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Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts

2013, Annales d’Université Valahia Targoviste, Section d’Archéologie et d’Histoire,

"Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts. The archaeological researches carried out during 2009-2012 period in various sectors of the Isaccea, “Fortress” site (Noviodunum), Tulcea County made possible the recovery of an assemblage comprising osseous materials artefacts. Their study marks the beginning of the systematic analysis of this type of pieces discovered at the site. The reduced number of artefacts that is studied with this occasion (13) and their dispersion in various places of the site do not allow us to formulate some detailed conclusions. This analysis aims at highlighting the recent discoveries and the primary data related to this in an extensive manner. The catalogue offers all these significant data regarding the artefacts. They are presented according to the current methodology of the domain (C. Beldiman 2007). The typological categories that form the assemblage includes: I Tools; III Adornments/Accessories; V Varia, Game pieces; Technical pieces (Wastes). The quantitative repartition of the types illustrates a predomination of adornments/accessories category (bone plates; bone button), followed by the one of tools (bone points; bone needles). Varia category comprises a bone dice and a red deer antler waste. The most of the pieces are dated from the Middle Ages (13th century); a piece was attributed to the Roman period (bone dice)."

Ministère de l’Education, de la Recherche, de la Jeunesse et du Sport L’Université Valahia Târgovişte Faculté de Sciences Humaines D’UNIVERSITÉ VALAHIA TARGOVISTE SECTION d’Archéologie et d’Histoire TOME XV Numéro 1 2013 Valahia University Press Târgovişte Annales d’Université Valahia Targoviste Section d’Archéologie et d’Histoire publie des mémoires originaux, des nouvelles et des comptes-rendus dans le domaine de l’archéologie préhistorique, de l’histoire du moyen âge, de l’environnement de l’homme fossile, de l’archéologie interdisciplinaire et de patrimoine culturel. Rédacteur en chef: Prof. dr. Marin Cârciumaru Secrétaire général de rédaction: Conf. dr. Corneliu Beldiman Secrétariat de rédaction: Prof. dr. Ioan Opriş, dr. Denis Căprăroiu, dr. Radu Cârciumaru, dr. Monica Mărgărit, dr. Marian Cosac, dr. Roxana Dobrescu, dr. Ovidiu Cîrstina, dr. Elena-Cristina Niţu, dr. Daniela Iamandi, dr. Adina Elena Boroneanţ. Comité de rédaction: Prof. dr. Eric Boëda, prof. Marcel Otte, prof. dr. Răzvan Theodorescu, prof. dr. Alexandru Vulpe, prof. dr. Victor Spinei, prof. dr. Sabin Adrian Luca, prof. dr. Gheorghe Lazarovici, dr Marylène PatouMathis, dr Marie-Hélène Moncel, dr. Alexandru Suceveanu, dr. Cristian Schuster, dr. Dragomir Nicolae Popovici, dr. Adrian Bălăşescu, dr. Radu Ştefănescu Correspondants: Prof. Jacques Jaubert, prof. Jean-Philippe Rigaud, prof. Árpád Ringer, prof. Alain Tuffreau, dr. Aline Averbouh, dr. Alain Turq, prof. Ivor Iancovič, prof. Ivor Karavanič, prof. dr. Ştefan Trâmbaciu, dr. Eugen Nicolae, dr. Emilian Alexandrescu, dr. Sergiu Iosipescu Technorédacteurs: Dr. Elena-Cristina Niţu, Marius Alexandru Florică Revue indexée B+ par CNCSIS/B par CNCS - Roumanie Indexée dans: AWOL, FRANTIQ, LAMPEA, SCRIBD, DAPHNE Tout ce qui concerne la Rédaction des Annales d’Université Valahia Targoviste Section d’Archéologie et d’Histoire doit être envoyé à: [email protected], www.annalesfsu.ro ISSN: 1584-1855 Annales d’Université Valahia Targoviste, Section d’Archéologie et d’Histoire, Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013, p.37- 53 ISSN: 1584-1855; ISSN (online): 2285-3669 Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts Corneliu Beldiman*, Aurel Daniel Stănică**, Diana-Maria Sztancs*** *, *** “Dimitrie Cantemir” Christian University, Faculty of History, Splaiul Unirii No. 176, 040042 Bucharest 53, Romania; e-mail: [email protected]; e-mail: [email protected]; ** Eco-Museum Research Institute, 32, Progresului Street, 820009 Tulcea, Tulcea County, Romania; e-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts. The archaeological researches carried out during 2009-2012 period in various sectors of the Isaccea, “Fortress” site (Noviodunum), Tulcea County made possible the recovery of an assemblage comprising osseous materials artefacts. Their study marks the beginning of the systematic analysis of this type of pieces discovered at the site. The reduced number of artefacts that is studied with this occasion (13) and their dispersion in various places of the site do not allow us to formulate some detailed conclusions. This analysis aims at highlighting the recent discoveries and the primary data related to this in an extensive manner. The catalogue offers all these significant data regarding the artefacts. They are presented according to the current methodology of the domain (C. Beldiman 2007). The typological categories that form the assemblage includes: I Tools; III Adornments/Accessories; V Varia, Game pieces; Technical pieces (Wastes). The quantitative repartition of the types illustrates a predomination of adornments/accessories category (bone plates; bone button), followed by the one of tools (bone points; bone needles). Varia category comprises a bone dice and a red deer antler waste. The most of the pieces are dated from the Middle Ages (13th century); a piece was attributed to the Roman period (bone dice). Keywords: ancient technology, bone and antler industry, Dobrogea, Middle Ages, Noviodunum, Roman Period. discoveries and the primary data related to this in an extensive manner. The catalogue offers all these significant data regarding the artefacts. They are presented according to the current methodology of the domain (C. Beldiman, 2007; D.-M. Sztancs, 2011). In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the optical means of observation were used (optical microscope, zoom x10, x40; digital microscope, zoom x10, x400); complete sets of images at various scales were taken (microscopic including), in this way being initiated a bank of artefacts images discovered at Noviodunum. The catalogue includes the pieces numbered from 1 to 13, classified from a typological point of view. Chronological and cultural data related to the studied artefacts were provided by the authors of the researches and they were correlated (whether Context The archaeological researches carried out during 2009-2012 period in various sectors of the Isaccea, “Fortress” site (Noviodunum), Tulcea County (NVD) (A. D. Stănică, 2013) made possible the recovery of an assemblage comprising osseous materials artefacts. Their study marks the beginning of the systematic analysis of this type of pieces discovered at Noviodunum. They already form a rich collection that has been created during the past six decades of archaeological excavations (C. Beldiman, D.-M. Sztancs, 2013). Methodology The reduced number of artefacts that is studied with this occasion (13) and their dispersion in various places of the site do not allow us to formulate some detailed conclusions. This analysis aims at highlighting the recent 37 Corneliu Beldiman, Aurel Daniel Stănică, Diana-Maria Sztancs it was possible) with the observations regarding the specificity of the typological and technological aspects. The data are preliminary and they can be revised. The main periods of inhabitation of Noviodunum site are dated from the 1st to the 7th centuries, the 10th to the 11th and the 12th to the 15th centuries (A. D. Stănică, 2013; http://www.noviodunum.ro). Lately, the complex study of the osseous materials artefacts dated from Roman epoch, Late Roman, Roman-Byzantine period (1st, 7th centuries) and Middle Byzantine period (9th, 11th centuries) from Dobrogea has registered important contributions in articles and communications. These presented the materials discovered at Capidava, Durostorum-Ostrov, Histria-Basilica extra muros (C. Beldiman, V. Rusu-Bolindeţ et alii, 2011; C. Beldiman, D.-M. Sztancs, 2007a; C. Beldiman, D.-M. Sztancs, 2007b; C. Beldiman, D.-M. Sztancs, 2010; C. Beldiman, D. Elefterescu, D.-M. Sztancs, 2010). In contrast, the discoveries dated from the Middle Ages (the 12th, the 15th centuries) have been rarely approached in an extensive manner (A. A. Rusu, Fl. Mărginean, 2004). In this way, the contributions generated by the analysis of the assemblages of osseous materials artefacts from Noviodunum will offer methodological and typological benchmarks for futures approaches of the material culture from Istro-Pontic area and adjacent regions. Repertory Each artefact was studied according to a standard protocol comprising several levels and components with the aim of registering the data in an extensive/exhaustive manner (see the Catalogue). Raw materials, status of conservation, typology, morphology, morphometry, manufacturing traces, use-wear traces, functionality were the main aspects taken into account. The standard form includes data regarding the artefact, according to the following structure: ● Indicative ● Type ● Typological code ● Category (tools, weapons, adornments, raw materials, accessories etc.) ● Holder/Collection Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 38 ● Inventory number ● Context ● Culture ● Fig. ● Raw material ● Status of conservation (entire, fragmentary, fragment) ● Description (morphology, technical data regarding the manufacture, use-wear traces, presumed functionality etc.) ● Dimensions (mm) ● Bibliography/Unpublished. Typology The typological categories that form the assemblage are presented according to Beldiman 2007 Typological List: I Tools; III Adornments/Accessories; V Varia, Game pieces; Technical pieces (Wastes) (C. Beldiman, 2007, p. 211-234). The quantitative repartition of the types illustrates a predomination of adornments/accessories category (bone plates N = 7; bone button, N = 1; Total = 8), followed by the one of tools (bone points, N = 1; bone needles, N = 2; Total = 3). Varia category comprises a bone dice (N = 1) and a red deer antler waste (N = 1). The most of the pieces are dated from the Middle Ages (13th century); a piece was attributed to the Roman period (bone dice, NVD 11). Aspects of manufacture Regarding the raw materials, most of the artefacts were made from long or flat bones of cattle, sheep/goat, bird, fish (N = 12); the detailed situation is the following: long bone of sheep/goat, N = 1; long bone of cattle, N = 4; cattle rib, N = 3; long bone of bird, N = 2; flat bone of fish, N = 2. The red deer antler is also present (N = 1). The manufacture techniques consist of simple procedures such as: fracture, chopping, scraping, abrasion and complex technological solutions as: perforation, engraving (for ornamental purposes), lathe finishing etc. Artefacts’ manufacture refers both to the household activities (bone point, NVD 1; bone needles, NVD 9-10), and the specialised one, workshops from the site or outside it, external workshops/trades. Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts The increase of the study on the rest of the osseous materials artefacts from Noviodunum will bring new clarifications in this respect. Even if the studied assemblage is a small one, it provides the first typological, technological, cultural and chronological benchmarks for the complex and extensive approach of the cultural manifestations from Noviodunum during the Roman period and the Middle Ages. Catalogue The data are organized as follows: ● Code/Type ● Holder/Inventory no. ● Archaeological context of discovery ● Epoch/Dating ● Artefact description/Morphometry (in mm) NVD 1 Bone awl ICEMTL Inventory no. (fig. 1) Middle Ages 13th century 2010 Area A Square C1 -1.00 m Awl made from a proximal radius of sheep/goat (I A25 type). Whole piece. Good status of preservation. The surfaces were superficially affected by corrosion (plants’ roots). Superficial traces of burning. At the proximal end, traces of transversal cutting can be observed. These were produced by a knife blade (cutting the cartilages). The débitage was done by chopping applied at the proximal end in order to smooth the articular surface for a better handling. On the long surface of the active part, on the lateral side, an oblique chopping was done. The axial abrasion was applied on the edges and sides in order to prepare the active part. Use-wear traces: intense bluntness and polish at the level of the active part as well as at the proximal end/part (due to handling). The piece was probably used as an awl for hides. Ltot 117.93; EP 23.70/17.96; PM 16.13/12.40; LPA 56.68; CD 11.20/6.32. NVD 2 Bone needle ICEMTL Inventory no. (fig. 2) Middle Ages 13th century 2012 Area A Square B3 -1.50 m Bone needle (tip I A12 a1). Fragmentary piece; about 2/3 of the length is preserved (proximal part and medial part). Fracture recently produced at the distal part level. Raw material: fragment of long bone of bird? 39 Piece entirely shaped. The débitage procedures cannot be identified; the shaping was done by applying chopping and axial scraping with a knife. The proximal part was chopped on one of sides (conventionally called inferior side) in order to reduce the thickness – sharpening. The proximal part is sharpened and the proximal end is rounded by specific bluntness produced while using. The sections are oval. The perforation is oval-shaped, with oblique edges, centrally placed at the 15.66 mm distance of the proximal end; it was done in two stages: 1. unilateral perforation with a drill or the point of a knife with a diameter of 2.5 mm; 2. the widening of the perforation at the medial part using cutting with a knife blade offered an oval irregular shape to the perforation, narrower to the medial part. It is possible that the perforation was made before the final shaping of the edges. Use-wear traces: intense bluntness, polish on the entire surface and at the perforation level were produced by the intense use of the piece at sewing hides (leather processing). Ltot 106.70/66.70; EP 1.45/1.50; PP at the pf level 4.92/2.64; PM 4.09/3.08; PD 3.50/2.73; diam ext of pf on FS 6.79/3.23; diam int of pf on FS 4.33/2.80; dist pf-EP 15.66. NVD 3 Bone needle ICEMTL Inventory no. (fig. 3) Middle Ages 13th century 2012 Area A Square D3 -1.50 m Bone needle (tip I A12 a1). Piece entirely preserved. Excellent status of conservation. The reduced length could indicate the reshape of the active part after a possible fracture appeared during the use of the piece. On the inferior side, the anatomic marrow cavity is preserved. It indicates a segment of bird long bone as raw material. The morpho-technical parameters are similar to those described for NVD 2 piece. The proximal part with a sharpen morphology, was shaped by chopping and scrapping. The perforation is placed at 12.23 mm of the proximal end; it was done like the one of the NVD 2 piece. It presents asymmetrical oval morphology shorter than NVD 2 piece. The spongy tissue can be observed at the proximal part. Use-wear traces are similar to those preserved on the surfaces of the NVD 2 piece. Ltot 55.13; EP 1.83/1.41; PP at level of pf 4.28/2.50; PM 3.90/2.60; CD 2.83/1.91; diam pf 3.89/2.42; dist pf-EP 12.23. Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 Corneliu Beldiman, Aurel Daniel Stănică, Diana-Maria Sztancs Fig. 1- Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 1 (bone awl). Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 40 Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts Fig. 2 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 2 (bone needle). 41 Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 Corneliu Beldiman, Aurel Daniel Stănică, Diana-Maria Sztancs Fig. 3 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 3 (bone needle). Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 42 Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts NVD 4 Bone plate ICEMTL Inventory no. (fig. 4) Middle Ages? 13th century? 2011 S I East Square 9 -0.25 – 0.40 m Bone plate. Fragmentary piece; the distal end was broken during the use of the piece; at the level of perforation 2 (distal) it was broken recently. Good status of preservation of the surfaces. Raw material: cattle long bone? Small curved plate, with a linear end (conventionally established as the proximal one) and the opposed one (the distal) probably sharpened, broken during the use. The upper surface is convex, the inferior one is flat, covered with oblique striations; the edges are oblique. It presents two circular perforations; they were probably made with the drill before the shaping of the edges. The perforations are placed slightly towards the concave edge. The upper surface is decorated with oblique lines obtained by cutting/notching and engraving with a knife blade. They are grouped and placed in the same direction. The débitage was probably done by chopping and axial sawing: entirely shaped by chopping and scrapping with a knife blade. A rectangular plate of large dimensions was obtained. From it, the analysed piece was extracted. The inferior side preserves oblique hatchings arranged in double sense, intersected, made by the point of a knife blade – with the purpose of obtaining adhesion on the surface on which the piece was set (metal or leather). L 54.13; EP 9.22/ 2.39; PP at pf 1 9.45/2.46; PM 8.91/2.66; PD 7.32/2.60; PD at pf 2 8.25/2.85; diam pf 1 3.06; dist EP-pf 1 9.24; dist edge 2.50; diam pf 2 3.06; dist edge 1.05; dist between lines of decoration 2.40-2.85. NVD 5 Bone plate ICEMTL Inventory no. (fig. 5) Middle Ages? 13th century? 2012 Area A Square B2 -1.45 m Bone plate. Piece entirely preserved. Good status of conservation. Traces of intentional burning applied in order to facilitate the manufacture. Rectangular piece, with convex ends – the proximal one (conventionally established) is slightly asymmetrical convex, as well as the distal one. The edges are slightly concave. The edges and the ends are rounded due to the shaping procedures and use. The sides are flat due to the shaping. The raw material is a 43 fragment of a cattle rib. It was probably chosen for the general morphology that is close to the finished artefact. The débitage probably consisted in fracture and splitting. Shaping by chopping and scrapping was applied on sides and edges. An oval perforation was done to each end. They have the inner part slightly convex and were done starting from the upper side to the inferior one maybe with the point of a blade knife. On the upper side, the space between perforations was decorated with seven double circles with central dots; these were done by engraving with two instruments similar to compass. The possible direction of decoration was from proximal to distal end. The possible sequence of shaping the circles: axial placed circle/two juxtaposed circles, placed slightly oblique each other/circle axial placed/two circles juxtaposed/circle axially placed. Use-wear traces: intense bluntness and polish of the surfaces (inclusively the edges of the engraved circles), edges and at the perforations level. Ltot 64.60; EP 16.38/3.33; PP at pf 1 16.20/3.62; PM 14.29/3.67; PD at pf 2 16.75/3.12; diam pf 1 on FS 6.72/5.59; diam pf 2 on FS 6.73/5.46; diam ext circles 8.07; diam int circles 4.78; diam dots/holes 1.5; width max circles 1.3; width min circles 0.3; depth max circles 1. NVD 6 Bone plate ICEMTL Inventory no. (fig. 6) Middle Ages? 13th century? 2012 SC Squares 2-3D -2.25 – 2.35 m Bone plate. Fragmentary piece; one of the ends fractured while using. Raw material: fragment of cattle rib. Piece of general trapezoidal elongated shape. The preserved end is linear and presents traces of sawing. The inferior side is covered with axially arranged striations made with the point of a knife blade before the perforations with the supposed purpose of obtaining adhesion on the hafting surface. The edges and the ends are chopped. The upper side is flat and slightly convex. Two perforations are adjacent, slightly oval, placed slightly obliquely to each other at the end of the entire preserved end 15.27 mm. They were drilled from the inferior side and finished on the upper side. Use-wear traces: are not preserved. The fracture probably appeared during shaping procedure; due to this fact, the piece was abandoned (waste?). L 45.86; end 13.82/2.44; PP Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 Corneliu Beldiman, Aurel Daniel Stănică, Diana-Maria Sztancs Fig. 4 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 4 (perforated bone plate). Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 44 Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts Fig. 5 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 5 (perforated bone plate). 45 Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 Corneliu Beldiman, Aurel Daniel Stănică, Diana-Maria Sztancs at pf 15.54/2.10; diam pf on FS 4.86/4.35. NVD 7 Bone plate ICEMTL Inventory no. - (fig. 7) Middle Ages? 13th century? 2012 Wall 2 Square 3 Gr. -2.70 m Bone plate. Fragmentary piece, fractured during the piece use; about 1/2 from the body is preserved. The preserved end is obliquely sawn after shaping and decoration (reshaped?). The surfaces have a good status of conservation. The aspect indicates the application of burning in order to ease the manufacture. Semicircular plate. Raw material: fragment of cattle long bone. It was extracted from a rectangular plate. The inferior side is striated with the point of a knife blade before the extraction of the plate. The upper side is smooth, with oblique edges shaped by chopping and scrapping with a knife blade, probably after the decoration. Fig. 6 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 6 (perforated bone plate). The exterior edge is rounded and the interior one – is linear, without bluntness. The thickness is uniform. The decoration is applied from the upper side and it was realised by engraving with two objects with different diameters. Centrally, on a circular line, a row of simple circles with central dot was placed equidistantly by the edges. Segments of circles with an end on the circles form a complex twisted ornamentation. Two similar plates probably Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 46 formed a circular piece or the semicircular pieces were assembled one by another. Usewear traces: intense bluntness and polish on the upper side, edges and ornamentation. Diam ext cca 52.75; diam int cca 27.62; thick 1.5; width 11.80; diam ext central circles 4.70; diam dots 1.6; diam ext circles 9-9.25. NVD 8 Bone plate ICEMTL Inventory no. - (fig. 8) Middle Ages? 13th century? 2012 SC Squares 3-4 C-D -2.05 – 2.10 m. Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts Fig. 7 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 7 (half-circular bone plate). 47 Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 Corneliu Beldiman, Aurel Daniel Stănică, Diana-Maria Sztancs Bone plate. Piece entirely preserved. Good status of conservation. Blank for a plate. Raw material: fragment cattle rib. Ends were shaped by fracture and the edges by chopping. The spongy tissue was removed from the inferior side by chopping and scrapping. The débitage was made by fracture and splitting, removing the ends and chopping and scrapping of the edges. Ltot 54.55; ends 16.41/3.23 – 18.78/3.57; PM 17.02/3.36. otherwise the specific fragility of the raw material determined the fracture of the individually treated pieces. The superficial finishing of the surfaces by abrasion. The perforation of several pieces with a drill then the widening of the perforations with a knife blade; the morphology of the perforations is similar to the one of the needles, technical hint for dated from the same epoch. Usewear traces: bluntness and polish of the sides and perforations’ edges. The plate was probably sewn on clothes. L sides 49.88; gros 1.15; diam max pf 5.68 – 8.70; diam min pf 3.14 – 3.78. NVD 10 Bone plate ICEMTL Inventory no. (fig. 9) Middle Ages? 13th century? 2012 TC Profile N-S Semi-section -2.30 m Bone plate. Piece entirely preserved. Good status of conservation. A corner was recently fractured and glued. Small and thin bone plate, triangle-shaped, with smooth sides and perforations at corners. The parameters are identical with the ones of the NVD 9 piece. L sides 49.88; thick 1.15; diam max pf 7.66 – 5.92; diam min pf 2.99 – 4.18. Fig. 8 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 8 (probably raw material for a plate - rib). NVD 9 Bone plate ICEMTL Inventory no. - (fig. 9) Middle Ages? 13th century? 2012 TC Profile N-S Semi-section-2.30 m Bone plate. Piece entirely preserved. Good status of conservation. A corner was recently fractured and glued. Small and thin bone plate, triangle-shaped, with smooth sides with perforations on corners. Raw material: probably fish opercullum. The manufacture consisted in sawing and abrasion of the edges applied for a pack of similar pieces, Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 48 NVD 11 Bone die ICEMTL Inventory no. (fig. 10) Roman period 2012 SC Square 3A -1.90 – 2.00 m Bone die. Piece entirely preserved. Good status of conservation; the surfaces are superficially affected by the corrosion. Raw material: cattle long bone, compacta; there are no traces of spongy tissue. Its general shape is parallelepiped. The sides are rectangular and unequal. The numbers are marked on each side by engraved small, simple circles with dots done with a small instrument like the compass. Starting with the number 1 and rotating the piece towards left, the sides corresponding to 3, 2 and 4 appear. Starting with the number 1 and rotating the piece down, the side corresponding to 5 appears. Starting with the number 1 and rotating the piece up, the side corresponding to 6 appears. The sum of the sides Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts Fig. 9 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 9-10 (perforated bone plates). 49 Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 Corneliu Beldiman, Aurel Daniel Stănică, Diana-Maria Sztancs Fig. 10 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 11 (bone die). Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 50 Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts Fig. 11 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 12 (bone button). 51 Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 Corneliu Beldiman, Aurel Daniel Stănică, Diana-Maria Sztancs is: 1 + 2 = 3; 3 + 4 = 7; 2 + 1 = 3; 4 + 3 = 7; 5 + 6 = 11; 6 + 5 = 11. The débitage was probably done by sawing, the obtained stick was cut at the die’s dimensions and the sides were finished by abrasion and polish. Use-wear traces: bluntness and superficial polish of the corners. Side 1: 11.73/11.05; side 2: 11.78/10.42; side 3: 12.32/10.90; side 4: 12.30/10.74; side 5: 12.34/11.85; side 6: 12.34/11.70. suggests the manufacture of the antler while it was wet. Diam burr 71.10/60.26; L R1 53.09; diam R1 at cut end 32.02/22.15; diam R2 at cut NVD 12 Bone button ICEMTL Inventory no. - (fig. 11) Middle Ages? 13th century? Modern Epoch? 2011 S I East Square 9 0.25 – 0.40 m Bone button (tip III I1). Fragmentary piece, a small sector of the circumference was fractured. Good status of conservation. Circular shape. Raw material: probably cattle long bone (compacta). Bone plate lathe-shaped. The upper side has a convex edge and a circular rib. The central part is slightly convex. It has five perforations, among which one is central and circular (in order to fasten the lathe spindle) and four cross-arranged, slightly oval and truncated, narrower on the inferior side made by drilling. These were used for sewing the piece. The inferior side is flat with the oblique edge. Use-wear traces: -. Diam 14.51; width edge convex 2.68; width rib 0.3; diam central pf 2.65; diam cross-pf FS 2.50/2.45; diam cros-pf FI 1.75/1.40. NVD 13 Debris (red deer antler) ICEMTL Inventory no. - (fig. 12) Middle Ages? 13th century? 2009 SC 2 Square 6 -1.45 m Debris (red deer antler). The tines and the beam were detached in order to be used as raw materials. Medium status of conservation. Recent fracture in two large fragments and several smalls; it can be reconstructed. Traces of burning. Deposits of adherent concretions. Right beam of red deer antler; shed antler; base with burr, base of tine 1, about 1/3 of the tine 2 and the base of the beam. traces of perforation can be observed. These have the shape of deep dots, asymmetrical ovalshaped, wider on the lateral side, produced with a metallic instrument. The dots’ morphology Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013 52 Fig. 12 - Noviodunum (Isaccea) – “Cetate”, Tulcea County. 2009-2012 excavation campaigns. Bone and antler artefacts (Roman Epoch – Middle Ages). NVD 13 (red-deer antler beam and tines). end 25.15/19.50; diam basis of the beam 52.87/38; diam max dots on the lateral side 12.84/11.82; diam min dots on the lateral side 7.95/6.12. Noviodunum. Data about the bone and antler artefacts Abbreviations CD – Distal caliber; Diam – Diameter; Dist – Distance; ED – Distal extremity; EP – proximal extremity; Ext – Exterior; FI – Inferior surface; FS – Superior surface; Gr – Pit; ICEMTL – Institutul de Cercetări Eco-Muzeale Tulcea; Int – Interior; L – Length; L tot – Total length; LPA – Length of active part; Max – Maximum; Min – Minimum; NVD – Noviodunum; PD – Distal part; Pf – Perforation; PM – Medial part; PP – Proximal part; R – Tine; S – Section; Supr – Surface; TC – Tower. BIBLIOGRAPHY Beldiman C., 2007, Industria materiilor dure animale în preistoria României. Resurse naturale, comunităţi umane şi tehnologie din paleoliticul superior până în neoliticul timpuriu, Asociaţia Română de Arheologie, Studii de Preistorie, Supplementum 2, Bucureşti, 2007. Beldiman C., Elefterescu D., Sztancs D.-M., 2010, Ostrov-Durostorum. Industria materiilor dure animale, in M.-V. Angelescu, C. Bem, I. Oberländer-Târnoveanu, Fl. Vasilescu (eds.), Cronica cercetărilor arheologice din România. Campania 2009, CIMEC, Bucureşti, 2010, p. 132-136. Beldiman C., Rusu-Bolindeţ V., Achim I. A., Sztancs D.-M., 2011, Aspects of ancient economy at Histria: bone/antler anvils and iron sickles, in M. V. Angelescu, I. A. Achim, A. Bâltâc, V. Rusu-Bolindeţ, Valentin Bottez (éds.), Antiquitas Istro-Pontica. Mélanges d’archéologie et d’histoire ancienne offerts à Alexandru Suceveanu, Institut d’Archéologie „Vasile Pârvan” de l’Academie Roumaine, Faculté d’Histoire de l’Université de Bucarest, ClujNapoca, 2010 (2011), p. 421-436. Beldiman C., Sztancs D.-M., 2007a, Histria. Sectorul Basilica extra muros. Industria materiilor dure animale, in M. V. Angelescu, I. Oberländer-Târnoveanu; Fl. Vasilescu (eds.), 53 Cronica cercetărilor arheologice din România. Campania 2006, CIMEC, Bucureşti, 2007, p. 202-205. Beldiman C., Sztancs D.-M., 2007b, Capidava. Industria materiilor dure animale, in M. V. Angelescu, I. Oberländer-Târnoveanu; Fl. Vasilescu (eds.), Cronica cercetărilor arheologice din România. Campania 2006, CIMEC, Bucureşti, 2007, p. 108-112. Beldiman C., Sztancs D.-M., 2010, Capidava. Industria materiilor dure animale, in M.-V. Angelescu, C. Bem, I. Oberländer-Târnoveanu, Fl. Vasilescu (eds.), Cronica cercetărilor arheologice din România. Campania 2009, CIMEC, Bucureşti, 2010, p. 48-50. Beldiman C., Sztancs D.-M., 2013, Isaccea, jud. Tulcea [Noviodunum], Punct: Cetate – Sector Sud-Est. Industria materiilor dure animale descoperite în campaniile 2009-2012, in M. V. Angelescu, D. Mihai, A. Pescaru, I. C. Opriş, Z. K. Pinter, R. Iosipescu (eds.), Cronica cercetărilor arheologice din România. Campania 2012, Institutul Naţional al Patrimoniului, Bucureşti, 2013, p. 74-75; http://inp.org.ro/evenimente/132-cronicacercetarilor-arheologice-din-romania-campania2012-volum-publicat-in-mai-2013. Stănică A.-D., 2013, Isaccea, jud. Tulcea [Noviodunum], Punct: Cetate, Sector: Sud-Est, in M. V. Angelescu, D. Mihai, A. Pescaru, I. C. Opriş, Z. K. Pinter, R. Iosipescu (eds.), Cronica cercetărilor arheologice din România. Campania 2012, Institutul Naţional al Patrimoniului, Bucureşti, 2013, p. 70-74; http://inp.org.ro/evenimente/132-cronicacercetarilor-arheologice-din-romania-campania2012-volum-publicat-in-mai-2013. Sztancs D.-M., 2011, Industria materiilor dure animale în neo-eneoliticul din Transilvania. Repertoriu, tipologie, studiu paleotehnologic, date privind paleoeconomia. Baze de date, teză de doctorat, Universitatea „Lucian Blaga” Sibiu, 2011. Tome XV, Numéro 1, 2013