Rome and Barbaricum Contributions to the archaeology and history of interaction in European protohistory edited by Roxana-Gabriela Curcă, Alexander Rubel, Robin P. Symonds and Hans-Ulrich Voß, 2020
The demystification of history is an en vogue term used in historical research regarding the post... more The demystification of history is an en vogue term used in historical research regarding the post-
socialist region. One can ascertain that historical research conducted in many countries of the
communist block have revealed and superseded a whole series of historical myths and fabrications
of the preceding period. At the same time one can observe that new historical myths, with a clear
political influence, have emerged and been promoted in the communist period. In this presentation
I intend to discuss the myth of ‘The Romanisation of the ancestors of the Romanian people’, which is
a frequent topic found in Romanian and Moldavian textbooks . I also intend to track the differences
between the modern historical discourse with regard to Romanisation and the ways this phenomenon
is presented in both older and newer textbooks. As a base for my investigation I have used history
textbooks from Moldavia issued after World War II.
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Books by Alex Popa
sites in south-east Transylvania. The Comolău
ancient fortification, found in the centre of Covasna County, is one of the most enigmatic
archaeological sites in the area. The stone-walled
fortification was introduced in the scientific
literature more than two centuries ago. Since
then, the archaeological site has contributed, in
different occasions, to the growth of the national
archaeological heritage by revealing new and rich
archaeological finds, most of which are of roman
origin. In the present, some scientific works consider the fortification as being part of the southeastern border of Roman Dacia, while others
consider it to be quite atypical for a roman military
building from that period, due to its irregular
pentagonal shape and its large and deep defensive
ditches. In the archaeological literature one can
find two very distinct approaches regarding the
roman military character of the fortification. Thus,
it is said that we deal either with an unusually
shaped roman camp, or with a stone fortification
that was built later than the existence of the roman
period in Dacia. This study tries to answer this
dilemma.
Papers by Alex Popa
ne, Covasna County, Romania, which is a representative cultural good for the Sântana de Mureș - Chernyakhov
Culture. The paper debates briefly the issue related to the raw material - antler or bone. At the same time, some
analogies, typological and chronological frameworks are disussed too. Thus, the comb from Olteni falls into the
type of pieces made of three rows of antler or bone, with the bell-shaped handle with turned heads that mimics
an animal's head. From a chronological point of view, such objects circulated in the late phase of the Sântana de
Mureș - Chernyakhov Culture, from the second half of the 4 th c. and 5 th c. The article ends with some conclusions,
including the need for closer collaboration between archaeologists and archaeozoologists, which would facilitate
better analysis and right assessment of osteological findings.
socialist region. One can ascertain that historical research conducted in many countries of the
communist block have revealed and superseded a whole series of historical myths and fabrications
of the preceding period. At the same time one can observe that new historical myths, with a clear
political influence, have emerged and been promoted in the communist period. In this presentation
I intend to discuss the myth of ‘The Romanisation of the ancestors of the Romanian people’, which is
a frequent topic found in Romanian and Moldavian textbooks . I also intend to track the differences
between the modern historical discourse with regard to Romanisation and the ways this phenomenon
is presented in both older and newer textbooks. As a base for my investigation I have used history
textbooks from Moldavia issued after World War II.
discovered in the hinterland of the Roman provinces of Dacia and Moesia Inferior. The potential and limits of
these categories to provide clues to the period of circulation of the respective pieces are discussed. At the
same time, an interpretative alternative to the paradigm of the so-called "developed economic relations"
between the Roman Empire and Barbaricum is offered to explain the causes and reasons for the spread of
objects of Provincial-Roman origin found outside the borders of the Roman Empire. The conclusions drawn
from the present research indicate that, in fact, the penetration of the so-called "provincial-Roman imports"
into Barbaricum might be linked with military conflicts between the two worlds and not to periods of peace.
relation between the setup of the defence system of Roman Province Dacia and the geographic environment
characteristic for the Curvature Carpathians. In this part of our research we drew some conclusions about the role
of the Oituz Pass in the Roman defensive system in the Curvature Carpathians. Thus, the presence of Roman
fortifications on both slopes of the Carpathians shows us clearly that the „Talsperre” model is not generally
applicable for all the passes in Dacia. Analysing the information about the existence of a Roman road between SE
Transylvania and the area of the Lower Danube through Oituz Pass, we concluded that this road can be postulated
only for the period until the Romans left the territories in south Moldova and Muntenia. After that we do not
have any evidence about the use of this road. We also suppose that, during the Migration Period, the connections
between the population on both slopes of the Carpathians were done through other ways than Oituz Pass, most
probably through Buzău Pass.
sites in south-east Transylvania. The Comolău
ancient fortification, found in the centre of Covasna County, is one of the most enigmatic
archaeological sites in the area. The stone-walled
fortification was introduced in the scientific
literature more than two centuries ago. Since
then, the archaeological site has contributed, in
different occasions, to the growth of the national
archaeological heritage by revealing new and rich
archaeological finds, most of which are of roman
origin. In the present, some scientific works consider the fortification as being part of the southeastern border of Roman Dacia, while others
consider it to be quite atypical for a roman military
building from that period, due to its irregular
pentagonal shape and its large and deep defensive
ditches. In the archaeological literature one can
find two very distinct approaches regarding the
roman military character of the fortification. Thus,
it is said that we deal either with an unusually
shaped roman camp, or with a stone fortification
that was built later than the existence of the roman
period in Dacia. This study tries to answer this
dilemma.
ne, Covasna County, Romania, which is a representative cultural good for the Sântana de Mureș - Chernyakhov
Culture. The paper debates briefly the issue related to the raw material - antler or bone. At the same time, some
analogies, typological and chronological frameworks are disussed too. Thus, the comb from Olteni falls into the
type of pieces made of three rows of antler or bone, with the bell-shaped handle with turned heads that mimics
an animal's head. From a chronological point of view, such objects circulated in the late phase of the Sântana de
Mureș - Chernyakhov Culture, from the second half of the 4 th c. and 5 th c. The article ends with some conclusions,
including the need for closer collaboration between archaeologists and archaeozoologists, which would facilitate
better analysis and right assessment of osteological findings.
socialist region. One can ascertain that historical research conducted in many countries of the
communist block have revealed and superseded a whole series of historical myths and fabrications
of the preceding period. At the same time one can observe that new historical myths, with a clear
political influence, have emerged and been promoted in the communist period. In this presentation
I intend to discuss the myth of ‘The Romanisation of the ancestors of the Romanian people’, which is
a frequent topic found in Romanian and Moldavian textbooks . I also intend to track the differences
between the modern historical discourse with regard to Romanisation and the ways this phenomenon
is presented in both older and newer textbooks. As a base for my investigation I have used history
textbooks from Moldavia issued after World War II.
discovered in the hinterland of the Roman provinces of Dacia and Moesia Inferior. The potential and limits of
these categories to provide clues to the period of circulation of the respective pieces are discussed. At the
same time, an interpretative alternative to the paradigm of the so-called "developed economic relations"
between the Roman Empire and Barbaricum is offered to explain the causes and reasons for the spread of
objects of Provincial-Roman origin found outside the borders of the Roman Empire. The conclusions drawn
from the present research indicate that, in fact, the penetration of the so-called "provincial-Roman imports"
into Barbaricum might be linked with military conflicts between the two worlds and not to periods of peace.
relation between the setup of the defence system of Roman Province Dacia and the geographic environment
characteristic for the Curvature Carpathians. In this part of our research we drew some conclusions about the role
of the Oituz Pass in the Roman defensive system in the Curvature Carpathians. Thus, the presence of Roman
fortifications on both slopes of the Carpathians shows us clearly that the „Talsperre” model is not generally
applicable for all the passes in Dacia. Analysing the information about the existence of a Roman road between SE
Transylvania and the area of the Lower Danube through Oituz Pass, we concluded that this road can be postulated
only for the period until the Romans left the territories in south Moldova and Muntenia. After that we do not
have any evidence about the use of this road. We also suppose that, during the Migration Period, the connections
between the population on both slopes of the Carpathians were done through other ways than Oituz Pass, most
probably through Buzău Pass.
The study discusses the challenges of interpreting the functionality of those edifices built in Roman style, found however outside the provincial borders, in particular the contribution of such buildings to the identification and interpretation of contacts between the Roman Empire and its northern neighbours, in the area of the Lower Danube, their identities, interests and experiences. The analysis is grounded on the archaeological features and contexts encountered in the middle 4 th c. AD site of Sobari (Republic of Moldova) on the Middle Dniester, resuming a previously explored situation, to which new data, emerging from recent excavations and geophysical investigations can be added. Of remarkable size for its age and cultural environment, the settlement at Sobari spreads on 30 ha. A part of it was, at one point, enclosed with a stone wall, built with paraments. Inside this enclosed space there was found a rectangular construction (18 x 10 m), with 1 m deep foundations, built of stone, bricks and mortar, covered with tegulae, part of which bared production stamps known in the Roman Empire. Fragments of glass suggest the existence of at least one window, while 16 column bases can be surely connected with a peristyle. These architectural details are completely out of place north of the Lower Danube, while the found inventory is surprisingly local, typical Sântana de Mureş-Černjachov. No heating installation was yet found. While a military role for the site is excluded, as it is located 300 km north of the closest Roman power centre, thus isolated, unable to support a defensive system, several other functionalities are in turn explored: a temple or the residence of a Roman citizen. The most reasonable interpretation is considered the one which treats the complex in Sobari as built by an experienced architect commissioned by a local aristocrat who had direct contacts with the Roman world, for example as a trader, a hostage, a soldier or an envoy.
The present study concentrates on the question whether the time around the birth of Christ was a period of change for ancient Germania. In order to approach this question the extensive find material (including fibulae forms) was structured chronologically by means of selected cemeteries and individual graves. It becomes clear that, at least in continental Europe, the change of the material culture occurred in comparable periods and thus the formation of horizons of more than just regional validity is possible. The material remains of the period around the birth of Christ were divided into five horizons, starting with the horizon of bent fibulae before the mid 1st cent. B.C. and ending after the mid 1st cent. A.D. In German with an English summary.
From the diatopic and diachronic perspective, common salt—with all its natural or artificial metamorphoses—has influenced humanity in the most diverse aspects. This is why, within a brief enumeration, the salt-related research themes are intriguingly various: explorations (hunting for salt), exploitation techniques, techniques to obtain different products, exploitation and use tools, transport and storage containers, human and animal feeding, conservation (meat, bacon, cheese, vegetables, green goods, fruits). The themes also include manufacture-related uses (including the construction of salt houses), mythology, religion, cult, rituals, beliefs, superstitions, mentalities, secret societies, magic, vows, curses, prohibitions, popular medicine, sexuality, economy, hide working, population, alchemical procedures, scientific and cultural representations, treatment of the deceased, barter, commerce, contraband, robbery.
On the other hand, the themes also include human and animal mobility, the attraction exerted on savage beasts, symbolic uses, folk literature (stories, tales, and proverbs) and cult literature, the control of salt resources, conflicts, strategic value, geographic perceptions, professions related to salt exploitation and uses, economic, legal and administrative regulations, vocabulary, toponymy, anthroponomy and the list can go on.
All these themes already constitute a study object for an impressive number of sciences, disciplines, or sub-disciplines, such as archaeology, heritage studies, history, ethnography, ethnoarchaeology, economic anthropology, food sciences, statistics, sociology, geology, mineralogy, geography, hydrology, botany, chemistry, medicine, pharmacology, ethology, theology, agronomy, symbology, linguistics, folklore studies, cultural studies, literary studies, hermeneutics, legal sciences, etc. Obviously, some themes must be approached only in an interdisciplinary vision.