Bronze Age Balkans

Eine Knochenpfeife der Noua-Kultur aus Rotbav, „La Pârâuţ“?

by Oliver Dietrich

Marisia XXX, 2010, 41-44.

A bone whistle from Rotbav, „La Pârâuţ“?
The article presents a bone object discovered in the 2009 excavations in... more A bone whistle from Rotbav, „La Pârâuţ“?
The article presents a bone object discovered in the 2009 excavations in the Bronze Age settlement at Rotbav, „La Pârâuţ“, Braşov county. The discovery can be attributed stratigraphically to the Noua Culture. It can be described as a bone tube with two sets of same shaped, corresponding holes. Both ends of the tube are open and one of them is polished to obtain a sharpened rim which has exactly the same diameter all way round. Only a few analogies can be named for the object, which hint to a function as a simple whistle. On the other hand the possibility that the object has a function as part of the horsegear can not be ruled out completely, as the orifices have similarities to those of psalia of the Noua Culture.

Wietenberg ohne Mykene? Gedanken zu Herkunft und Bedeutung der Keramikverzierung der Wietenberg-Kultur

by Laura Dietrich

co-authored with Oliver Dietrich, published in PZ, 86, 67-84.

The fine wares of the Wietenberg Culture in Transylvania during the Middle Bronze Age are characterised by... more The fine wares of the Wietenberg Culture in Transylvania during the Middle Bronze Age are characterised by compositions
of uniform, repetitive ‚spiraloid‘ or ‚meandroid‘ motifs. These patterns – referred to collectively as ‚spiral ornamentation‘ –
were often associated with the Mycenaean region. A detailed examination of the ceramic decoration of the Wietenberg
Culture reveals that it is not actually spiral ornamentation, but rather rows of hook patterns, which may be abstract zoomorphic
motifs. A comparison with the genuine spiral ornamentation of the Mycenaean Culture further supports the thesis
of there being a fundamental difference in the type of ornamentation. The pottery ornamentation of the Wietenberg
Culture is thus independent of southern prototypes. However, this does not mean that there was no contact between the
Wietenberg Culture and Mycenaean Greece. But this contact remained at the level of prestige objects such as ‚Mycenaean‘
swords, bone objects with wave motifs and the bronzes decorated in Hajdúsámson-Apa style, which were limited to a
small social elite and were furthermore distributed far beyond the Wietenberg Culture.

CALL FOR PAPERS - Craft and People - Conference at the British Museum 1-2 Nov 2012

by Marion Uckelmann

„Hammerbeile“. Zu einer speziellen Variante der Schäftung von bronzezeitlichen Tüllenbeilen. - Hammer axes« – a special method of shafting Bronze Age socketed axes.

by Oliver Dietrich

Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 40, 3, 2010, 351-362.

PDF-File available from the author via E-Mail (odi@orient.dainst.de).

»Hammerbeile« – zu einer speziellen Variante der Schäftung von bronzezeitlichen Tüllenbeilen
Im nordwestlichen... more »Hammerbeile« – zu einer speziellen Variante der Schäftung von bronzezeitlichen Tüllenbeilen
Im nordwestlichen Karpatenbecken ist eine Reihe von Tüllenbeilen mit eingesetzten, gelochten bronzenen Stangen bekannt, sog. »Hammerbeile«. Diese kehren das Tüllenschäftungsprinzip zu dem einer Axt um. Anhand europaweiter Analogien wird festgestellt, dass es sich bei diesen Objekten um bronzene Umsetzungen hölzerner Zwischenfutter handelt, die eine geläufige Form der Schäftung von Tüllenbeilen gewesen sein dürften. Theorien, die Tüllenbeile mit bronzenen Zwischenfuttern eine typologische und funktionale Mittlerrolle zwischen späten Nackenscheiben- sowie Schaftlochäxten und den frühesten Tüllenbeilen zusprechen, sind abzulehnen. Dies bestätigen auch die typologisch und in ihrer räumlichen Verteilung von den »Hammerbeilen« abweichenden Funde früher Tüllenbeile Südosteuropas, die zudem zeitlich vor den Hammerbeilen liegen.

»Hammer axes« – a special method of shafting Bronze Age socketed axes
In the northwestern part of the Carpathian Basin there is a distinctive group of socketed axes with inserted, perforated bronze bars, dating from Bz D to Ha B1. These so-called »hammer axes« invert the principle of shafting a socketed axe into one used with regular axes. Based on analogies throughout Europe, it is argued that the perforated bars are indeed conversions into bronze of wooden sleeves used regularly for shafting socketed axes. As a consequence, theories promoting »hammer axes« as a typological and functional link between late forms of Carpathian axe types and the earliest socketed axes are rejected. This is further underlined by the forms and the distributional pattern of early southeastern European socketed axes which moreover appear much earlier than the »hammer axes«.

»Haches marteaux« – à propos d’une variante spéciale d’emmanchement de haches à douille de l’âge du Bronze
Une série de haches à douille dont le manche est composé de barres de bronze provient du Nord-Ouest du bassin des Carpathes, elles sont connues sous le nom de »haches marteaux«. Ces dernières inversent le principe d’emmanchement entre douille et œil. Sur la base de comparaisons européennes, on peut constater que ces manches en bronze composent une évolution de manches en bois intermédiaires. Les théories mettant en rapport les haches à douille avec des emmanchements intermédiaires en bronze pour leur attribuer un rôle d’intermédiaire typologique et fonctionnel entre les dernières haches à douille, une forme tardive de hache des Carpathes et les premières haches à œil sont à rejeter. Ceci est également confirmé par la typologie et la répartition des »haches marteaux« qui apparaissent plus tardivement que les haches à douille du Sud-Est de l’Europe. L. B.

Eine Sichel mit breitem Querwulst aus Rotbav „La Pârâuţ”. Einige Gedanken zum Gebrauch früher Bronzesicheln in der Wietenberg-Kultur.

by Oliver Dietrich

Banatica 20/1, 2010, 49-66.

The article discusses some of the earliest known bronze sickles in southeastern Europe starting from a piece from... more The article discusses some of the earliest known bronze sickles in southeastern Europe starting from a piece from Rotbav, Transylvania, which so far was attributed mistakenly to the LBA.

Geophysical survey in the Bronze Age Settlement from Medieșu Aurit-”Ciuncaș”, Satu Mare County

by Dan Stefan

Co-authored with Liviu Marta, published in Archaeology: making of and practice. Studies in honor of Mircea Babeş at his 70 anniversary, Piteşti, 2011, p. 363-371.

The path and structure of the fortification system defending the Bronze Age settlement from Medieșu Aurit-”Ciuncaş”... more The path and structure of the fortification system defending the Bronze Age settlement from Medieșu Aurit-”Ciuncaş” were recognized by means of magnetic and topographic surveys. The fortification system comprised a large ditch, with a maximum width of 25 m in the north-western side and narrower in the south-eastern side, surrounding a total surface of 4600 square meters (with approximately 15% larger than in the present), surface which functioned as an “acropolis”. In the light of previously presented results it is obvious to emphasize that the investigated fortification system is more than a natural channel of the Șeinel river.
Other archaeological structures, located at small depths and generating strong magnetic variations, were highlighted in the exterior of the Bronze Age settlement. Most probably, these structures were burnt and should be related with the unfortified sector of the Bronze Age settlement, or with older remains of a Neolithic habitation.

Armorikanische Fremdlinge in Ost- und Südosteuropa? Quellenkritische Bemerkungen zur Verbreitung von Tüllenbeilen des armorikanischen Typs -- Armorican imports in Eastern and Southeastern Europe? Critical remarks on the spreading of Armorican type axes.

by Oliver Dietrich

in: Despina Măgureanu, Dragoş Măndescu, Sebastian Matei (Hrsg.), Archaeology: making of and practice. Studies in honor of Mircea Babeş at his 70th anniversary (Piteşti 2011), 123-138.

Starting from two socketed axes of the Armorican type, which were so far mistakenly attributed as chisels of local... more Starting from two socketed axes of the Armorican type, which were so far mistakenly attributed as chisels of local production to the hoard from Şpălnaca, Romania, the author discusses finds of Armorican axes from eastern and southeastern Europe. A number of pieces published as authentic finds can be suspected to be modern imports. Armorican axes circulated widely as gifts between researchers or through the art market especially in the late 19th and early 20th century following the big discoveries in France. Until now, this fact has not been taken into consideration in several important publications of finds. Only for Poland and Bohemia there are finds which could be the result of Early Iron Age contacts. But even their authenticity remains doubtful to some degree, as there are no finds which were discovered after 1950.

Two Mounds in the Ilirsko Groblje in Bukovačko Polje

by Vojislav Filipovic

West Serbia, necropolis, mounds, Late Bronze Age, M. Valtrović, rescue excavation

Published in: Архаика 2 (Archaica 2)
Serbian (Cyrillic) with English summary

The Bronze Age necropolis known as Ilirsko groblje (Illyrian Cemetery) in the village of Bukovac 12 km southwest of... more The Bronze Age necropolis known as Ilirsko groblje (Illyrian Cemetery) in the village of Bukovac 12 km southwest of Mionica and 15 km east of Valjevo was discovered in 2003. The necropolis is fully investigated, and the results for Mound 1 and Mound 3 are presented here. The necropolis was established in the Late Bronze Age. Closest analogies for its archaeological finds can be found in the contemporaneous necropolises in the Jadar river valley, in eastern Bosnia, and in the western Morava river valley.

Matić, Uroš. 2011. Dupljajska kolica i tela koja nešto znače. Genero: časopis za feminističku teoriju 14 (2010): 129-159.

by Uroš Matić

Zentralisierte Produktionsstrukturen? Überlegungen zur räumlichen Beziehung von bronzezeitlichen Gussformen und Fertigprodukten in Südosteuropa am Beispiel der rumänischen Tüllenbeile.

by Oliver Dietrich

Marisia 31, 2011, 77-91.

Bei der Bewertung des räumlichen Verhältnisses von Gussformen zu Fertigprodukten im Karpatenbecken müssen... more Bei der Bewertung des räumlichen Verhältnisses von Gussformen zu Fertigprodukten im Karpatenbecken müssen Überlieferungsfilter stärker als bisher in Betracht gezogen werden. Zunächst stammen Tüllenbeilgussformen, anders als die Fertigprodukte, ganz überwiegend aus Siedlungen und wurden bei Ausgrabungen entdeckt. Der Stand der Siedlungsarchäologie bestimmt damit die Verbreitung von Gussformen in hohem Maße mit.
Der zweite Überlieferungsfilter betrifft die bronzezeitliche Gusstechnik. Es ist kaum anzunehmen, dass allein steinerne Gussformen verwendet worden sind. Neben einigen Funden fragiler und daher selten überlieferter zweischaliger Tongussformen liegen Belege verschiedener Arten von Modeln zur Herstellung von Ton- oder Formsandgussformen vor. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass vermutlich auch archäologisch schwer sichtbare Gussverfahren einen Anteil am Gesamteindruck der Verbreitung von Tüllenbeilgussformen in Rumänien haben. Die Steingussformen können gut zur Herstellung dieser Model gedient haben, ohne dass hier ihre einzige Funktion gelegen haben muss.

M. Mehofer, Die Kammhelme vom Typ Pass Lueg. Archäologische und archäometallurgische Untersuchungen zur spätbronzezeitlichen Handwerkstechnik / The crested helmets of the Pass Lueg type. An archaeological and archaeometallurgical study on Late Bronze Age craftsmanship; in: A. Lippert (ed.), Die zweischaligen ostalpinen Kammhelme und verwandte Helmformen der späten Bronze- und frühen Eisenzeit, Archäologie in Salzburg 6, Salzburg 2011, 119–130.

by Mathias Mehofer

Recently the fragment of a bronze helmet with embossed ornaments was found at the Northern foot of the high ridge of the Alps. Already in 1838 a hoard with bronze mining picks, a winged axe as well as copper cakes were found at the mountain pass of Lueg which forms the entrance into the Alpine area from the Northern Salzburg flatlands. Half of another crested helmet of the same type belonged to a large hoard in Moosbruckschrofen at the Pillersattel mountain pass, discoverd in 2001. Metallurgical investigations prove that the copper used for all three helmets comes from sulfidic ores close to the Mitterberg area in Mühlbach-Bischofshofen, where mining was in process during the Bronze Age. This gives reason for the assumption that there were various producing workshops which were in close contact with each other. (With a summary in english language at the end of the document)
Keywords: Archaeometallurgy, Archaeometry, Bronze Age, defensive armour, helmet

Schutzwaffen aus Metall, wie etwa Helme, werden aufgrund ihrer relativen Seltenheit im Vergleich zu anderen... more Schutzwaffen aus Metall, wie etwa Helme, werden aufgrund ihrer relativen Seltenheit im Vergleich zu anderen Bronzeobjekten als etwas Besonderes betrachtet. Im Rahmen der archäologischen Interpretation können ihnen ganz unterschiedliche Bedeutungen zugewiesen werden, manchmal steht ihre „Prestigefunktion“ im Vordergrund, manchmal dominieren die funktionalen Aspekte. Die grundlegende Aufgabe eines Helms ist es, die schneidende Wirkung einer Angriffswaffe zu neutralisieren sowie die dabei auftretende Energie eines Schlages oder Hiebes abzufedern. Zum einen absorbiert das Metall durch Deformation einen Teil der Schlagenergie, zum anderen muss die restliche Energie und eine dadurch hervorgerufene Verformung durch ein darunter liegendes elastisches Material (Leder, Textil, etc.) aufgenommen werden. Die metallische Oberfläche eines Helms wie auch seine Form bieten reichlich Möglichkeit, ihn mit Verzierungselementen zu versehen, die weit über die eigentliche Schutzfunktion hinausgehen. Dies ermöglicht es dem Besitzer eines solchen Helms, durch eine besondere Gestaltung verschiedenste Bedeutungsinhalte zu transportieren und für sein Umfeld sichtbar zu machen. Dieser Symbolgehalt der Objekte, sei es die Verzierung, die Form oder auch der Kontext, in dem sie benutzt und genutzt werden, hat einen nicht unwesentlichen Einfluss auf ihr Erscheinungsbild und damit auf ihre Konstruktion, wie die folgenden Untersuchungen zeigen. Der Neufund eines bronzenen Helmfragments des Kammhelmtyps Pass Lueg im Anlauftal/Bundesland Salzburg ermöglichte es nun, im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojektes diese Helme archäologisch und archäometallurgisch zu untersuchen.

Kinderspielzeug oder Kultobjekte? Überlegungen zu anthropomorphen Figurinen der Wietenberg- und Tei-Kultur.

by Oliver Dietrich

In: S. Berecki, R. E. Németh, B. Rezi (Hrsg.), Bronze Age Rites and Rituals in the Carpathian Basin. Proceedings of the International Colloquium from Târgu Mureş 8.-10.10.2010 (Târgu Mureş 2010), 87-106.

Origin and Beginning of the Bronze Age in Eastern Central Europe - Online Bibliography

by Dieter Vollmann

This compilation covers above all literature data to the cultures at the beginning of the bronze age in the central... more This compilation covers above all literature data to the cultures at the beginning of the bronze age in the central part of the carpathian basin and the neighboring territories (Makó-Kosihy-Čaka, Nagyrév, Somogyvár). Accordingly I considered the literature from Hungary, Slovakia, Austria (Lower Austria, Burgenland), Tchechia (Moravia) and Romania. From that far surrounding areas such literature was taken over, which refer chronologically and culture-historically to these cultures.

Ein kleiner Bronzedepotfund aus der Siedlung von Rotbav, „La Pârâuţ“ sowie einige Gedanken zum Auftreten zyprischer Schleifennadeln in der Noua-Kultur.

by Oliver Dietrich

In: Laura Dietrich, Oliver Dietrich, Bernhard Heeb, Alexandru Szentmiklosi (Hrsg.), In Honorem Tudor Soroceanu. Analele Banatului XVII, 2009, 97-107.

Porčić, M. and S. Stefanović, 2009. Physical activity and social status in Early Bronze Age society: the Mokrin necropolis. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 28: 259-273.

by Marko Porčić

Manuscript available on request.

This paper investigates the social structure of an Early Bronze Age society whose members were buried at the... more This paper investigates the social structure of an Early Bronze Age society whose members were buried at the necropolis of Mokrin (Serbia, Southeastern Europe), by comparative analysis of musculo-skeletal markers (MSM) of activity and social status as induced on the basis of grave contents. The main objective of the analysis is to determine whether quantitative and qualitative differences in activity are related to social status. Besides using an overall measure of activity, we attempted to isolate different qualitative aspects (facets) of activity through factor analysis of MSM scores. No correlation between social status and overall labor intensity was found. However, there are clues that social status and a single facet of activity are related. Positive correlation between vertical status and the intensity of use of upper arm and shoulder muscles was found among male individuals, while negative correlation between the aforementioned variables was found among the females. The general conclusion based on the results of this study is that there is no simple correlation between the overall labor intensity and social status.

Grey Wares as a Phenomenon

by Peter Pavúk

Aegean and Balkan Prehistory

Fine wheel-made (or handmade) burnished grey wares keep occurring in and around the Aegean area throughout the second... more Fine wheel-made (or handmade) burnished grey wares keep occurring in and around the Aegean area throughout the second millennium, but also in the preceding third and in the following first millennium B.C. What may (or may not) be just a coincidence, has often been interpreted as evidence for something: movement of people, development of culture, chronological cross-links. Whereas in some cases it is clear that grey and grey is not always the same, there are other instances, which have kept archaeological discourse busy for well over a century now. This contribution intends to present a kind of entrée into the study of Aegean and Anatolian grey wares, on the background of the history of research, with an open eye also to the neighbouring regions, such as Bulgaria, Georgia and the Levant. Grey wares have received only a few monothematic studies and were mostly dealt with site by site, along with other types of pottery.