Professional Documents
Culture Documents
lfEOLOSKA ZBIRKA
\ \RIC PANDZIC
GODISNJAK
JAHRBUCH
KNJIGA/BAND XXXII
Centar za balkanoloska ispitivanja
Zcntrum flir Balkanforschungcn '--
Knjiga/Band 30
Spomenica
(]et! en ksc h riji
4 L.____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Poscban otisak/Sondcrdruck
This type of pin had been noted from as far back as Truhelka's excavation
at the beginning of the twentieth century of the Donja Dolina pile-dwelling
settlement and the cemetery on terraces "na gredama" .1 Truhelka considered
them "mysterious objects", and, on the basis of one grave, as possible belt
pendants, as will be mentioned later. All later authors, nonetheless, interpreted
them without qualifications as pins, 2 and so we will also treat them here as pins
for clothing or other attire, but we shall also cite problems related to their final
interpretation. In general, they follow the broad taste in pin formation with
multiple heads in the late Bronze and the early Iron Age, but they are quite
distinct, clearly defined typologically, and they appear in only two variants
(fig. 1).
At Donja Dolina, they were found in eight graves and several were also
found outside of the preserved grave units or at the settlement. B. Covic redefi-
ned them and paid great attention to them in his synthesis of the newly distin-
guished cultural group - Donja Dolina - Sanski Most, in a detailed analysis of
the characteristic types of the group. 3 He called them the Donja Dolina type,
which has been entirely confirmed by archaeological evidence to the present,
and emphasized that they were characteristic of warrior graves, that they
usually replaced fibulae in them, and that they were in use in phases 2a and
2b of the Donja Dolina - Sanski Most group, which would be approximately
synchronous with the second half of the 7th century and the first half of the 6th
century BC. They appear sporadically in phase 2a, and in great quantities in
phase 2b. Covic further emphasized that, according to its origins, this type of
pin belonged to the horizon of jewelry made in a combination of bronze (cast
upper section - the head of the pin, most often formed from 7-10 discs) and
1 Truhelka 1904.
2 Covic 1987; Vejvoda Mirnik 1971; Maric 1964.
3 Covic 1987, 232-286, 241, 246.
283
iron, of which just the shank was made, sometimes as thin as a wire, inserted
into the cast bronze section. It should be added that the specimens are typo-
logically all very uniform, that their discs mainly have the same dimensions,
IId I
carefully decorated with incised concentric circles on the lateral sides. Only
the upper surface differs somewhat in form. The only variant noted at Donja
Dolina was an alternation between discs of larger and smaller dimensions. 4
Thus we are faced with a uniform type, most probably produced in a
limited area. Covic suggested that the pins had perhaps not been worn in
t!j
6
pairs, but rather the cast multi-headed sections had been inserted into the 5
iron pin on both the upper and lower ends, i.e. that the "pair" of pins in fact
were the head and stopper of a pin. However, it seems that there are no valid
arguments for such an idea, as the rare graves where pins were documented in 3 4
2
situ, such as the warrior grave 52 from the terrace" greda" of M. Petrovic Jr. 5
and the grave of the richly outfitted woman with a diadem from the terrace "s Fig. 1. 1-4, Donja Dolina (after Truhelka 1904.);
greda" ,6 have pins placed parallel to one another, in the first grave across the 5 Gogo~u; 6 Ferigile (after Vulpe 1967.)
left thigh, and in the second grave across the left shin. Their position clearly
indicates that the cast sections were placed like heads of pins, but it is not
clear what function they performed in the equipment of the deceased in both
cases. Truhelka thought that these specimens in the female grave represented
pendants on a richly outfitted belt; this, however, is unlikely. It is impossible
today to determine whether these pins arrived in the grave as part of the attire
of the deceased, perhaps threaded through a cloak thrown over the deceased,
or they may have attached the shroud of the corpse. Nonetheless, only one
would be required for the latter. The pins were as a rule found in pairs, except
in warrior grave 38 from the terrace of M. Petrovic Jr., where three specimens
were placed in the grave. 7 There are indications that only one pin was placed in
female graves 8 According to Truhelka's publication of Donja Dolina in WMBH
IX, the pins were discovered at various positions on the deceased.
Other than at Donja Dolina, where by far the largest number of exam-
ples were found, with a total of 19 pins, 1 pair of each were published from
the tumulus cemetery at Kaptol, 9 and from Glasinac- Sokolacko polje.l 0 The
excellently preserved pair from Glasinac was connected by a small bronze
chain, traces of which in the form of small circlets for the attachment can
also be seen on some examples from Donja Dolina. They unfortunately come
from a tumulus with several unpreserved grave units. The reason we wished
286 287
were later entirely rejected, and insistence was placed on a strong influence of one of these two distant areas, especially now, at a time when absolute dates
from the Basarabi sphere towards the west. The Basarabi Culture and after are being raised significantly into the past in various chronological discussions
. ' (Pare 1998). Gustin himself noted that the relation of the Basarabi group to
it Ferigile, evolved from local roots, through uninterrupted development, but
with strong influences from the east from the Pontic-Lower Danubian areas, the Balkan and southeastern Alpine region had not yet been studied. 28
first from the Cimmerian, and later from the Scythian spheres22 Dumitrescu Ever since the "historical" interpretation of a "Thraco-Cimmerian inva-
introduced his theory in special studies on the distribution, chronology, and sion" became irrelevant. 2 9 as it was established that influences and elements
from the east had long had influence on the Carpathian Danube basin, causing
origin of individual forms present throughout a broad region, such as double
there local production according to eastern models, totally integrated into the
looped bow fibulae and single-bladed curved swords, known as machaira. Thus
local culture, and almost certainly the ethnic milieu. It is difficult to maintain
Illyrian influences seemed convincing to him. Nonetheless, even fundamental
the thesis that the Basarabi and Ferigile complexes were the source and per-
discussions, such as that on double-looped bow fibulae 23 could not on the basis
manent breeding grounds of new forms at the beginning of the early Iron Age
of the current archaeological information answer important questions about
and during its further development. In fact, the archaeological evidence shows
the origin of this type, its further spread, nor determine the area in which
the existence of a large and mutually related area in which at approximately
the basic type was first created. It is visible on Gabrovec's distribution maps
the same time the same basic types appeared with regional typological vari-
that some types, particularly 1, 7, and 8, can be found both in the central ants. This area encompasses the northwestern and central Balkans, southern
Balkans and in the Lower Danubian region, particularly in the framework of Pannonia, and the western part of the Romanian-Bulgarian Danube basin.
the Basarabi and Ferigile groups. "They appear at approximately the same Large movements of peoples, and the conquest and colonization of new areas
time in these areas and it is not possible to point to an area of origin. Several cannot be documented archaeologically either for the 8th or the 7th or the 6th
types appear at the very beginning, and they can barely be either connected centuries BC.30 Even Vulpe himself, the proponent of an autochthonous Thra-
or derived from a single primary type" .24 cian development of the Basarabi and Ferigile cultures, and the expansion of
In terms of the appearance of tumuli with multiple graves, it should be their cultural elements towards the west, emphasizes that the numerous finds
noted that in the western and central Balkans they existed throughout the of Basarabi style decorated pottery in Vojvodina and Serbia do not indicate a
entire Bronze Age and continued into the early Iron Age, but in Oltenia they change of population there, but they should rather be observed and evaluated
replaced the previous cremation burial in fiat graves only at the beginning of in the framework of regional cultural development. 31
the early Iron Age. 25 However, the complicated issue of these relations should In the recent period, we nonetheless can come across successful attempts
be put to the side here. to exhibit the mobility of individuals through archaeological means. Their at-
Gustin distinguished two basic types of machaira that appeared from the tire, complete or merely partial, when it is found at a distant spot from the
very beginning of the early Iron Age: the Basarabi type and the Trzisce-Donja usual area of distribution, indicates the probable presence of a person from
Dolina type. 26 Gustin seemed to suggest that the machaira was a primary another cultural or ethnic milieu. 32 In this sense the three multi-headed pins
form in the Basarabi group, and that from there, together with other eastern of the Donja Dolina type found in western Oltenia seem interesting. Despite
types, primarily Thraco-Cimmerian elements of horse equipment and a stylP. their entirely insufficient archaeological documentation, i.e. lack of knowledge
of pottery decoration, it spread to the west. Nonetheless, fine examples of of the context in which they were found, they are entirely foreign bodies in the
machaira swords of the Basarabi type have been found in Styria and Lower cultural milieu of the Ferigile group. Such a simple piece of jewelry, limited in
Carniola- in a warrior grave from a tumulus at Legen near Slovenj Gradec, and terms of manufacture and use to its limited region, as has been established,
in the "princely grave with a machaira' from Novo Mesto at Kapitelske njive could hardly have arrived in Oltenia as an object imported from the west as
- indicating the approximate contemporaneity of their appearance in the east part of trade or some similar contact. Although it is difficult to compare them
and the west.27 To be specific, we cannot determine the chronological priority because of the major lack of uniformity in the drawings - the excellently illu-
strated examples in WMBH 3 and 9 and the very poorly presented specimens
22
Vulpe 1965; 1967; 1981.
23 Gabrovec 1970 28 Gustin 1974, 83.
24 Gabrovec 1970, 25 and 32. 29 Kossack 1980; Metzner-Nebelsick 1998
25 Covic 1963; Garasanin 1979; Kosoric 1976. 30 Metzner-Nebelsick 1998.
26 Gustin 1974. 31 Vulpe 1981, 184-185.
27 Stare 1974; Knez 1993. 32 Jockenhovel 1991; Bietti Sestieri 1992; Bouzek 1997; Terzan 1995, 97.
288 289
in the Romanian monograph on Ferigile (Fig. 1) - only such a modest form 14. Jockenhovel A. 1991, Riiumliche Mobilitiit von Personen in der mittleren
of jewelry might well bear witness of three individuals who had arrived from Bmnzezeit des westlichen Mittelev.ropa, Germania 69 (Frankfurt 1991) 49 i d.
the west in Oltenia, or who had jewelry made there in line with their taste 15. Knez T. 1993, Novo Mesto III (Novo Mesto 1993).
and customs. In conclusion, other finds of the so-called Thraco-Cimmerian 16. Kosoric M. 1976, Kulturni, etnicki i hronoloski problemi ilir-skih nekmpola
type from Donja Dolina, such as are known in addition to the Pannonian Podr·inja (Tuzla 1976).
17. Kossack G. 1980, "Kirnmer-ische" Bronzen, Situla 20-21 (Ljubljana 1980)
regions by the Ferigile group, and certain common fibula forms of the 5th
109-143.
and 5th centuries that exhibit a common orientation towards Macedonia and 18. Maric Z. 1964, Donja Dolina, Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja 19 (Sarajevo
. 33 b ear witness
Ser b Ia, . to mutual contacts between the Sava River valley and 1964).
the Romanian Danube basin. 19. Metzner-Nebelsick C. 1998, Abschied von den "Thmko-Kimmer-iern"?
Neue Aspekte der Interaktion zwischen karpatcnliindischen Kulturgruppen der spiiten
Bronzezeit und friihen Eisenzcit mit der ostcnropiiischcn Steppenkoine. In: Das Kar-
patenbecken und die Osteuropaischc Steppe, Siidosteuropa-Schriften 20 (Miinchcn
1998) 361-422.
20. Pare C. 1998, Beitriige zurn Ubergang von der- Bronze - zur Eisenzeit in
Mitteleuropa, Tcil I, Jahrbuch RGZM 45 (Mainz 1998) 293-433.
21. Stare F. 1974, Grab starejseieleznodobnega bojevnika iz Legna pr-i Slovenj
References Gradcu, Situla 14-15 (Ljubljana 1974) 67-76.
22. Terzan B. 1974, Haliitatske gomile iz Brusnic na Dolenjskem, Varia Arc-
1. Benac A. I Covic B. 1957, Glasinac 2 (Sarajevo 1957). hacologica (Brezice 1974) 43-45.
2. Bietti Sestieri A.M. 1992, La necropoli laziale di Osteria dell'Osa (Roma 23. Terzan B. 1995, Handel v.nd soziale Oberschichten irn Friiheisenzeitlichen
1992). Siidostenmpa. In: Handel, Tausch und Verkhcr im Bronze - und Friihcisem;eitlichen
3. Bouzek J. 1997, Zwischenehen. In: Hronos-Festschrift fiir B. Hi-insel (Espel- Siidosteuropa (Miinchen-Berlin 1995)
kamp 1997) 437-442. 24. Truhelka C. 1904, Der- vor-geschichtliche Pfahlbau im Savebette bei Donja
4. ?hochorowski J. 1985, Die VekeTzug-Kultur (Warszava-Krakow 1985). Dolina, WMBH 9 (Wien 1904).
25. Vasic R. 1975, Donja Dolina i Makedonija, Godisnjak Centra za balka-
5. Covic B. 1959, Glasinac 1957. Rezultati revizionog iskopavanja tumula gla-
sinackog tipa, Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja 14 (Sarajevo 1959) 53-85. noloska ispitivanja 14 (Sarajevo 1975) 81-94.
26. Vasic R. 1999, Das Gebiet des Eisernen Tares wiihrend der Spiithallstattzeit.
6. Covic B. 1963, Pogrebni obicaji praistorijskih stanovnika glasinackog podr-uc-
In: Le Djerdap-Les Portes de Fer a la deuxieme moitie du premier millenaire av. J.
ja, Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja 18 (Sarajevo 1963).
7. Covic B. 1987, Pmistorija jugoslavenskih zemalja. Zeljezno doba (Sarajevo Chr. (Beograd 1999) 34-36.
27. Vejvoda V. I Mirnik I. 1971, Istmiivanja pr-ethistorijskih tnmula 11 Kap-
1987) 232- 286; 575-643.
tolu kod Slavonske Poiege, Vjesnik Arhcoloskog muzeja u Zagrebu 5 (Zagreb 1971)
a
8. Durnitrescu V. 1968, La necropole tumulaire inhumation du pr·emier· age
du fer de Basambi, Dacia 12 (Bucuresti 1968) 177-260. 183-210.
28. Vulpe A. 1965, Zur rnittleren Hallstattzeit in Rnrniinien (Die Basarabi-
9. Durnitrescu V. 1970, A propos de l'origine de l'ornementation excisee de
Kultur), Dacia 9 (Bucuresti 1965), 105-132.
la culture hallstattienne de Basarabi (Rournanie), Adriatica. Praehistorica et entiqua
29. Vulpe A. 1967, Necropola Hallstattiana de la Ferigile (Bucuresti 1967).
(Zagreb 1970) 235- 240.
30. Vulpe A. 1981, Zur Definition 1md Ver-breitung der Basambi-Kultur. In:
10. Fiala F. 1895, Untersuchung pr-iihistor-ischer Grabhiigel auf dem Glasinac,
WMBH Ill (Wien 1895) 3-38. Die altere Eisenzeit- Materijali SADJ 19 (Novi Sad 1981) 179-188.
11. Fiala F. 1896, Nekmpola mvnih gmbova kod Sanskog Mosta, GZM 8 (Sara-
jevo 1896).
12. Gabrovec: S. 1970, Dvozankaste locne fibule, Godisnjak Centra za balka-
noloska ispitivanja 8 (Sarajevo 1970) 5-65.
13. Gustin M. 1974, Mahaire. Doprinos k povezavam Picena, Slovenijc in Sred-
njega Podonavja v 7. stoletju pr. n.st. Situla 14-15 (Ljubljana 1974) 77-94.
:..._)
33 Vasic 1975; 1999.
290 291