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The dolphin motif on the ship-shaped oil lamp treasured in the Museum of Smederevo (4th century AD) has complex iconography, multi-layered and complex symbolism, and a long history. This article presents and explains how its iconography and meaning were gradually formed and developed in ancient Greek and Roman art, as well as the peculiarities of its gradual transformation into a Christian symbol. It is found that the context of the appearance of the dolphin motif in art during different epochs is not a mere coincidence, but the expression of a clear intention on the part of particularly learned artists and commissioners of works of art. Since there are no written records of this motif that would explain its iconography and meaning, and since the motif itself is by nature very hermetic, and at the same time very rare, the characteristic context of the appearance of the dolphin motif in art is also a decisive parameter for analyzing its meaning and its gradual formation.

In this study, it is presented that the mosaic pavements of the Roman House from Antandros. Portico and the three rooms opening to portico is uncovered. However just portico and the biggest room has mosaic pavements. The pavements are decorated with geometric motifs which are commonly used. Portico is decorated with the mosaic floor is composed of six panels with geometrical design surrounded by this guilloche frame. Whereas the geometric motifs are only on the main panel of the biggest room mosaic which is thought that it must have been used as triclinium, the bordur is designed by floral and figurative motifs. This geometric design of main panel of triclinium is similar to the villa (called Yamaç Ev) which was found in Antandros. Especially, the coins were found, on the basement of triclinium, portico and room 2, are of importance on dating the house and its findings. These coins are dated to Valerius Licinianus Licinus (317-320 AD) and Flavious Honorius (395-401 AD). Therefore this Roman house and the mosaics can be dated to the 4th century AD.

One important object of Sântana de Mureş-Černjachov type, investigated by extended excavation and about which we report in this article, is the cemetery at Brăviceni (Orhei district), along the lower course of the Răut river. Discovered during some building work, the site was investigated in 1977, 1980 and 1981 by rescue excavations coordinated by the late archaeologist Vasile Grosu. Following three archaeological campaigns, a large part of the necropolis was unveiled, exactly an area of 4588 m2, disclosing 173 (?) tombs and 53 pits, along with about eight burial graves destroyed by urban works. Of the 181 (?) discovered tombs, 180 (?) are burial and only one cremation, revealing the biritual character of this cemetery.

An unusual anatomical variation was observed on a skull excavated at Lanište (Raška district, Serbia), a Roman necropolis dating back to the second half of the 4th century AD. The skull of an adult male showed a remarkably large supernumerary bone at the bregma co-occurring with a continuous persistent metopic suture. Few similar cases have been reported in scientific literature. We describe the case and discuss possible mechanisms and underlying causes, including pathological conditions. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 177007 i br. 177021: Urbanization processes and development of medieval society]

Copyright of Journal of Mosaic Research is the property of Uludag University, Mosaic Research Center and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The ancient Roman city of Complutum (Alcalá de Henares, Madrid), founded in the 1st century AD, was one of the most important cities of Hispania. The old Roman city was destroyed, abruptly abandoned, relocated close by and rebuilt during the late 4th century AD. Destruction of the city and its relocation has not yet been explained by archaeologists. In this paper, with our multidisciplinary approach, we identify and characterize earthquake archaeological effects (EAEs) affecting the archaeological site, the La Magdalena, an agricultural holding 4 km from the core of Complutum. The most important EAEs in the site are liquefactions (sand dikes and explosive sand-gravel craters) affecting Roman structures, such as water tanks (cisterns), houses and graves. Ground liquefaction generated significant ground cracks, explosive craters and folds in foundations of buildings. Several other Roman sites throughout the valley were also abandoned abruptly during the 4th century AD, in some cases with EAEs of similar origin. This suggests the occurrence of a 5.0–6.6 Mw seismic event in the zone, in accordance with the minimum empirical limit of seismically-induced liquefaction and the maximum surface rupture length of the Henares fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tyragetia is the property of National Museum of History of Moldova and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)