. Yet, grave no. 54 seems to belong rather to the end of the 4th century, since
ritual depositing of several pots was documented82.
In 1959 several grey vessels, worked at the fast wheel, discovered on a location belonging to Jebel
brickyard were entered in the registered the inventory of Banat Museum in Timioara (fig. 3/5). It seems
that these vessels come from an inhumation cemetery dated to 3rd / 4th century AD83. In fact, these bowls
and small dishes are characteristic forms of the repertoire of serving dishes from the late 4th - early 5th
century. In the same area, on the edge of excavations carried out by the brickyard workers, a test trench
was conducted in 196284. A hut with a kiln was discovered and several hearth fragments were recovered.
On the basis of the ceramics, complex was dated to the 4th century AD85. The sherds come from restorable
pots, worked at the slow wheel from a sandy semi fine paste, brick coloured, decorated with oblique rows
of dashes made with the wheel, pottery similar to that found in the settlement from Timioara Freidorf
(fig. 5/7). Consequently, the hut rather belongs to a settlement from the same chronological interval as the
cemetery, but one have not this certitude, in the absence of archaeological excavations, that there is any
connection between the cemetery and settlement; we can only say that they may be contemporary.
From Comlou Mare (Timi County) comes a sword with two edges (spatha), found in a surface
collection carried out in 1957 by the archaeologist Marius Moga86. On the same occasion a ceramic drinking
glass and a cup with the maximum diameter close to the bottom and marked by an edge (fig. 8/5-7) were
discovered. No other details about the conduct of this field research are available. However, we can assume
that the objects come from a cemetery, given that the sword, an artefact usually found in graves, was
discovered in a fairly good state of preservation. Double-edged swords, however fragmentary, were found
in Banat at Vrac Crvenka in grave 1187 and in Novi Kneevac in grave 688.
These examples facilitate the dating of Comlou Mare find and place it on the map of cemeteries
dating to the end of the 4th century - 5th century AD.
In a grave from Saravale (Timi County) a string of beads, a barrel-shaped bowl and a small cup, both
grey coloured were found89 (fig. 8/2-4). The presence of a single vessel in the grave is a Sarmatian tradition,
but the presence of several vessels with food offerings is significant for the eastern, Cerneahov influence90.
One should notice that the N-S grave orientation is specific of the Sntana de Mure - Cerneahov
culture bearers91. This orientation has been documented for both Timioara Pdurea Verde and Vrac
Crvenka, being another argument for their dating in stage D1. The appearing of other funeral rituals is to
77

Simovljevi 1957, p. 66.


For illustration, see Simovljevi 1957, p. 64, Pl. V/1- cup, 6-7- fibulae.
79
Simovljevi 1957, p. 63, Pl. I/2.
80
Vaday, Medgyesi 1993, p. 82, Fig. 16/1.
81
Prducz 1950, p. 143, 218.
82
Prducz 1950, p. 144; Vaday, Medgyesi 1993, p. 83.
83
Bejan 1981b, p. 156-157.
84
Record from the inventory of the Banat Museum Timioara.
85
Bejan 1981b, p. 157.
86
Protase 2000, p. 217.
87
Simovljevi 1957, p. 58, Fig. 5.
88
Prducz 1957, p. 96.
89
Only these information were recorded in the inventory of the Museum of Banat from Timioara in 1980.
90
Vaday, Medgyesi 1993, p. 83.
91
Istvnovits 2000, p. 198.
78

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

135

be explained by the fact that in the last quarter of the 4th century - first two decades of the 5th century AD
(corresponding to the time of disintegration of Sntana de Mure - Cerneahov culture)92 the bearers of this
culture moved westward, inclusively in the territories ruled by the Sarmatians, bringing new types of
artefacts and other burial customs93. Moreover, early presence of Germanics and other tribes has been
documented in several archaeological sites in the western part of Banat, in today Serbia94.
STAGE D2
1. The issue of settlements
About the habitation in the low plain of southern and western Banat at the peak of Hun domination,
one can learn from the notes of Priscus Panites. In 448, as envoy of Emperor Theodosius II to the court of
Attila, he minutely recorded as he passed the Danube and then some rivers, Drecon, Tigas and Tifisas (Priscus
Panites, III.3, p. 131). From his reports, it seems he rather passed through the south and southwest of Banat
on his way to Attila's main residence located beyond the Tisa. The journey took the Byzantine Emperors
envoys across a plain swampy flat, bathed by the waters of navigable rivers and dotted with villages whose
inhabitants had millet and mead. These details of wealth point to the hypothesis of the sedentary existence for
these communities, who cultivated grain and increased bees. Curiously, until now, there are no documented
archaeological discoveries to prove the existence of the Hun settlements or of their subjects, Sarmatians,
Germanic tribes or Alans in the Banat region hypothetically crossed by Priscus Panites.

Fig. 2. Discoveries belonging to stage D2 and stage D3.


92

Harhoiu 1999, 61.


Stanciu 2008, p. 150 and note 27.
94
Ivanievi, Bugarski 2008, p. 41-43.
93

136

Daniela Tnase

10

In stage D1 of early migrations, the Banat plain area has been intensively inhabited, as shown by the
chance finds or the result of archaeological excavations in settlements and cemeteries (fig. 1). But for the
stage D2 a collapse of the dwelling area in Banat can be noticed (fig. 2) as compared with the previous
period. The findings come mainly from the northwest region, near the Mure River, sporadically being
documented a few graves in the plain, in the area of Bega and Brzava Rivers, that is around pathways as
were rivers, navigable at the time, so as otherwise noted Priscus Panites (Priscus Panites, III.3, p. 131). It
should be noted that the findings datable to the stage D2 are related to the funeral horizon of the time; no
such finds come from archaeological complexes located in settlements.
Therefore, in the current state of research we can assert that in Banat no settlement that can certainly
be attributed to D2 chronological horizon has been archaeologically investigated. Unfortunately, especially
pottery was discovered in the settlements, which is far from being an exact element of dating, since there
are certain types of vessels that can be found in both D1 and D2 stages. However, according to our
observations, it appears that for the grey pottery, worked at the fast wheel, dating from the D1 stage, the
ring or backing base is characteristic, while vessels with flat or slightly profiled base are especially
characteristic of stage D2 (see for example fig. 7 for the D1 stage and fig. 9/6-7 for the D2 stage).
Note here that certain types of vessels that appear to be specific of Attila95 reign, have not been
archaeologically documented in Banat. Therefore, Banat settlements dated back to the so-called Hun era
correspond rather to the last quarter of the 4th - beginning of the 5th century, respectively to D1 stage,
because there were no artefacts found to enable their dating them after the first two decades of the 5th
century AD96. Also, we have no archaeological evidence that these settlements existed until around the
takeover by Gepids (454), as was assumed in the case of middle Tisza settlements, where a destruction
layer dated to the ending period of the Hun Empire has been detected97. In the settlements investigated so
far, some partly (Foeni Selite98, in the Serbian Banat99 at Baranda and Alibunar), other almost
exhaustively (Timioara Freidorf)100, no traces of violent end of the housing were recorded. Nor recent
research from the Serbian Banat could identify any settlement dating to the second third of the 5th century
AD101. So, from an archaeological point of view we have a completely different picture than the one
depicted by Priscus Panites, a fact also noticed by Serbian researchers102.
In light of archaeological sources, the hypothesis of a partial forsaking of the region of Banat plain
by the local population sometime in the early years of the 5th century, perhaps to shelter from the imminent
invasion of the Huns or to participate alongside other populations in invading the western provinces of the
Roman Empire seems plausible. Sarmatians are mentioned along with the Goths led by Radagaisus who
went through the passes of the Alps to the provinces of Italy in 405103. Turbulence related to the Hun
westward movement and transformation of the Lower Danube in a ripa Hunica104 (around 410 they reached
the Danube beyond the Iron Gates105) could have caused a movementr of the population to areas considered
safer at that time. In stage D1 a slow penetration was archaeologically noticed, that of the refugees into
Pannonian Plain fleeing to the west in fear of Huns, that later became their allies, Germanic tribes and Alans
who lived together with Sarmatians. Hun appearance could also create unrest for the locals and local
leaders. This is especially due to the fact that the region was located near the Roman border and could
become a theatre of war between the Huns and Romans, whose incursions could disturb daily life as it
previously happened in the 4th century, during the wars led by Constantine the Great and his sons.
95

Vaday 1997, p. 98, Fig. 19/3-4.


Tnase 2013a, p. 64-68.
97
Vaday 1997, p. 86.
98
Szentmiklosi, Timoc 2004-2005, p. 657-661.
99
Trifunovi 1999-2000, p. 64-68.
100
Mare 2011, p. 15-28.
101
Trifunovi 1999-2000, p. 82, 83, Map 1.
102
Ivanievi, Bugarski 2008, p. 43.
103
Bna 1991, p. 20.
104
Harhoiu 2011, p. 41.
105
Bna 1991, p. 22.
96

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

11

137

We note here that Priscus Panites still remembers the Huns who wandered north of the Danube and
crossed the Danube in wooden boats made of one trunk, led by barbarians (Priscus Panites, III.3, p. 125),
which implies the existence of sedentary communities, considered Sarmatian by some researchers106.
Therefore, one cannot rule out presence of a sedentary population in the Banat plain in the most flourishing
period of the Hun power structure, but its material culture is not yet archaeologically proven.
On the other hand, the shortage of settlements in stage D2 can be explained by the scarcity of population.
It is possible that during this period there was a demographic decline over wide territories of Europe, since
there were repeated invasions, wars and epidemics. Moreover, an outbreak of epidemic was recorded in literary
sources, scattering over northern Italy in 453107. Therefore such diseases were common in the first half of the
5th century AD, a period of great turmoil, when mobility of people was high and various endemic diseases
generated inclusively by the rotting corpses in the towns ravaged by Huns could be transmitted on considerable
distance, as the same Priscus Panites tells us (Priscus Panites, III.3, p. 124).
The situation found in Banat settlements is not a particular one. The difficulty in delimitate the
artefacts between stages D1 and D2, including the territory of nowadays Romania, was noticed by
researchers. Both the findings from extra Carpathian area and those from Transylvania and western
Romania were analysed. But this time also, based on artefacts that have a tighter chronology (fibulae with
the foot backed underneath, buckles, strap ends, earrings, bone combs), found in the analysed settlements
one could only chose their dating in chronological horizon D1, for which a much more intense habitation
was detected than for stage D2108.
2. Funeral horizon
Artefacts dating from the D2 stage in Banat come mainly from graves found by chance in the 19th
century; so we know little about the context of discovery. One cemetery only was systematically
investigated, the one in Timioara Freidorf, between 1988 and 2006.
About the golden polyhedral pair of earrings, with garnets embedded, discovered in Izvin (Timi
County)109, we know that it was a donation made by the collector Ormos Zsigmond (1813-1894), a
prominent figure in politics and culture from the 19th century Timioara. The earrings were found in a grave,
on June 12th 1876 during the construction works of a railway110 (fig. 9/1). Another grave with gorgeous
pieces of gold and silver, decorated with almandine, was found in the 19th century in Periam (Timi
County)111 (fig. 10/1-10).
The cemetery at Timioara Freidorf was initially assigned to stage D1112. But the discovery of the
graves in 2006 proved that it is to be dated in stage D2: in terms of stratigraphy the graves were superposing
the features of the settlement from stage D1113 (in the filling of the grave labelled "complex no. 17" a
fragment of bowl was found, dating from the last third of the 4th - beginning of the 5th century AD114) and
funerary inventory leads us to the same conclusion115. Even if in this cemetery no graves with sumptuous
inventory were discovered, they are dated however at the height of Hun power, reflecting the image of the
poorer population. Grey pottery worked at the fast wheel was found in the graves (fig. 9/5-6), along with
106

Ivanievi, Bugarski 2008, p. 44.


Bna 1991, p. 99.
108
Ciuperc, Mgureanu 2008, p. 120-122.
109
Initially, it was thought that it was an earring, discovered in 1866, this information being released by D.
Csallny, 1961, p. 195, Pl. CCXVIII/4 and then taken by Harhoiu 1998, p. 178; Pl. XCV/B; Tnase 2011b, p. 87. In
the inventory records of the Banat Museum Timioara, both in the pre-1918 one and the current one, a pair of gold
earrings is mentioned. The earrings were transferred to the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest in
1974. I thank to dr. Rodica Oan-Marghitu from the National History Museum of Romania which granted me access
to the photographs of the pieces. Photos: Marius Amarie.
110
For an ampler discussion of this find see Tnase 2013b, p. 150.
111
Harhoiu 1998, Pl. XCV A/1-8; Prohszka 2003, p. 90.
112
Harhoiu 1998, p. 152.
113
Mare 2011, p. 28, Timioara Freidorf 2006 General plan.
114
Tnase 2011a, p. 46.
115
Tnase 2011b, p. 82-84.
107

138

Daniela Tnase

12

silver116 (fig. 9/4) and bronze pieces, of a special facture, as the ring with volutes affront, alike those silver
and bronze rings discovered in the Middle Danube area, which date from the last decade the first half of
the 5th century AD117 (fig. 9/2). Therefore, a dating of this cemetery in the second third of the 5th century
AD was proposed, in stage D2 respectively118.
In analysing the attire elements and adornments and the funerary rituals documented in the cemetery
of Timioara Freidorf, it can be said that those buried were of Alan and Germanic origin. Fibulae specific
of the so-called Germanic fashion119 were found in the grave labelled "complex no. 57/2006" N-S
oriented. It seems that the deceased woman belonged to the Gepidic tribe, as anthropological analysis of
the skeleton revealed the fact that her skull has features that resemble the northern and east Baltic
characteristics120. Also, certain rituals, such as the intentionally broken mirror grave M3/1988, W-E
oriented, prove that the buried person was of Alan origin121. We note here that in this grave no fibulae were
found. In the case of graves M2/1988, W-E oriented, M3/1988 and complex no. 27/2006, W-E oriented,
the habit of skull deformation was documented. It had been propagated by the Huns and taken over by
subject populations, becoming a fashion in the first half of the 5th century AD122. But this does not mean
that buried person of Hun origin, but points to the mentioned acculturation phenomenon.
Thus, in light of funerary finds, the Banat Plain seems to have been inhabited rather by tribes of Alan
and Germanic origin, probably Gepids123.
Regarding a tighter chronological dating of these funerary findings from Banat, it seems that the
gorgeously ornate pieces from Izvin or Periam can be dated to the end of the stage D2, around 450, or to the
shifting stage D2b/D3, according to V. Bierbrauer124. Around the same time, even earlier, the group of graves
Timioara Freidorf can be dated. So these findings may be contemporary and indicate social stratification,
in the latter case the dead were members of a modest community. Findings of gorgeous pieces point to elite,
indicating rather intentionally isolated graves. As noticed, for the early period of migrations the presence of
isolated graves and groups of graves and not of large cemeteries is characteristic125. The cemetery in Timioara
Freidorf falls into the category of groups of graves, as here were documented a number of nine graves with
skeletons, of which eight with inventory and a rectangular pit, assumed to be cenotaph126.
A discovery that can be dated at the middle of the 5th century AD cannot be overlooked: the gold
coins found at Denta (Timi County). Within village boundaries, below the railway bridge, in the newly
dug bed of the Roiga canal, on the 9th of August 1875, a skeleton facing east was discovered, around which
there was a "large number" of Roman Imperial gold coins127. Information on the number of coins are
contradictory, the fact is that 23 pieces seemingly entered the Zsigmond Ormos collection. In a still
unpublished manuscript, collector would have noted in 1889 that 50 coins were found, that workers would
have divided between them and then sold them in Vrac and Timioara128. Probably these coins were the
wealth of a chieftain from the Hun confederation.
Because the context of discovery is uncertain, although it is said that the coins were buried next to a
skeleton, we cannot be sure that this was a funerary deposit. This would be singular as no grave with so
many gold coins from this epoch had ever been discovered and no other inventory items have been found129.
116

Mare 1998, p. 289, 303, Pl. VII/2-3, 6.


Tejral 1973, p. 53.
118
Tnase 2011b, p. 85.
119
Bna 1991, p. 196. For other names of the 5th century AD fashion clothing, see Ciuperc, Mgureanu 2008, p. 125.
120
Gl 2011, p. 93.
121
Kouznetsov, Lebedynsky 1997, p. 46.
122
Harhoiu 1998, p. 32.
123
Mare 1998, p. 287-288.
124
Bierbrauer 1994, p. 139, note 278.
125
Harhoiu 1998, p. 30.
126
Mare 2011, p. 28.
127
TRT I, IV (1875), p. 194; TRT II, I (1876), p. 37; Berkeszi 1907, p. 15; Toma-Demian 2002-2003, p. 177178, nr. 12.2.
128
Toma-Demian 2002-2003, p. 177.
129
Prohszka 2010, p. 410.
117

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

13

139

Gold coins were discovered in graves dated to the 4th and 5th centuries, the most consistent lot
consisting of four solidi found in grave 734 from Cskvr (Hungary) in the province of Valeria, without
being able to establish if the deceased was part of the Roman provincial elite or Hun troops; the grave
inventory is still unpublished130.
If we accept that the find from Denta has a funerary character, then we are dealing with an unusual
ritual of scattering of coins in the grave, at least according to the account of the discoverers, which said the
coins were around the skeleton. The coins have been accumulated over time, being minted by Jovian (363364 - 1 piece) Valentinian I (364-375 - 7 pieces), Valens (364-378 - 2 pieces) Gratianus (367-383 - 6 pieces)
Valentinian II (375-392 - 4 pieces), Theodosius I or Theodosius the Great (379-395 - 1 pieces) and
Valentinian III (425-455 - 2 pieces). Burial of this treasure marks, in my opinion, the end of the Hunic reign
and was probably hidden under disturbances that occurred after the death of Attila (453).
STAGE D3
After the battle of Nedao, Gepids led by Ardaric took possession of the Hunic territories and whole
of Dacia, while the Ostrogoths took the territories to the west and south of the Middle Danube, i.e. Pannonia
and two decades later Moesia Inferior (Jordanes, L, 264). The plains east of the Danube, along with today's
Transylvania region were included in the sphere of power of the Kingdom of the Gepids. Thus, Banat came
under the rule of Gepids, whose main dwelling territory lied west of the Tisa and north of the Mure.
There are very few discoveries from Banat which can be chronologically assigned to stage D3
(450/460-480/490)131, located relatively close to the Mure River or the Danube132 (fig. 2). So, in the early
months of 1895, on the ground of Snnicolau Mare brick factory, while removing earth for brick, workers
found several graves from the Roman and migrations epoch (fig. 10/11-13). Some items from the graves
reached the National Museum in Budapest133. These include a gold ring, decorated with cloisonn style
garnets and two gilded silver fibulae, with semi-circular head plate provided with three buttons (one of
them has rhombic plate foot, which ends into a human mask; the other fibula has the plate foot broken).
These objects, which date back to the stage D3134, may have constituted a single grave inventory, probably
of a woman. This discovery was wrongly considered by Serbian researchers as coming from Srpski Krstur
(Serbia) and wrongly dated in the first half of the 6th century135.
A gold handbag fitting decorated in cloisonn style, was discovered on the north bank of the Danube, at
Stara Palanka (Serbia)136 (fig. 10/14). We do not exclude the possibility that this piece is linked to the presence
of the Ostrogoths, who ruled for a short period of time137 the territories situated on the opposite bank of the
river. We recall here the episode recounted by Jordanes linked to the city of Singidunum, taken from the
Sarmatians by the Ostrogoths in 472 (Jordanes, LV, 282), which in turn will leave it in the hands of the Gepids.
It should be noted that the artefacts datable in stage D3 were found in places located on the Danube
bank or close to the mouth of the Mure River, representing waterways and also easily accessible
communication routes, where one could enter the Banat Plain from territories already in Germanic
kingdoms possession. It seems, however, that this penetration was not in vast territories, but was limited
to the low plain area located closely to the Tisa and the Danube. Towards the end of the 5th and the beginning
of the 6th century, the number of discoveries in Banat slightly rises; archaeological sites are located mainly
in the low plains of western Banat, relatively close to the Tisa River.

130

Prohszka 2011, p. 64.


Bierbrauer 1994, p. 139, note 278.
132
Ivanievi, Bugarski 2008, p. 45.
133
Milleker 1899, p. 171.
134
Harhoiu 1998, Pl. CXXXIX.
135
Ivanievi, Bugarski 2008, p. 44, Fig. 4/2-4; p. 45, see also bibliographic reference.
136
Ivanievi, Bugarski 2008, p. 44, Fig. 4/5.
137
Between 473-488 (see Bierbrauer 1994, p. 139).
131

140

Daniela Tnase

14

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
In light of the findings presented here, the archaeological landscape of the last quarter of the 4th first/second decade of the 5th century AD in Banat Plain is that of settlements rich in ceramics made at the
fast wheel and also at the slow wheel, of a sandy, semi fine paste, with a slightly lumpy appearance, with a
rich repertoire of forms for the fast wheel made pottery and of decoration for the slow wheel made pottery.
The houses are represented by buried and semi-buried huts, more rarely by surface houses, while the storing
pits and the waste pits are numerous. Some houses have open fireplaces or ovens, but most had no fire
installation, probably portable fireplaces being used138.
Cemeteries contemporary to these settlements bring new elements of ritual and funerary furniture.
Thus, some graves are oriented N-S, there are more vessels and two or more fibulae in a grave, collars with
a hook and pear-shaped clasp, specific of Germanic attire139. Among the attire elements bronze or silver
earrings are to be mentioned, along with plaited wire, collars, beads (especially those of amber and
carnelian), fibulae of crossbow type or fibulae with foot backed underneath, fibulae the with a semi-circular
head plate and a rhombic leg plate, D-shaped buckles, sometimes with rectangular plate, bracelets with
loose ends. Whole or fragmentary swords and spearheads were also found in graves.
Some of the artefacts that in the lands of northern Pannonia Plain can be ascribed to stage D1140 have
not been archaeologically documented in Banat yet, while others appear only in stage D2/D2a (mirrors
made of a white metal, buckles with thickened oval ring). Only bone combs with semi-circular handle were
found in settlements in the Timi Banat Plain and in cemeteries located near the Danube. A fibula with
semi-circular head plate and rhombic foot comes from a grave located in the Serbian Banat. Therefore,
manifestations of material culture dating from the chronological horizon D1 are slightly different in Banat
in comparison with other regions of the Carpathian basin, as the post-Cerneahov influences are much
stronger in terms of ceramics production technique, their morphology and decoration. Artefacts of eastern
origin and funerary rituals specific of Germanic and Alans tribes were documented in the cemeteries, but
the cultural characteristics of the Sarmatian local tribes are still obvious.
From the archaeological contexts distinguished in the settlements investigated in Banat, a hypothesis
takes shape: they had ceased to be inhabited before the arrival of the Huns or near their arrival here, because
complexes of the settlement from Timioara Freidorf, belonging to D1 horizon were superposed by graves
that are dated in D2 chronological horizon141, and the Foeni Selite or other investigated settlements there
are no artefacts dating towards the middle of the 5th century AD.
It is worth mentioning here that Roman bronze coin circulation ceased in Banat around 400142, the
last coins dating from the reign of Arcadius (395-408)143. Huns already controlled Lower Danube region
around the year 400. So, at Sucidava coins from the beginning of the 5th century and a fragment of a Hunic
caldron were found in a layer of burn, another fragment of a caldron was found at Hinova (Mehedini
County) in a contemporary archaeological layer, proving the new political situation created by the
transformation of the space from the Iron Gates to the mouths of the Danube into a ripa Hunica144. The
echoes of events caused by the emergence of the Huns at the border of the Eastern Roman Empire probably
led to a movement of the inhabitants from the plains of Banat, who left the settlements, so that only after
the establishment of Hun power in Pannonian Plain there are documented archaeological sites, but in a
much reduced number compared with the previous period.
Therefore, with all shortcomings of the current state of research, we believe that stage D1 that makes
the transition from late Roman period to migrations period can be archaeologically identified on Banat plain
territory also. The absence of gorgeous artefacts is an indication that members of these communities were
about the same social status145, farmers and shepherds who live in a relatively prosperous condition, but
without reaching the specific opulence of the flowering period of the Hunic Empire, displayed at the elite
level by splendour of adornments and pompous burial customs.
138

A portable fireplace was discovered by chance at Para (see Tnase 2013a, p. 74).
Prducz 1957, p. 102, 104.
140
Schmauder 2002, p. 29.
141
Mare 2011, p. 28-29, Tnase 2011b, p. 87; see also the general plan of 2006 excavations.
142
Protase 2000, see Table B-Banat.
143
Protase 2000, p. 209: Banatska Palanca (Serbia); p. 232: Jupa (Cara-Severin County); p. 240: Orova.
144
Harhoiu 2011, p. 41.
145
Bierbrauer 1994, p. 168.
139

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

15

141

Thus, following the settling of the Huns in the Carpathian Basin, one can archaeologically highlight
the leading stratum of society through graves with sumptuous objects; such findings are documented in the
Banat Plain also. Funerary finds from Banat corresponding to stage D2 indicate the presence of tribal elite
gravitating around a Hun powerhouse, most likely located near the flowing of the Mure River into Tisa.
Relevant in this respect is the find from Nagyszkszs, not far from Szeged, west of the confluence of rivers
Mure and Tisa, indicating a possible princely tomb146.
In light of the findings presented here, the archaeological landscape of Banat during the time when
Huns were seated in Tisa Plain is rather poor, which means that this region was less inhabited.
Little dwelling is also documented for stage D3, when the Banat falls under domination of the Gepidic
Kingdom, only two archaeological discoveries being certified to date. In fact even later, from the end of the
5th century and until the last third of the 6th century, there are few discoveries in Banat, coming mostly from
sites located relatively close to Tisa and Mure or on the Danube bank. Only for the period following the
collapse of the Gepid Kingdom in 567 and the settling of the Avars in the Pannonian Plain, probably in the
context of a population growth generated also by the arrival of new populations gravitating in the orbit of the
Avar khaganate, a significant endorsement propagation of archaeological finds in Banat can be noticed.
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Fig. 3. Grey pottery worked at the fast wheel - stage D1. Discoveries made at Timioara Freidorf settlement (1, 8, 10);
chance finds from Romania, Timi County: Snnicolau Mare (2), Checea (3, 4), Jebel (5), Uliuc (6, 7) and Serbia:
Hetin (9).

19

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

Fig. 4. Grey pottery worked at the fast wheel - stage D1: chance finds from Timi County
(1, 4. Periam, 2. Snnicolau Mare, 3. Gottlob, 5. Satchinez, 6, 7. Timioara Freidorf settlement).

145

146

Daniela Tnase

Fig. 5. Lids, colanders, whole and fragmentary pottery worked at the slow wheel - stage D1
from Timioara Freidorf.

20

21

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

Fig. 6. Pottery worked at the slow wheel stage D1 from Timioara Freidorf.

147

148

Daniela Tnase

Fig. 7. Grey pottery, worked at the fast wheel stage D1 from Lenauheim (Timi County).

22

23

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

Fig. 8. 1. Comb from Ictar-Budin; 2. beads and 3-4. grey pottery, worked at the fast wheel from Saravale;
5-6. grey pottery, worked at the fast wheel and 7. two-edged sword (spatha) from Comlou Mare
(all discoveries from Timi County).

149

150

Daniela Tnase

24

Fig. 9. Objects discovered in the graves from Banat. 1-2. polyhedral earrings from Izvin, 3. bronze ring, 4. bronze
fibula, 5. silver mirror, 6-7. grey pottery, worked at the fast wheel Timioara Freidorf, stage D2.

25

Considerations on the archaeology of the Early Migrations Period in Banat

151

Fig. 10. Objects discovered at Periam (Timi County) (no scale; according to Harhoiu 1998) stage D2 (1-10),
Snnicolau Mare (Timi County) (no scale, according to Milleker 1899) (11-13) and Stara Palanka (Serbia) (no
scale, according to Ivanievi, Bugarski 2008) stage D3 (14).
1-2. polyhedral gold earrings, 3. barrel shaped gold beads, 4, 6. amber beads, 5. glass bead, 7-8. bronze fragments,
9-10. silver fibulae, decorated with gold applications cloisonn style; 11-12. gilded silver fibulae, 13. gold ring
decorated with garnets in cloisonn style, 14. golden fitting of a bag, decorated in cloisonn style.

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ABRVIATIONS
AA Archologischer Anzeiger. Deutsches Archologisches Institut, Darmstadt, Mnchen, Tbingen
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ABSA The Annual of the British School at Athens, Athens
ActaArchCarp Acta Archaeologica Carpatica, Krakw
ActaArchHung Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, Budapest
Acta Classica Acta Classica. Journal of the Classical Association of South Africa, Pretoria
ActaHistHung Acta Historica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, Budapest
ActaMN Acta Musei Napocensis. Muzeul Naional de Istorie a Transilvaniei, Cluj-Napoca
ActaMP Acta Musei Porolissensis. Muzeul Judeean de Istorie i Art, Zalu
ActaTS Acta Terrae Septemcastrensis. Institutul pentru Cercetarea Patrimoniului Cultural Transilvnean
n Context European, Sibiu
A LAnne pigraphique, Paris
Aegean Studies Aegean Studies. Aegeus - Society for Aegean Prehistory, Athens
AEM Archologisch-epigraphische Mitteilungen aus sterreich-Ungarn, Wien
Aevum Aevum. Rassegna di Scienze Storiche Linguistiche e Filologiche. Vita e Pensiero
Pubblicazioni dellUniversit Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Agria Agria. Az Egri Mzeum vknyve Annales Musei Agriensis. Dob Istvn Vrmzeum, Eger
AHA Acta Historiae Artium. Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, Budapest
AHB The Ancient History Bulletin (digital version only: http://ancienthistorybulletin.org/)
AHR The American Historical Review, Bloomington
AIIA (Cluj-Napoca) Anuarul Institutului de Istorie i Arheologie, Cluj-Napoca
AInf Archologische Informationen, Mitteilungen zur Ur- und Frhgeschichte, Bonn
AISC Anuarul Institutului de Studii Clasice, Cluj-Napoca
AJA American Journal of Archaeology, Boston
AJN American Journal of Numismatics. American Numismatic Society, New York
AJPh American Journal of Philology, Baltimore
AM Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archologischen Instituts. Athenische Abteilung, Athen
Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Journal of the American Association
of Physical Anthropologists, (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1096-8644)
American Anthropologist American Anthropologist. Journal of the American Anthropological
Association, (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1548-1433)
American Antiquity American Antiquity. Society for American Archaeology, Washington
ANarch Archologisches Nachrichtenblatt, Berlin
AnB (S.N.) Analele Banatului (Serie Nou), Muzeul Banatului, Timioara
AnSt Anatolian Studies. British Institute at Ankara, Ankara
Antaeus Communicationes ex Instituto Archaeologico Academiae Scientiarium Hungaricae, Budapest
Anthropology Today Anthropology Today. Royal Anthropological Institute, London
Antiquity Antiquity. A Review of World Archaeology, Durham, UK
AntOr Antiguo Oriente: Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente. Pontificia
Universidad Catlica Argentina Santa Mara de los Buenos Aires
AO Arhivele Olteniei, Craiova
. Moskow Arheologicheski Otkritja, Moskva
Apulum Acta Musei Apulensis. Muzeul Naional al Unirii, Alba Iulia
ArchA5 Archaeologia Aeliana, Fifth Series. Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle
Archaeol. Rev. Camb. Archaeological Review from Cambridge. University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Archaeologia Altum castrum online. Mtys kirly Mzeum, Visegrd
Archeometriai Mhely Archeometriai Mhely a Magyar Rgszeti s Mvszettrtneti Trsulat
interdiszciplinris kutatsokkal foglalkoz vitals-sorozata, Budapest
Archrt Archeolgiai rtest, Budapest
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384

Abrviaions

ArchHung Archaeologia Hungarica, Acta Archaeologica Musei Nationalis Hungarici, Budapest


ArchKorr Archologisches Korrespondenzblatt, Mainz
ArchPolski Archeologia Polski, Wrocaw Warszawa
ArchRozhledy Archeologick Rozhledy, Praha
ArhMed Arheologia Medieval. Complexul Muzeal Bistria-Nsud, Bistria
ArhMold Arheologia Moldovei. Academia Romn, Institutul de Arheologie, Iai
ArhVestnik Arheoloki vestnik, Ljubljana
AUI Analele tiinifice ale Universitii Al. I. Cuza din Iai, Iai
Athenaeum Studi di Letteratura e Storia dellAntichita` pubblicati sotto gli auspici dellUniversit di
Pavia, Pavia
AVANS Archeologick Vyskumy a Nlezy na Slovensku, Nitra
Banatica Banatica. Muzeul Banatului Montan, Reia
BARBrSer British Archaeological Reports, International Series, Oxford
BARIntSer British Archaeological Reports, British Series, Oxford
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Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Verbindung mit dem Bayerischen Landesamt
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B Bulletin pigraphique, Paris
BerRGK Bericht der Rmisch-Germanischen Kommission des Deutschen Archologischen Instituts,
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BIAUL Bulletin of the Institute of Archaeology (University of London), London
BIDR Bulletino dell'Istituto di Diritto Romano, Roma
BJb Bonner Jahrbcher des Rheinischen Landesmuseums in Bonn, Bonn
BMN Bibliotheca Musei Napocensis, Cluj-Napoca
Britannia Britannia. Journal of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, Cambridge
BSNAF Bulletin de la Socit nationale des antiquaires de France, Paris
BSNR Buletinul Societii Numismatice Romne, Bucureti
BUFM Beitrge zur Ur- und Frhgeschichte Mitteleuropas, Wilkau-Halau - Langenweibach
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Thessalonic
Byzantinoslavica Byzantinoslavica. Revue internationale des tudes Byzantines, Slovansk stav
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CCA. Campania .. Cronica Cercetrilor Arheologice din Romnia, Bucureti
Chiron Mitteilungen der Kommission fr Alte Geschichte und Epigraphik des Deutschen
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CICSA Centrul de Istorie Comparat a Societilor Antice, Universitatea Bucureti, Bucureti
CIL Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, Berlin
CN Cercetri Numismatice. Muzeul Naional de Istorie a Romniei, Bucureti
ComArchHung Communicationes Archaeologicae Hungariae, Budapest
CQ The Classical Quaterly, The Classical Association, Cambridge
CRAI Comptes Rendus des Sances de l'Acadmie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, Paris
Crisia Crisia. Muzeului rii Criurilor, Oradea
CSCA California Studies in Classical Antiquity. University of California, Los Angeles
Current Anthropology Current Anthropology. University of California, Merced
CW Classical World. Temple University, Philadelphia
Dacia Dacia. Fouilles et recherches archologiques en Roumanie, Bucureti
Dacia N.S. Dacia (Nouvelle Srie). Revue darchologie et dhistoire ancienne. Acadmie Roumaine.
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Dolgozatok Cluj Dolgozatok az Erdlyi Nemzeti Mzeum rem- s Rgisgtrbl, Kolozsvar


Dolgozatok Szeged Dolgozatok a M. Kir. Ferencz Jzsef Tudomnyegyetem Archaeologiai Intzetbl,
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EJA European Journal of Archaeology. European Association of Archaeologists (http://e-aa.org/eja.htm)
Elbinger Jahrbuch Elbinger Jahrbuch. Zeitschrift der Elbinger Altertumsgesellschaft und der stdtischen
Sammlungen zu Elbing, Elbing (1920-1941)
EphemNap Ephemeris Napocensis. Academia Romn, Institutul de Arheologie i Istoria Artei, ClujNapoca
PRO tudes prliminaires aux religions orientales dans l'Empire romain, Leiden
tudes Celtiques tudes Celtiques, Paris
Evol Anthropol Evolutionary Anthropology. Duke University, Durham NC
FBW Fundberichte aus Baden-Wrttemburg, Stuttgart
FHDR I-II H. Mihescu, G. tefan, R. Hncu, V. Iliescu, V.C. Popescu (eds.), Fontes ad historiam
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FrhMitAltSt Frhmittelalterliche Studien. Jahrbuch des Instituts fr Frhmittelalterforschung der
Universitt Mnster, Mnster
Germania Germania. Anzeiger der Rmisch-Germanischen Kommission des Deutschen
Archologischen Instituts, Frankfurt am Main
Glasnik SAD Glasnik Srpskog Arheolokog Drutva, Belgrad
HSozuKult Kommunikation und Fachinformation fr die Geschichtswissenschaften
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HambBeitrA Hamburger Beitrge zur Archologie. Universitt Hamburg, Hamburg
HCT A.W. Gomme, A. Andrewes, K.J. Dover, A Historical Commentary on Thucydides, Oxford,
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HOM A miskolci Hermann Ott Mzeum vknyve, Miskolc
Homo HOMO. Journal of Comparative Human Biology. Australasian Society for Human Biology,
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HZ Historische Zeitschrift, Akademie Verlag GmbH, Berlin
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IDRE C.C. Petolescu, Inscriptiones Daciae Romanae. Inscriptions externes concernant lhistoire de la
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IG Inscriptiones Graecae, Berlin
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ILS H. Dessau, Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae, Berlin, I (1892), II (1902), III (1916)
Int J Osteoarchaeol International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
Istros Istros, Muzeul Brilei, Brila
JAM A Jsa Andrs Mzeum vknyve, Nyregyhza
J.Archaeol.Sci Journal of Archaeological Sciences, London New York
JDAI Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archologischen Instituts, Deutsches Archologisches Institut, Berlin
JEA Journal of European Archaeology, former name of EJA
JHS Journal of Hellenic Studies, London
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386

Abrviaions

JRA SS Journal of Roman Archaeology, Supplementary Series, Portsmouth, Rhode Island


JRGZM Jahrbuch des Rmisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums Mainz, Mainz
JRS Journal of Roman Studies, London
Klio Klio. Beitrge zur Alten Geschichte, Berlin
KlnJb Klner Jahrbuch. Rmisch-Germanisches Museum Kln, Kln
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Kuhn-Archiv Universitat Halle-Wittenberg. Landwirtschaftliches Institut, Martin-Luther-Universitat
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Lucentum Lucentum. Universidad de Alicante, Alicante
Lumea veche Lumea Veche, Revist de umanioare, Bucureti
MAGW Mitteilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien, Wien
MAInstUngAk Mitteilungen des Archologischen Instituts der Ungarischen Akademie der
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Marisia Marisia. Muzeul Judeean Mure, Trgu Mure
MASP Materiali po Arheologii Severnogo Priernomorja, Odesa
MatArch Materiay Archeologiczne, Krakw
MatArchNovHuty Materiay Archeologiczne Nowej Huty, Nova Huta
Materialy Staroytne Materialy Starozytne i Wczesnosredniowieczne, Warszaw
MCA Materiale i cercetri arheologice. Academia Romn, Institutul de Arheologie Vasile
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MCV Mlanges de la Case Velzquez. Casa de Velzquez, Madrid
MFME A Mra Ferenc Mzeum vknyve. Mra Ferenc Mzeum, Szeged
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Mus.Afr. Museum Africum. West African Classical Association, University of Ibadan Department of
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Nor.Arch.Rev Norwegian Archaeological Review, Taylor & Francis
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Palaeontologia Electronica Palaeontological Association, England
Pallas Pallas. Revue dtudes Antiques. Universit de Toulouse le Mirail, Toulouse
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PME H. Devijver, Prosopographia militiarum equestrium quae fuerunt ab Augusto ad Gallienum, 5 vol.,
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Pomorania Antiqua Pomorania Antiqua, Gdask
Pontica Pontica. Muzeul de Istorie Naional i Arheologie, Constana
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Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical
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PV Pehled Vzkum, Brno
PZ Praehistorische Zeitschrift. Freie Universitt, Institut fr Prhistorische Archologie, Berlin
RadVM Rad Vojvodjanskih Muzeja, Novi Sad
Raport Raport, Narodowy Instytut Dzieedzictwa. National Heritage Board, Warszawa
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REA Revue des tudes Anciennes. Maison de l'Archologie, Universit Bordeaux Montaigne, Pessac
RechsArch Recherches Archeologiques, Krakw
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Sautuola Sautuola. Instituto de Prehistoria y Arqueologa Sautuola, Santander
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SCN Studii i Cercetri de Numismatic. Academia Romn, Institutul de Arheologie Vasile
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Scripta Mediterranea Scripta Mediterranea. Canadian Institute for Mediterranean Studies, University of
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SHA Scriptores Historiae Augustae
SIB Studii de Istorie a Banatului. Universitatea de Vest din Timioara, Timioara
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SMIM Studii i Materiale de Istorie Medie. Academia Romn, Institutul de Istorie Nicolae Iorga,
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Somogyi Mzeumok Kzlemnyei Somogyi Mzeumok Kzlemnyei, Kaposvr
SpisyArch Spisy Archeologickho stavu v Brn, Brno
SprawArch Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, Krakw
SA lskie Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, Wrocaw
StComSatuMare Studii i Comunicri. Muzeul Judeean Satu Mare, Satu Mare
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388

Abrviaions

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Tibiscum Tibiscum. Studii i comunicri de etnografie-istorie. Muzeul Caransebe, Caransebe
TIR Tabula Imperii Romani
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Vci Knyvek Vci Knyvek. Tragor Ignc Mzeum, Vc
VP Vchodoslovensk Prvek, Koice
Wiadomoci Arch. Wiadomoci Archeologiczne, Bulletin Archologique Polonais, Warszawa
WJA Wrzburger Jahrbcher fr die Altertumswissenschaft, Wrzburg
ZA Zeitschrift fr Archologie, Berlin
Zbornk SNM , Archeolgia Zbornk Slovensho Nrodnh Mzea. Archeolgia, Bratislava
Ziridava Ziridava. Studia Archaeologica. Muzeul Judeean Arad, Arad
ZPE Zeitschrift fr Papyrologie und Epigraphik, Bonn
ZRG Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung fr Rechtsgeschichte. Romanistische Abteilung, Kln

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