2019: Single-edged weaponry of Scythian origin in Transylvania and Great Hungarian Plain (in Russian with English summary) → Однолезвийное оружие скифского облика Трансильвании и Альфёльда (original) (raw)
Related papers
Topal Denis, “Scythian blade weaponry of 7th–4th centuries BC (South-western part of Eastern Europe)”. For the scientific degree: PhD in History, Kishinev, 2018. Structure of the paper: Introduction, four chapters, general conclusions and recommendations, bibliography, four appendixes including the catalogue of artefacts, figures and maps. Obtained results were published in 15 scientific articles. Keywords: Scythian culture, Carpathian-Danube region, Scythian weaponry, blade weaponry, akinakes. Field of research: 613.01 – Archaeology. The aim of the thesis: generalization and systematization of data on blade weaponry from the territory of the European area of Scythian culture. Objectives of the thesis: Generalization of historiographic observations, allocation of functional groups in the mass of Scythian akinakai, identification of chronologically significant features, allocation of types which have chronological importance and verification of typological constructions on the material of western part of the Scythian area. Methodology: Comparative analysis of the empirical distribution of variation series of features, mapping, comparative chronological analysis of closed complexes, cross-dating. Scientific novelty. The data on the blade weaponry of the western part of Scythian culture were summarized for the first time, and as a result, the local features are revealed. These typological constructions were verified and a new grouping on the territorial principle was proposed, the links between the groups were identified, their chronological positions were refined. Analysis of the distribution of complexes and stray finds has made it possible to identify the routes of penetration of weaponry and their carriers into the Carpathian-Danube region. Solved scientific problem. As a result of research, a scientific problem related to the evolution of Scythian blade weaponry on the South-East of Eastern Europe was solved. The main chronological changes in morphology and origins of Scythian akinakes were identified (North Caucasus, Dnieper forest-steppe, Transylvania). In addition, the dynamics of the moving of these centres was documented chronologically. The theoretical value of the paper is determined by an integrated approach to solving the issues of the chronology of Scythian armament and the problems of penetration of early nomads into South-Eastern Europe. The practical significance of the paper. The results of the research could be used: in compilations on ancient history and archeology of Eastern Europe, as well as on the history of armament of nomads in the Early Iron Age; in the preparation of textbooks and manuals; in the process of the development of special courses in historical disciplines; in the creation of museum expositions. Implementation of scientific results. The results of the research were presented by the author during the 10 International conferences, seminars and colloquia.
Topal Denis, “Scythian blade weaponry of 7th–4th centuries BC (South-western part of Eastern Europe)”. For the scientific degree: PhD in History, Kishinev, 2018. Structure of the paper: Introduction, four chapters, general conclusions and recommendations, bibliography, four appendixes including the catalogue of artefacts, figures and maps. Obtained results were published in 15 scientific articles. Keywords: Scythian culture, Carpathian-Danube region, Scythian weaponry, blade weaponry, akinakes. Field of research: 613.01 – Archaeology. The aim of the thesis: generalization and systematization of data on blade weaponry from the territory of the European area of Scythian culture. Objectives of the thesis: Generalization of historiographic observations, allocation of functional groups in the mass of Scythian akinakai, identification of chronologically significant features, allocation of types which have chronological importance and verification of typological constructions on the material of western part of the Scythian area. Methodology: Comparative analysis of the empirical distribution of variation series of features, mapping, comparative chronological analysis of closed complexes, cross-dating. Scientific novelty. The data on the blade weaponry of the western part of Scythian culture were summarized for the first time, and as a result, the local features are revealed. These typological constructions were verified and a new grouping on the territorial principle was proposed, the links between the groups were identified, their chronological positions were refined. Analysis of the distribution of complexes and stray finds has made it possible to identify the routes of penetration of weaponry and their carriers into the Carpathian-Danube region. Solved scientific problem. As a result of research, a scientific problem related to the evolution of Scythian blade weaponry on the South-East of Eastern Europe was solved. The main chronological changes in morphology and origins of Scythian akinakes were identified (North Caucasus, Dnieper forest-steppe, Transylvania). In addition, the dynamics of the moving of these centres was documented chronologically. The theoretical value of the paper is determined by an integrated approach to solving the issues of the chronology of Scythian armament and the problems of penetration of early nomads into South-Eastern Europe. The practical significance of the paper. The results of the research could be used: in compilations on ancient history and archeology of Eastern Europe, as well as on the history of armament of nomads in the Early Iron Age; in the preparation of textbooks and manuals; in the process of the development of special courses in historical disciplines; in the creation of museum expositions. Implementation of scientific results. The results of the research were presented by the author during the 10 International conferences, seminars and colloquia.
Papers in honour of Rastko Vasić 80th birthday, 2019
In 1894, an iron dagger was discovered in the vicinity of Vršac in Serbia and later given to the City Museum. Afterwards, this dagger had been repeatedly entered in various archaeological publications illustrating the different cultural phenomena and processes of Early Iron Age at Middle Danube. The first Scythian akinakai reach the Great Hungarian plain in the Early Scythian period, but not later than at the turn of 7th—6th centuries BC (e.g. strayfinds of bronze and bimetal daggers). Nevertheless, the bulk of the Scythian swords and daggers are part of the Middle Scythian period. Probably, the first funeral complexes are associated with the period of transition from the Early Scythian stage to the Middle one during the early 6th century BC, and several strayfinds (of the Šumejko and Vettersfelde types) with the beginning of Middle Scythian period at 1st half of 6th century. The single-edged sword (from the grave at Bátmonostor) and the bulk of the strayfinds of the Nógrád type could be also connected with the first part of Middle Scythian period during the 6th century BC. By the end of Middle Scythian period, in the 1st half of the 5th century BC, appear swords and daggers decorated with the elements of Animal style and “segment”-like hilts, among which the akinakes from Vršac could be also placed.
Tyragetia, 2014
Papers devoted to the typology of certain categories of the material culture need the close cooperation with the local schemes. A change of researching “optics” is likely to have a positive effect on the process of studiing the general trends in the material, if this process of research is closely linked with the base of any typological constructions — with the spatial and chronological relations analysis. Besides the publication of new stray finds and partial republication of already known finds from the burial complexes, the main goal of this work is the checking of certain typological tendentions of such category of Scythian culture as akinakai (Scythian swords and daggers) of the Carpathian-Dniester region. A geographical division of Carpathian-Dniester region is proposed: Middle Dniester (Bukovinian) group, Eastern Carpathian (Neamţ) group, Siret-Dniester (Moldavian) group, Lower Dniester and Lower Danube groups. Chronologically, the massive of akinakai of Carpathian-Dniester region could be divided into three groups: Early Scythian (650—550 BC), Middle Scythian (550—450 BC) and Classic Scythian (450—300 BC). The following trends connected with Scythian swords and daggers were noticed: Early Scythian burials with akinakai concentrate in Bukovina and strayfinds in Moldova, Middle Scythian burials — are grouping in Moldavian and the strayfinds — in Neamţ group, and the Classical Scythian burials with akinakai are presented only in Lower Dnister and Lower Danube groups.
Dobrudzha, 2017
Scythian weaponry is one of the most original components of the material culture of the population of Eastern Europe of 7th–4th centuries BC and it could be called a “visit card” of the early nomads of Eurasia. The number of finds of Scythian swords and daggers has exceeded two hundred in the western part of the “Scythian world” (including the territory of the Carpathian-Dniester region, Transylvania, Silesia, Southern Carpathians and Southern Danube Region). It is well known, at least, 16 swords and daggers of Scythian appearance from the territory of Bulgaria, but unfortunately, this category of material culture did not become a subject of a special study earlier. Southern Danube or Bulgarian group of Scythian akinakai is represented by all main periods: Early (7th – the early 6th century BC), Middle (mid 6th –1st half of the 5th century BC) and Classical one (late 5th–4th century BC) and it is specific to the local steppe groups on the Western frontiers (like the Lower Danube and the Lower Dniester groups). It is also quite emblematic that the majority of artifacts refers to the end of Middle Scythian period and fills up all the territory of Northern Bulgaria, while the Early Scythian and Classical swords are grouped only in the central part, tending to the foothills of the Balkan mountain range.
Antiquities. Studies. Issues, 2018
The division between the dimensional groups of blade weapons is conditional and, probably, the boundary between them can vary from one epoch to another. The analysis of variation series of such features as “total length” and “blade length” showed the heterogeneity of the sample (more than 800 ex.) and the existence of several functional standards. Five groups were distinguished: daggers (with a blade length of up to 21 cm), short swords (21-37 cm), average swords (38-53 cm), long swords (54-75 cm) and extra-long swords (with a blade length in excess of 75 cm). Mapping of spearheads and axes also made it possible to reveal some regularities. It became obvious that it is possible to build a typological grouping of regions on the basis of the contents of weaponry and move from small cultural groups to cultural blocks, enclaves, communities of people who preferred similar types of weapons. The counting of the degree of similarity by the method of classification by unequal features was demonstrated by several such enclaves: “Carpathian” one, where the greatest degree of similarity was manifested between Western Podolian, Transylvanian and Moldavian groups. The main types for this enclave are a dagger or a short sword and an axe. The next, “Steppe” block includes the Lower Danube, Lower Dniester, South Carpathian and South Danubian groups, in which the spearheads and average or long swords are widely distributed. The third, “Western” block united the Hungarian and Polish groups, for which the axes and spearheads are more characteristic.
Contribuţii la preistoria și istoria antică a spaţiului carpato-danubiano-pontic: In honorem professoris Ion Niculiţă natalia sua octogesima celebrantis, 2019
In the spring of 1972 as a result of construction work in the Pîrjolteni village (Călărași district, Republic of Moldova) was occasionally discovered a cremation with a various grave goods represented by the ceramic items, elements of horse harness and weapons. This burial, as well as a number of other burials that form the eponymous (Pîrjolteni-Dănceni) horizon is differently interpretated, both in ethnocultural and chronological way. Some researchers consider it a link between the Thracian Hallstatt and the classical Getian culture, i.e. a burial of early Getian culture. Others scholars see in that complex the reflection of Scythian-Thracian syncretism without a pronounced dominant and note that ethnocultural attribution is impossible in this case. This largely characterizes not the burial itself, but the problem situation where the value judgments of the researchers collide. For example, it is described from the perspective of “continuity” or “cultural diversity”, how often the space between the Dniester and Prut is presented. Nevertheless, the Pîrjolteni burial is a unique funeral complex, which obviously belonged to a warrior and, judging by the inventory, mounted warrior. Besides that, the deceased was focused on nomadic traditions in his equipment. And the analogies to weapons and horse harness lie far to the east and reflect evolutionary processes covering almost all steppe regions of Eurasia. While there are no special premises for clarifying the chronological position of the burial within the framework of the late Middle Scythian period, however, the date can be limited to the 1st quarter of the 5th century BC basing on the design of the sword. And the border between the initial stage of the Middle Scythian period and its final, apparently, lies at the turn of the 6th-5th centuries BC. Despite the over-originality of the complex, the presence of a Scythian sword and animal style objects allows us to link Pîrjolteni burial with the general processes associated with the evolution of military equipment of Carpathian-Danube region.
Artifacts, Technology and Raw Material in the Tisza-Dniester region in the Iron Age, 2023
According to preliminary estimates, at least 5 600 bronze cast arrowheads of Scythian type from nearly four hundred assemblages coming from one and a half hundred sites have been documented between the Eastern Carpathians, the Bărăgan Steppe, the Northern Dobruja, Bukovina and the Dniester basin. They are mainly (76 per cent of specimens) dated back to the Classical period of the late 5 th-early 3 rd centuries BC. Four burials from Strășeni, Cioburciu, Cuconeștii Vechi and Ogorodnoe-Horodne, scattered from the forest steppe of Moldova to the south of Budjak steppe, mark the early stage of the Scythian penetration into the region no later than the middle of the 7 th century BC. Two of these burials contained arrowheads currently stored in the National Museum of History of Moldova (NMHM) collection. In addition to these arrowheads, the Museum's collection also contains stray finds of early Scythian arrowheads from the territory of the Republic of Moldova. As part of this study, an XRF analysis was carried out, and the results were compared with data on the composition of the alloy of Middle Scythian arrowheads from burials of the late 6 th-early 5 th centuries BC near Suruceni and Pîrjolteni. Obviously, the early Scythian arrowheads differ in shape, size, and weight from the Middle Scythian ones-e.g., the average weight of the studied arrowheads of the Early Scythian period is about 5 g, the average weight of the Middle Scythian ones is 1.6 g. The composition of the alloy also differs: the average values of copper are higher for the Early Scythian arrowheads, while the presence of antimony (Sb) is less pronounced-an average of 0.4% compared with 5.8% for the Middle Scythian. At the same time, the presence of other trace impurities is much more pronounced, especially nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and bismuth (Bi). The complete absence of bismuth excludes the possibility of comparing the Middle Scythian production with both the "Eastern" and "North Caucasian" groups, probably from the beginning of the Middle Scythian period, both the recipe and the sources of raw materials changed. Thus, we can formulate as a working hypothesis the change from "Caucasian" to "Western" alloys in the middle of the 6 th century BC.
Shelekhan O.V. Blade weapon of the Scythian time in the East-European Forest-Steppe area In the article mapping of the Scythian-time sword and daggers are presented. Finds from the area of the farmer tribes from North-Pontic forest-steppe are analyzed. Over a Scythian period, burials with blade weapon were concentrated in the strategic points. They were associated with land routes and production centers. Spread of the fnds without archaeological context is wider. They are also related with borderlands, wilder- ness, steppe landscapes and foodplains. The earliest specimens on the right bank of Dnipro were detected in the densely populated regions. In the same time, on the left bank of Dnipro and in the basin of Don they could appear even earlier than settlement structures. This features suggest that nomads were the main owners of the blade weapon in the Black Sea forest- steppe. Therefore, the Scythian tribes played a dominant role in the relationship with farmers.