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During the archaeological research conducted in 2019 under the project “The Former Headquarters of the Gestapo and the Communist Provincial Office of Public Security in Anstadt Avenue in Łódź. Interdisciplinary Site Research” under the supervision of Dr Olgierd Ławrynowicz, an object filled with products on a paper base and bookbinding materials was found in one of the excavations. This paper attempts to clarify the chronology of paper products and to identify their type (typescripts, prints of monetary value, books, bookbinding materials, arrangement drawings, other paper products) and the material used. The visible content was identified using basic research methods and digital photographic documentation of it was made to preserve it.

Review

The article is devoted to the problem of attributing monuments of medieval nomads from the Ukrainian steppe in the period of X-XIV centuries on the example of three burials from the Novosilsky Kurgan group located in the North-Western Black Sea coast. The attribution of such burials is problematic for the archaeology of Ukraine. The number of modern studies on this topic is rather small, which is determined by the somewhat biased attitude of scientists towards the monuments of medieval nomads of the 10th-14th centuries as those left by a certain homogeneous community, as evidenced by the still used term „late nomads”. However, such a strong generalization does not reflect reality. During the Middle Ages, the steppe of Ukraine was replaced one after another by waves of multi-ethnic nomads who migrated here from Central Asia. The ethnic diversity of the Pechenegs, Torks, Cumans, and the Central Asian peoples who came with the Mongols, but also their similarities, including the significant similarity of funeral rites, made it difficult to attribute and identify features for certain ethnocultural groups and chronological periods. The purpose of this paper is to trace possible solutions to this problem. Modern technologies can also help with this – namely, 3-D modelling of artefacts from burials, which allows us to learn the detailed parameters of each object and visualize it in high resolution. For this work, three 3-D models were created – one object from each burial site, which will be characterized in the paper. The models also perform an important task of preserving cultural heritage, because unfortunately, since 2014, because of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, nomadic monuments from the medieval steppe of Ukraine have been destroyed.

The paper examines the use of the term "shamanism" in archaeology and develops criteria for identifying shamanism in archaeological contexts. The focus is on the site of Göbekli Tepe, which offers rich iconographic finds and serves as a case study. It discusses whether Göbekli Tepe can be interpreted as shamanistic and whether it is a place of institutionalized religion. The description describes a shamanic healing ceremony among the Evenki. The shaman makes contact with the spirit world during an altered state of consciousness and is accompanied by helping spirits. Shamanism is seen as a practice that encompasses various tasks such as healing, divination, and the preservation of myths and traditions. Shamanism can be found in various cultures and social contexts and is based on animistic ontologies that emphasize a close relationship between humans and animals. The boundaries between humans and animals can be crossed, but this also carries dangers. Animistic ontologies determine the conception and representation of the world and can be recognizable in archaeological finds. The text describes the relief images and anthropomorphic sculptures at the early Neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. The relief images depict various animals such as snakes, birds, bears, and leopards, with the movements of the animals often aligned with the center of the buildings. The sculptures are more naturalistic and use stylization techniques, especially in the depiction of faces. The faces have a T-shaped forehead and nose and show different expressions through the depiction of eyes and mouth. The bodies of the sculptures follow certain principles of representation, such as unnaturally curved arms and oversized hands. Other anthropomorphic sculptures from Göbekli Tepe show similar features to the Urfa figure, such as leaning back of the head and looking upwards. There are also zoomorphic sculptures, of which 102 are currently known. The animal representations at Göbekli Tepe are mainly limited to felids (probably leopards: 30), wild boars (21), and birds (12). Other animals such as bears (4), turtles (3), aurochs (2), and rams (1) are less common. Larger sculptures are usually identifiable to the species, while smaller representations (10 cm and below) are often generic "quadrupeds." The animal representations exhibit certain features such as detailed heads of felids and wild boars with emphasized teeth and tusks. The bodies often have few details, while the ribs are strongly emphasized in some animals. The study deals with shamanism at the early Neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. Various depictions of shamans and shamanic practices are analyzed, including the use of masks, garments, and staffs. It is noted that shamanism played an important role in the early Neolithic period of Göbekli Tepe. The study examines various artifacts that indicate a connection to shamanism at the early Neolithic Göbekli Tepe. "Nemrik scepters" are mentioned, which may have been shamanic staffs. There are also indications of musical instruments such as bullroarers and flutes that had a ritual function. In addition, sculptures are discussed that may represent spiritual beings, as well as amulets, jewelry, and other objects associated with shamanic practices. [Extracted from the article]

The so-called bulls-head brooches are one of the most remarkable results of Roman Period barbarian art. Until now they were known mostly from the regions of the Western Balts and the neighbouring Wielbark culture in the North-Eastern part of Central Europe. The interesting question where those brooches were created was discussed broadly throughout many years. New finds – unfortunately all gathered by illegal metal detecting raids and offered for sale – shed a new light on the issue. Found at the Ukraine they show that the appearance of bulls-head brooches has to be seen in a broader, supra-cultural context. All specimen can be dated in a relatively short period of 60 – 70 years in the time before and after 200 AD. The same applies to so-called duck brooches that were known from a few sites only. All new-found brooches were offered for sale at East European web sites. In the second part of the paper I discussed the problem, how archaeology should treat such finds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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When Austria-Hungary occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina, it brought many social and cultural changes. One of them was suppressing the widespread culture of holding and carrying arms that existed in Ottoman Bosnia. Holding arms was still possible but under strict control. Firearm holders were, therefore, a very tiny, privileged group inside society. In this paper, we analyze the ethnic/religious and social structure of this group in the case of the Tuzla Circle in 1904. How large was this group? Were there differences along ethnic and social lines in terms of firearm holding rates? These are the key questions we are seeking answers to in this paper, with an aim to get the first insight into the broader picture of firearm holding in the entire province under the Monarchy’s control.

Copyright of Praehistorische Zeitschrift is the property of De Gruyter 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 Roman earth embankments in Banat are part of the border system called limes Sarmatiae by the Hungarian archaeologists. This paper brings into question their defensive military role and presents also the hypothesis of using this artificial barrier primarily for controlling sheep herds in the context of transhumance, a theory I took over from the late professor Alexandru Diaconescu. There are two major analogies in the space dominated by the Roman Empire: fossatum Africae and the “linear fortification” in Syria. Although the latter is poorly studied and, compared to the African ditch, there are some differences in the Danube area, I believe that the three border systems provided with fossatum (North Africa, Syria and the Carpathian Mts. – Danube River) were conceived by the Romans as a measure of controlling seasonal movement of sheep and represented an important source of tax revenue. Shepherds were taxed according to the number of sheep along their way with their flocks to wintering places. The administrative and legal issues involved in this supposed system of economic control can be discussed, in their complexity, when the functioning of the Sarmatian „limes” will be clarified. For this, archaeological excavations are required in the most delicate areas of the Roman vallum: the crossing points through this border. On the sheep roads, there were probably some gates arranged that were used in our case (Carpathian – Danube area) only for a short time, during the fall, when the flocks were herded on wintering in the plain. On the other hand, even if the relationship of this so-called limes with transhumance will not be confirmed, the areas of intersection of ancient roads with the earthen embankments must be archaeologically investigated, because this border could not be hermetically closed. New cartographic observations, benefiting from access to digitized historical maps and satellite maps, sometimes lead to correction of the routes of some sections of earthen embankments. We proposed a map of the Sarmatian limes (using Google Earth), which is still perfectible. Recent archaeological excavations in Banat have also provided new data about these artificial barriers. Of the three Banat valla, the most investigated remains the main one (median); the eastern one was investigated by archaeological excavations only on one point while the western one was not archaeologically excavated. The importance of the median embankment is given both by the number of ditches it has (three or four) and by the fact that it continues more widely north of Mureş River, where five or six ditches have been documented. One can talk about different phases of digging / functioning of these ditches, as well as about the complementary role of the eastern and western Banat alignments. In fact, these two should be interpreted as phases of the development of this border system. Comparisons can be made of the fossatum Sarmatiae with other linear earthworks, such as the Roman ditches in Bačka or Brazda lui Novac (Novac’s Furrow) in the Romanian Plain. It seems that the same concept was used in the latter as in the “Sarmatian” case. I assume that the two plains located between the Danube and outer embankment lines constituted important agricultural and zootechnical hinterlands of the late Roman empire. The inhabitants of the plains, in addition to agriculture, were mainly engaged in breeding cattle and horses. On the other hand, from the huge potential for sheltering and raising animals during winter, offered by the Danube and Tisza marshes, the shepherds who practiced the great transhumance of sheep also benefited. Although the political and economic context in the Middle and Lower Danube area during the functioning of the Sarmatian fossatum and Brazda lui Novac (most likely in the 4th century AD) seems difficult to reconstruct, it was natural to continue supplying the Roman Empire with rock salt from the former province of Dacia. As in prehistory or the Middle Ages, salt transportation was mainly done along the great rivers of Dacia (Mureş and Olt rivers), which communicated with the Danube. It is imaginable that the military and political-economic supremacy of the Late empire goes far beyond the space bordered by the Sarmatian limes or Novac’s Furrow. Supplying the empire with Dacian salt was reason enough for assiduously pursuing the political-military control over the area of ancient Dacia. From my point of view, also based on technical characteristics of the embankments, assigning a defensive military role to these linear earthworks was a historiographical error. Most probably they were dug and functioned as obstacles in control of the movement of sheep herds within the framework of long-distance transhumance. Finally, developing this paper, we identified on the satellite map the trace of a small fortification (Chesinţ, Arad County, RO), whose operating concept seems to be similar to that of the Hatvan-Gombospuszta camp in northern Hungary. The fortifications were located outside the defensive lines and controlled the access routes (small river valleys) towards the Pannonian Plain. Certainly, the identification of castra and crossing points of the embankments is only the beginning of clarifying this system of economic and fiscal control called limes Sarmatiae, built and used with the help of the Roman army.

(The ancient tradition concerning Pythagoras of Samos’ role as the founder of physiognomy): This paper collects and analyzes ancient sources that refer to Pythagoras of Samos as the founder of physiognomy. Interest in physiognomy, which deals with the relationship between the body and the spirit, has become more popular over the last few years; however, many aspects of research into the topic are still obscure and worthy of further study. Physiognomy was assumed by ancient authors to be the method by which candidates were selected to enter the Pythagorean community, used by the Greek philosopher and his followers. Information about Pythagoras, who – by simply looking at somebody – could recognize their character appears, in the works of Aulus Gellius, Hippolytus, Porphyry, Iamblichos, Proclos and Olympiodorus. Apart from discussing testimonia about Pythagoras and his physiognomic examinations, the text explores the role of physiognomy during the selection process for the Pythagorean community in order to provide a better understanding of elite traditions within society. The paper also supplies further insight with regards to the methodology behind physiognomical surveys, which were popular during antiquity.

Archaeological excavations in the Levant have provided a significant number of marble finds dated to the early Byzantine period (4th – mid-7th century CE). Information on these objects is, however, scattered over numerous publications, hindering synthetic studies of marble imports that reached this part of the Mediterranean world. A way to address this problem was to create a database facilitating access to the dataset of marble finds from the southern Levant. This paper presents the Marmora Bizantina database, describes its content and interface, and discusses the geographic and chronological scope of the dataset. Some uses of the database are discussed, remarking on the limitations that need to be taken into account. The paper also provides information on the analytical tools available on the database website.

The paper presents four fragmentary anthropomorphic vessels discovered ca. 60 years ago on the territory of Botoșani County, at Cervicești – La Morișcă (Mihai Eminescu commune) and Drăgușeni – Ostrov (Drăgușeni commune), left unpublished in the collections of the Botoșani County Museum. Starting from the presentation of these artefacts and integrating similar discoveries from the Gumelnița, Stoicani‑Aldeni and Cucuteni cultural areas, the work analyses the metamorphoses of a particular type of anthropomorphic vessel in the area of the Cucuteni civilization. More precisely, the paper follows typologically the transformation of the base of the vessels from the anthropomorphic silhouette naturalistically figured, with the anatomical profile correctly rendered, with the soles and feet clearly indicated, to the intermediate rhomboidal sole and then to the ovoid or circular base. Confirming the hypothesis of Gumelnița influences penetrating the Cucuteni environment, the analysis of the new materials and the typological connections illustrate and highlight the role of a transmission vector and intermediary between the North and the South that the Stoicani‑Aldeni cultural environment played for contemporary or immediately subsequent Eneolithic communities during the second half of the 5th millennium BC

This paper has been composed as the second in a series on the archaeological research undertaken in 2008 and 2018– 2020 at the large (Reformed) church of Aiud Fortress. The first study of the series has consisted of a brief presentation of the main data collected inside the monument. This second study presents even more briefly the main data collected outside the monument, as they appeared in more convoluted and fragmentary contexts. These excavations have established the main stratigraphic sequence of this area of Aiud Fortress as consisting of Roman age habitation in mortarless structures, followed by a hiatus, then by an early‑second‑millennium settlement, with at least two phases, which similarly made use only of mortarless structures. Despite its long existence, and even though sources infer the existence of local priests in the 13th century, there is no solid ground to contest, based on archaeological data, the traditional ascription of the small church (erected 1333– 1334, demolished and rebuilt 1865– 1866) as the beginning of religious masonry building at Aiud – and likely of the present‑day religious site. Nevertheless, the development of the large church of the fortress remains uncertain. Research conducted inside the current building has revealed that it was preceded by a smaller, yet still Gothic, church. Research conducted outside the building helped establish that the eastern part of the church was build first, in several phases, and only afterward was the body of the church also expanded. However, the western parts of the current structure show obvious signs of rebuilding, and dismantled structures indicate that the tower was not initially part of the extended planimetry. Due to the partial nature of the investigation, archaeology cannot yet establish the succession of the construction phases involved, or what they exactly involved, nor can it help in solving the questions raised by the varied modifications noticeable in the aboveground structure. While most late‑ and post‑medieval results presented below relate to the large church, they also include data about the small one, about a series of built structures identified in the area between the two churches and west of the large one, and about the overall development of the site, severely marked by arson and destruction in the early 18th century. The graveyard and materials are only mentioned, and not discussed, as they’ll be the subject of following papers

In this paper, we discuss bird bones from sixteen sites across Estonia, focusing on the Medieval and Early Modern Period (ca 1200â1800). Zooarchaeology, stable isotope analysis and Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectometry (ZooMS) are used to explore how the exploitation of birds has differed between sites of various functions and locations. The results demonstrate the ubiquity of the chicken as the most abundant avian species in most sites and periods under study. The goose and the duck were the second and third most common species identified in the assemblages. Species diversity was highest at castle sites, where the presence of different wild birds can be associated with higher social status; however, the use of several bird species is unlikely to be food-related. The most frequently discovered wild birds were the black grouse and the western capercaillie, which are also known to have been served at feasts. This paper presents the first comprehensive study of Estonian avian zooarchaeological material from various contexts, giving a better overview of the importance of birds to historical communities.

Radiocarbon dating by AMS accelerated ion mass spectrometry method, used from 2012 at IFIN-HH-Măgurele, offered recently the scientific frame for an interdisciplinary approach, from archaeologic and archaeometric perspectives, applied to wood samples. The first AMS results, issued in 2021 on six samples from Măguricea Branului archaeological site, have suggested a chronology around the 13th century AD, the differences being explained on terms detailed in this paper. The latter four samples, collected in the next archaeological campaign, gave very different dates. The difficulties experienced with these four samples driven us to develop new lab treatment, aiming carbonization of wood. Even so, the samples from 2022 could not be dated in a helpful manner, with parameters as terminus post quem, time-width, apparent ages. The paper could be of interest to archaeologists taking wood samples for AMS dating.

Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom bread moulds belong to the type of vessels on which potmarks appear the most often, which is a phenomenon recorded during works conducted at different sites. Excavations carried out at the Tell el-Murra between 2011 and 2019 produced a significant number of vessels of this type with various marks. This paper is devoted to the 118 pre-firing marks from Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom bread moulds from the settlement layers at the Tell el-Murra. The paper comparatively analyses marks from two subsequent chronological periods, with the aim to test the validity of theories regarding their function and meaning, based on examples from Tell el-Murra. The study concludes that the high frequency of potmarks on bread forms was not accidental, but related to certain economic processes and changes, as also indicated in this paper.

In this paper, I examine a study of indigenous drawings in Argentina conducted by the German anthropologist Robert Lehmann-Nitsche (1872-1938) in 1898. I am interested in how instruments (pencils, paper, sketchbooks) and methodological approaches (quantitative research, cross-cultural comparison) were employed to transform the drawings into study objects of cultural history, the strategies followed to acquire the drawings, and the influence of theoretical frameworks developed in Germany, especially those related to comparative psychology, ethnographic parallels and the history of art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years molecular genetics has provided a completely new approach/access to the human past. The still new and quite dynamic research field of archaeogenetics (also known as palaeogenetics or genetic history) claims to be able to write history using ancient DNA. Through numerous remarkable publications it has generated and received much interest not only in scientific discourse but also in the media. So far, however, scientists have not paid much attention to this coverage-a research desideratum this paper cannot resolve. But by looking at selected press clippings it seeks to capture first trends according to the following three theses: telling success stories, drawing boundaries, and writing in a conformist manner.

The so-called bulls-head brooches are one of the most remarkable results of Roman Period barbarian art. Until now they were known mostly from the regions of the Western Balts and the neighbouring Wielbark culture in the North-Eastern part of Central Europe. The interesting question where those brooches were created was discussed broadly throughout many years. New finds -- unfortunately all gathered by illegal metal detecting raids and offered for sale -- shed a new light on the issue. Found at the Ukraine they show that the appearance of bulls-head brooches has to be seen in a broader, supra-cultural context. All specimen can be dated in a relatively short period of 60 -- 70 years in the time before and after 200 AD. The same applies to so-called duck brooches that were known from a few sites only. All new-found brooches were offered for sale at East European web sites. In the second part of the paper I discussed the problem, how archaeology should treat such finds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific research work deals with the economic situation in Pančevo from 1944 to 1990. The time margins of the research were set in order to attempt to periodize the economic development (therefore the ups and downs) of the city. Although the term economy is very complex and extensive, in this paper it was used as a collective term for a handful of connected phenomena, from which industry, economy and inflation are singled out. Therefore, this research should be the most authentic representation of the economic conditions of the city of Pančevo, through which we follow its development over the decades. The goal of the research is to understand what the economic situation was like in the aforementioned period, as well as to find out how the inhabitants of Pančevo actually lived, in this city whose past was marked by heavy industry. The paper highlights one of the key problems that were current in the city during the research period. Since there are no existing works on this topic in the Pančevo area during the observed period, and considering the topic’s scope, the research process had to be comprehensive. Professional literature together with historical material forms the most important part of the research, which is rounded off with field work using electronic content and collecting oral sources from a certain number of citizens of Pančevo. Of course, all the collected data was carried out through a critical apparatus. The city’s public finances, which include taxes, income, expenses, etc are outside of the scope of this paper.

Burials in lead coffins have been sporadically recorded in Viminacium (Moesia Superior). They originate from four necropolises that can be roughly classified into the period from the 2nd to the 4th century. This paper presents twelve lead coffins from recent excavations. They were found directly in a pit without construction, or in a construction of bricks. Lead coffins were often ornamented with different linear-geometric motifs, or figural depiction in one rare instance. A workshop can be expected to have existed in Viminacium for the production of lead objects for various purposes such as coffins and many other finds that have been found in large numbers. In some of the coffins, items have been preserved. These include jewellery made of gold, ceramic vessels, glass bottles, bone finds, etc. In nine of them, the skeletal remains of the deceased were completely or at least partially preserved. Included in the paper is an anthropological analysis of the skeletal remains of those deceased. Based on the anthropological analysis, it can be seen that the deceased were mostly children (six cases), while in three cases they were adults.

The paper presents an extraordinary new find from the site of Velika Humska Čuka near Niš, in south-eastern Serbia. During the 2022 excavation campaign, a set of bronze jewellery was discovered, comprised of a pin, a band, ten saltaleoni, and ten circular pendants. Of particular importance are the finds of circular pendants, which are known throughout the Bronze Age in the territory of Europe. Such pendants are traditionally connected with Central Europe and the Hügelgräber culture, therefore representing an uncommon find for the Central Balkans. The paper provides a stylistic and typological analysis of jewellery, complemented with physical and chemical analyses, and further discusses the scope and effects of interactions between Central Europe and Central Balkans during the Bronze Age.

The paper summarises current knowledge of burial customs in Syro-Palestine in the early Byzantine period (4th–7th centuries CE). It identifies elements that constituted the continuation of burial practices from the Roman period (1st–3rd centuries CE) as well as new customs. It includes the location of burial grounds, forms of graves, the variety of grave goods and body positioning. Quantitative research has demonstrated a gradual departure from chamber tombs and sarcophagi in the early Byzantine period. Burials in monasteries and, to a lesser extent, churches were a completely new trend that appeared during this period, related to the spread of Christianity. The paper also proposes a more widespread use of radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis. The results of such studies would deepen knowledge of burial customs in Syro-Palestine in the final phases of antiquity.

An outstanding personality of the political and cultural life in Banat in the 19th century (region – within the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy – known as the Southern Hungary), Ormós Zsigmond (February 20, 1813, Pecica, Arad county – November 17, 1894, Budapest) was a historian, art critic, collector, numismatist, politician, writer and Patron. While focusing on the public administration as a young man, Ormós worked his way up from the position of vice-notary to that of prefect of Timiş County (1871) and city of Timişoara (1875), his exceptional career of almost six decades ending with his retirement upon request in 1889. In 1861 he was elected the corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Philology and Art section, due to his literary merits. In May 1872, during the visit of emperor Franz Joseph to Timişoara, he was awarded with the small cross of the Order of St. Stephen (as a knighthood), and in 1883, on his 50th anniversary of public activity, he received the middle cross of the Leopold Order. He was the founder, protector and president of numerous scientific and cultural societies. In 1872, from his initiative, and given his support, they founded the Society of History and Archaeology in the Southern Hungary, the first scientific historical society which, by merging with the Museum Association in 1885 (founded in 1879, also at the initiative of Ormós), transformed into the Museum Society of History and Archeology (SMIA), whose museum is the forerunner of the National Museum of Banat in Timișoara (MNaB). The generosity of Ormos towards the museum in Timișoara was proved not only in the material and moral support provided (including the headquarters), but also in the donations he had made starting in the spring of 1889. In May 1893, the donations provided by Ormós consisted in more than 800 objects, 1200 books and magazines and 1500 documents and, considering the 251 paintings and objects in the gallery, more than 200 were donated by him. In the period between 1857 and 1860 he laid the foundations of his collection of paintings and began collecting archaeological objects and coins, thus in a few years he transformed from an amateur collector into a connoisseur. On the list suggesting the members of the Österreichische Numismatische Gesellschaft in Vienna (a society he had been connected to since 1879) one can notice his collection of Roman, Hungarian and South-Slavic coins. The numismatic collection of Ormós, although famous at the time and the most valuable of his collections, is also the least known nowadays. There is neither a published catalog of the collection except for the gold coins (but without illustrations), nor a work or monograph dedicated exclusively to it. Given my personal research in the historical archive of the MNaB and in the funds from the Timiș County Service of the National Archives of Romania (SJTANR), I present the structure of this collection, consisting primarily of monetary finds in the area of Banat but also from purchases from the European companies trading coins. Ormós expressed his preference for firms from Vienna: Brüder Egger Münzen und Antiquitäten Handlung, S. Egger und Compagnie and from German cities: Berlin - Julius Hahlo and Edmund Rappaport, München - Otto Helbing, dr. Eugen Merzbacher and Franz Josef Wesener, Frankfurt am Main - Adolf Hess. He kept in touch with the numismatists of the time: Dobóczky Ignác and Szuk Lipót from Budapest, dr. Franz von Raimann from Vienna, Dimitrie Alexandru Sturdza from Bucharest and others regarding different topics of numismatics, exchanges of coins, purchase prices etc. If in 1870 his numismatic collection included more than 4000 coins, in 1889 it reached over 9600 coins. We find the collection’s structure in a note dated November 3, 1889: 3574 „Roman” (imperial, republican) coins, 2665 Hungarian coins (the 12th - 19th century), 1447 so-called „international” coins, 1567 Friesach coins (from the hoard in Deta, discovered in November 1880), 153 medals (a number that refers exclusively to the medals kept separately from the coins suggesting various laic or religious representations) and 239 golden coins (ancient, Byzantine, medieval), a total of 9645 pieces. Ormós considered his numismatic collection a form of investment, its sale was meant to ensure some financial security after his retirement both for him and the children of his nephew, Ormós Zsigmond jr. In time, he often intended to sell his numismatic collection partially or in full: in 1888 and 1889 to Heinrich Egger, in 1891 to the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest. Finally, one year after the death of Ormós (in November 17, 1894), in October 7, 1895, SMIA decided to buy the collection of 9424 coins and the two numismatic cabinets where the collection was preserved at the price of 4500 forints. The most important numismatic collection in Banat at that time was saved from destruction by its complete purchase in November 23, 1895 by the museum from Timișoara, yet it suffered (like the entire numismatic collection of the museum) a high level of irretrievable loss in the first half of the 20th century. In 1904 the first large-scale theft was recorded in the history of the museum; Nagy József jr., the son of the museum’s employee, had stolen 49 golden coins (all these related to the Ormós collection) from the total of 235 exhibited ones and eight other golden coins and several of silver from the museum custodian’s desk drawer. The stolen coins have never been recovered. Other pieces, gold and silver coins and medals, disappeared at the end of the World War I, in the troubled days of autumn 1918. A delegate of the National Inspectorate of Museums and Libraries in Budapest took some small items from the museum’s collection, bought over the years from the annual subsidies received by the museum from the already mentioned Inspectorate, in order to transport them to Budapest. The fate of those pieces is currently unknown. During the World War II, following the bombardments in the centre of Timișoara, and the disruption of the city’s sewage system, two numismatic cabinets with coins from the museum’s collection (placed individually in small paper envelopes displaying the written information), sheltered in the basement of the Cultural Palace (today the Opera and Theatre Building), were flooded. Although the coins were physically recovered, the scientific information was lost forever through the destruction of the paper envelopes. The successive moves determined by the changes regarding the museum’s headquarters (in the Cultural Palace in 1937 and in the Huniade Castle, starting with 1950), the numerous re-organisations of the collection and the re-writing of the inventory registers (sometimes by unprofessional persons), influenced both the heritage and the museum’s records and the information about the provenance of the items in the old collection of the museum was lost. In this context, the preserved numismatic notes of Ormós Zsigmond are particularly precious. On one hand, they can lead to the further identification in the museum collection of some coins from the Ormós collection (with surprising results), on the other hand, they outline the portrait of a numismatic collector in the second half of the 19th century which – although located in a city on the edge of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy – was still connected to the European numismatic reality.

Priests and their functions in Ptolemaic Egypt in light of the archive of the temple in Soknopaiou Nesos): Little is known about priests and how temples functioned in Ptolemaic Egypt. This paper provides an insight into the organisation and hierarchy of temples under the Ptolemies. The main aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the titles and functions of temple personnel by analysing documents from the archive of the temple of Soknopaios and Isis Nepherses in the village of Soknopaiou Nesos (Dimeh).

This paper presents the composition of the city councils in the Vilayet of Bosnia between 1866 and 1875, from the provincial administration reform until the Herzegovinian uprising. An additional reason for choosing the year 1866 as the initial year is the fact that the yearbooks for the Vilayet of Bosnia started to be published in that year.The central questions of the paper are the religious and social affiliation of the city councils members, as well as the rate of implementation of the principle of electoral equality. Additionally, this paper aims to answer whether, and at what rate, the composition of the city councils in the Vilayet of Bosnia was in line with the 1871 law regulations.

In this paper, the author presents the overview of articles corresponding to the Ottoman era of Bosnia-Herzegovina's history, published in the Institute of History's journal Contributions.Given that the main goal was to collect articles from the mentioned period,this paper contains an overview and brief references to the same, not a critical analysis. In order to clarify certain events or contexts, the author used other relevant works.

The paper considers the technology of computer modeling of the general structure of a completely lost architectural complex, implemented on the basis of fragmentary reference information. The author's interpretation of the most reasonable reconstruction of the object under study is presented. The paper considers the technology of computer modeling of a lost unique historical architectural complex, implemented using various sources in their content reflecting only fragmentary background information on the problem under study. Thus, the authors have taken an integrated approach in reproducing the unique appearance of the fortification, which maximally corresponds to the basic concept of construction and the requirements for military fortifications of the period under study. The uniqueness of this work lies in the fact that the use of modern information technologies acts as a tool, which allow not only to restore the lost appearance of the first military-administrative center of the Amur region, but also to promote promising research on the history of the development of the Russian Far East. In the first part of the described study, the authors have already successfully tested the above technology, following which the results of the analysis of topographic data and elementary modeling of the fortress wall of the Albazin fort built in 1686 were presented. Taking into account the general totality of the data obtained, the authors propose a rather original ontological model of the general structure of the prison. This model assumes a comparison with the existing and previously presented by other researchers models of the prison. Russian Russian pioneers and defenders of the Russian land, which in turn allows us to take a fresh look at the historical events of the heroic confrontation of the Russian pioneers and defenders of the Russian land against the enemy who is many times outnumbered and outgunned, to study the strengths and weaknesses of the tactics of the opposing sides.

This paper presents a brief overview of fishing in Galicia during Antiquity on the basis of fishing equipment—in particular hooks and weights—recovered from several sites of indigenous origin (castros or hill forts) and newly-established Roman settlements around the basin of the Miño river. Although the topic has often passed unnoticed by archaeological research and suffers from a distinct lack of literature to guide future efforts, the more or less recent publication of papers dealing with this topic in depth has facilitated the study of the Galician record, which is supported by literary and iconographic sources as well as ethnographic documents. The latter have proved relevant in this context, as the world of fishing tends to hold on to traditions. The author sets out to establish a correlation between the remains of fishing implements found and the possible fishing gear they would have been attached to. RESUMEN: Se presenta una síntesis del estado de la cuestión pesquera en Galicia durante la Antigüedad a partir de las evidencias de equipamiento pesquero, esencialmente anzuelos y lastres, registradas en diversos yacimientos de raíz indígena (castros) y de asentamientos romanos ex novo emplazados en la cuenca del río Miño. Pese a la falta generalizada de atención por parte de la investigación arqueológica, ausente de directrices de proyección global, la publicación más o menos reciente de ciertos trabajos que abordan en profundidad esta cuestión facilita el estudio del registro gallego, sustentado por las fuentes literarias, iconográficas y por la documentación etnográfica, la cual revela aquí su relevancia, dado el carácter marcadamente conservador del mundo de la pesca. Se propone un ensayo de correlación entre los restos de instrumental pesquero exhumado y los posibles aparejos y artes de pesca a los que irían adheridos.

This paper analyses and edits two anonymous Latin letters that help to assess the political climate in the aftermath of the Great Schism: a Devil’s letter addressed to Clement VII and a literary polished invective against Urban VI. After a brief investigation of the events that led to the outbreak of the schism, the paper compares the two letters in light of the contemporary political framework, in order to demonstrate why they qualify as propagandistic documents that present each of the two popes as a threat for Christendom and to evaluate how they exploited their literary distinctiveness to increase the strength of their political accusations. In doing so the aim is to assess the outbreak of the Schism from a viewpoint based on some distinctive strategies of political communication employed after the double election.

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the geopolitical status of the Upper Tigris area in antiquity, with a special focus on the period between ca. 401 BCE and the 6th century CE. Despite the popular impression that this area had a distinctly Armenian character, a closer look at its history shows that it was rather a territory with many local geopolitical entities that many neighboring countries periodically fought to possess. This area was strategically significant as a transit region located on the crossroads of important long-distance communication lines. Likewise, its natural resources were undoubtedly crucial to the neighboring countries. Indeed, powerful neighbors around the Upper Tigris area, including Armenia, the Iranian kingdoms of the Parthians and Sasanians, and Rome, sought to control this area, which was often located on the fringes of their states and as such was inevitably doomed to be contested by these empires onmany occasions. This situation can be acutely seen in the conflict between Rome and the Iranian kingdoms of the Parthians and Sasanians, when northern Mesopotamia became a real battleground between the competing empires. In particular, the paper will sketch the development of the geopolitical status of several small geopolitical entities in this region—Sophene, Osrhoene, Gordyene, and Adiabene.

This paper focused on the first imperial Mausoleum of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam, Emperor Gia Long (reigned 1802-20), which is one of the components of the World Heritage property [Complex of Hué Monuments]. The paper discussed the relationship between the Gia Long Mausoleum (after this GLM) and its territory from the aspects of "Shan-Shui design", "water management system suitable to tropical monsoon climate" and "symbiosis with local com- munities". This study also revealed that the current protected area is only a tiny part of the area that Gia Long planned by deciphering an old drawing which expresses the ideal worldview of Gia Long and an old map which shows the forbidden area in that era. These research findings contribute to expanding and deepening the OUV of GLM, which was not fully taken into account when the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993 and provide a basis for establishing the appropriate protected area of GLM.

The Roman Aqaba Project seeks to reconstruct diachronically the economic history of the ancient port of Aila on the Red Sea (now modern Aqaba in southern Jordan). Excavations of Aila between 1994 and 2003 yielded an enormous quantity of stratified ceramic evidence. This paper focuses on coarse ware cooking vessels recovered from Aila dating to the 1st to early 5th centuries. Although the potters of Aila were influenced by the ceramic traditions of the Nabataean capital at Petra, they also developed an independent ceramic tradition. Further, the Roman annexation of Nabataea in 106 CE, including Aila, seems to have had little impact on the local ceramic industry, which continued with little change until the mid-3rd century, which seems to mark an important transition characterized by the disappearance of many long established types and the appearance of new types, including cooking vessels. Although most of these were produced locally, a significant minority was imported to Aila, mostly from the Petra region about 100 km away. This paper presents a typology of these cooking vessels and offers some explanation for the differing quantities of various types of imported cooking vessels over these centuries, with implications for the regional economy in this period.

An unusual iconographic motif—a fringed piece of linen—depicted in the Chapel of Hatshepsut, part of the queen’s temple at Deir el-Bahari, is examined in this paper as an illustration of the interest, well attested in Hatshepsut’s reign, in past artistic models/sources. The Chapel of Hatshepsut was intended for the mortuary cult of the female pharaoh, while the motif under discussion appears to have been inspired by decoration earlier by 500 years, found inside a burial chamber cut into the rock cliff of North Asasif, which is a natural continuation of the Deir el-Bahari amphitheater. The tomb (TT 311) belonged to Khety, a courtier of the Eleventh Dynasty pharaoh Mentuhotep II Nebhepetra. Assuming the validity of this iconographic link, the question arises concerning the accessibility of decorated burial chambers from the Eleventh-Dynasty in this area and their possible role as “pattern books” in the design of the early Eighteenth Dynasty private and royal mortuary monuments. In addition, the paper addresses the issue of the Chapel of Hatshepsut serving as a monumental “pattern book” for the Late Period Theban tombs.

The early Upper Palaeolithic marks the introduction at a continental scale of a fully-fledged laminar industry, and it is associated with the presence of Homo sapiens in the Near East and in Europe. For this period there are three commonly recognised early Upper Palaeolithic technocomplexes : the Early Aurignacian and the Protoaurignacian, in Europe, and the Early Ahmarian, in the Levant. They have been used to illustrate different dispersal routes and behavioural adaptations to climate change, different regional settings or to infer different land-use and mobility strategies. Still, there is no consensus on the criteria for assigning one lithic assemblage to a particular early Upper Palaeolithic technocomplex. The early Upper Palaeolithic assemblages from Banat are among those showing ambiguous results when observed through the current taxonomical lens. This paper evaluates the taxonomical stances comparing technological raw data from extensively published early Upper Palaeolithic sites in Europe and the Levant. The comparison of assemblages attributed to different technocomplexes reveals a much more homogenous picture than expected. Various behaviours that are ascribed to a particular technocomplex are widespread in others too, but they are overlooked because of unclear and non-standardised terminology. The present paper shows that trying to fit the archaeological record in abstract, short definitions leads to misunderstandings, with clear implications on the further conclusions made on human past behaviours. It further advocates for creating new shared criteria for analysing lithic assemblages and thus overcoming the taxonomical impasse

El análisis arqueométrico de un hacha de color verde recuperada en los años 20 del pasado siglo en el entorno de Monte Aberto-Elviña (A Coruña), que probablemente habría formado parte del ajuar de uno de los tres túmulos que componían la necrópolis homónima, ha permitido determinar que se trata de un hacha tipo Durrington “goutte d’eau”, fabricada en jadeíta de origen alpino proveniente posiblemente de las formaciones existentes en San Front (Cuneo, Piamonte). Esta circunstancia la convierte –tras el hacha de Vilapedre (Lugo)– en la segunda pieza de procedencia alpina documentada en territorio gallego. En este artículo se intenta determinar el origen arqueológico del hacha de Monte Aberto-Elviña con la mayor exactitud posible, al tiempo que se ofrecen los resultados del análisis arqueométrico y se reflexiona sobre el cómo y el cuándo esta pieza habría llegado al Noroeste Ibérico. ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the results of the archaeometric analysis of a green stone axe recovered in the 1920s around Monte Aberto-Elviña, on the outskirts of the city of A Coruña (Galicia, northwestern Spain). The review of the work carried out by a Galician archaeologist –Luis Monteagudo– in the 30s and 40s of the last century has allowed us to establish, with a high degree of certainty, that the axe analyzed in this paper was part of the grave goods from one of the three burial mounds comprising the necropolis of Monte Aberto-Elviña, which was destroyed at some point in the second half of the twentieth century. The analysis of this artefact through X-Ray Diffraction and SEM-EDX and its subsequent comparison with geological samples from several points of the Alps has allowed us to determine that the Monte Aberto-Elviña is –in fact– a Durrington “goutte d’eau” type axe made of Alpine jadeite, showing a compositional similarity with the geological samples coming from San Front (Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy). In addition to trying to determine –as accurately as possible– the archaeological and geological origin of the Monte Aberto-Elviña axe, this article reflects on its possible way to the Iberian Peninsula (proposing a route through the Bay of Biscay, without ruling out the arrival along the Mediterranean coast, perhaps through the Catalan territory, which may have acted as a redistribution center of Alpine pieces for the rest of the Peninsula). Finally, comparing the chronology of the Durrington “goutte d’eau” axes in other European regions and the chronological dates available for the Galician burial mounds, we suggest an arrival of this artefact in the Iberian northwest sometime in the second half of the 5th millennium BC or, more likely, in the early 4th millennium BC.

The discipline of ethnology, now more commonly known as social and cultural anthropology, developed from a variety of research fields. Although the establishment of 'four-field anthropology' is generally attributed to Franz Boas in 1904, it was already common in the second half of the nineteenth century for traveller-naturalists, missionaries and colonial authorities who were actively involved in ethnology to engage in other disciplines at the same time, notably physical anthropology, archaeology and linguistics. Often their findings in one discipline coloured their conclusions in another; for example, the belief that a particular population or 'race' was 'primitive' on account of physical or cultural characteristics could influence which theories about the prehistory of that population or 'race' were considered plausible and which were dismissed as impossible. This paper examines three German-speaking researchers - Jan Kubary, Otto Finsch, and Paul Hambruch - who, at different points in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, engaged with the prehistory of Nan Madol, a monumental stone complex and ceremonial centre of eastern Micronesia, and reached quite different conclusions. These three case studies demonstrate how closely the history of ethnology in the Pacific is intertwined with the histories of archaeology and physical anthropology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finds from the ancient city of Gerasa brought in 1930’two inscriptions dated to the second half of the 1st century CE which mention the deity called Pakeidas. The aim of this paper is to discuss Pakeidas and his relation to another god labelled Theos Arabikos worshipped in the same city. The authors make a broad Semitic overview on the etymology of the name Pakeidas looking at the West and East (Akkadian) Semitic evidence. The authors discuss the possible location of the temple dedicated to this god beneath the Cathedral. They also reexamine in the light of epigraphic sources in comparison to the Aramaic material from the Near East the function of archibomistai, cultic agents who served to this local god. FINANCING This paper is an outcome of a cooperation between the authors during a 10-month WiRe fellowship, Women in Research at the University of Münster, between October 2020 and July 2021. The improvements for this research are funded by National Science Centre (Poland) UMO-2021/42/A/HS3/00421 “Epigraphic culture in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East in antiquity: status, display, democracy, identity.” For the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC-BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) version arising from this submission.

En este trabajo presentamos los materiales recuperados en la excavación del abrigo de la Font d’Horta (Vilafranca, Castelló). Las características de estos materiales, entre las que destacan las armaduras geométricas (entre ellas un segmento de doble bisel) y la datación obtenida sobre hueso, nos remiten a los momentos de transición entre las últimas poblaciones cazadoras y recolectoras y la llegada de las primeras comunidades neolíticas. La valoración de los datos en el contexto de la zona del Maestrat/Maestrazgo y sus vínculos con el litoral mediterráneo y el valle del Ebro nos permiten discutir su posible vinculación con unas u otras poblaciones, concluyendo que nos encontramos ante una ocupación de las últimas poblaciones mesolíticas de este territorio. ABSTRACT: In this paper we present the materials recovered in the excavation of the Font d’Horta rockshelter (Vilafranca, Castelló). This is a small shelter, about 3 meters long by 2 meters deep, in which an interesting ensemble of materials has been recovered that allow us to discuss the presence of either the last hunter-gatherer populations or the first farmer-herder populations. Among the recovered materials, the geometric projectiles stands out (including a double bevel segment, which is the center of the cultural and chronological debate in this paper) and the absence of pottery must be highlighted. Furthermore, few fauna remains and 3 personal ornaments on marine gastropods have been recovered. To confirm its ascription, we have obtained a bone dating with a result of 7570-7441 cal BP (5621-5492 cal BC). This dating, far from confirming its ascription, shows us that we are front a transitional context between the last Mesolithic and the arrival of the first Neolithic populations in this area. The assessment of the data in the context of the Maestrat / Maestrazgo area and its links with the Mediterranean coast and the Ebro valley allow us to discuss its possible connection with one of these populations. The analysis of the archaeological context show us the existence of several Mesolithic sites with dates close to that obtained in the Font d’Horta and the possibility that we are in a territory with an effective neolithization a bit later than the date obtained. These data, together with the lack of pottery in this site, allow us to conclude that we are facing an occupation of the last Mesolithic populations of this territory.

Even though ovens are the most prominent feature in the Vinča culture houses, they have often been neglected in the archaeological publications. Usually, only the information about their location or number of floors is provided, but more detailed descriptions are missing. This is also influenced by their poor preservation in the archaeological record, as parts of their upper structure are often missing. But, although fully preserved ovens represent quite a rarity, contexts surrounding them are usually filled with different categories of artefacts and architectural features. These complex contexts that include ovens, offer plethora of information about different socio-economic phenomena in the Late Neolithic of the Central Balkans. Therefore, ovens should be perceived as more than just fire installations for food processing and house heating, as they can offer insight into household organization and symbolic aspects of the Neolithic life. Additionally, ovens located in the outdoor spaces can provide information about settlement organization and social dynamics on a larger scale. In this paper, different contexts around ovens are presented and interpreted – from functional, economic, social, and symbolic perspective.

The present paper deals with a whole series of ceramics from a private collection belonging first to Vasile Cosma and then sold in 1976 and in 2009 to the National Museum of History and Archaeology of Bucharest (MNIR). These objects, essentially amphora, come from late sixties-early seventies underwater discoveries, in the Mangalia harbor, 2 May village and Constanța harbor areas.

In this brief paper 34 earrings are presented, all of which are curated in the Archaeological Museum of İznik in south-western Marmara region of Turkey. They are significant, as very few items of jewellery from Bithynia have been published.

The several decades long rescue excavations of the ancient city of Viminacium have brought to light a large number of finds with very varied functions. In this paper, we will focus our attention on the remains of agricultural tools. They can be grouped according to their application: tools for clearing plants and preparing the soil for cultivation, tools used for tillage, implements for shredding and preparation for planting, as well as those used for mowing, harvesting, soil cleaning, and haymaking. The finds of agricultural tools that we present in this paper, although small in number, represent the most reliable indicators of agricultural activities in the period from the 2nd to the beginning of the 4th century, when Viminacium went through its period of greatest prosperity.

Although rather distant from the Western Indian Ocean basin, the southern Levant can be considered fairly included in the trading dynamics regulating movement and use of exotic goods, especially luxury raw materials, being frequently the final destination of this kind of items. Southern Levantine jewelry in the Late Bronze Age represents a widely eclectic group revealing a remarkable level of artistic talent and technical expertise. Most products are manufactured of gold and silver, using precious and semiprecious stones originating from eastern Africa and the Indus Valley. The opulence of the jeweler’s art, and in particular the extensive use of gemstones, has given rise to several hypotheses which are briefly discussed in the paper. The provenance of the raw materials will be examined, as well as the archaeological context of finds of finished products. The paper addresses the specialized production of personal ornaments, paying attention in particular to the players in this process and the ultimate effect of their work.

The authors of the paper focus on a separate arched sleeve cross-guard of a sword, and three combat pickaxe heads with spear-like blades and blunt butts from the collections of the National Museum of Romanian History (MNIR) in Bucharest. The separate sleeve cross-guard was found in the Byzantine fortress of Dinogetia (Garvăn – Bisericuţa, Tulcea County, Romania ; inventory number 17339 at the MNIR). The aforementioned combat pickaxe heads come from the hoards of Dragosloveni (Vrancea County, Romania ; inventory numbers 69469 and 69470 at the MNIR) and Radovanu (Călăraşi County, Romania ; inventory number 102318 at the MNIR). The paper discusses the origin, dating, and archaeological context of the examined weapons. Analogies to the arched sleeve cross-guard from Garvăn – Bisericuţa might particularly have been used in the Byzantine Empire and the neighbouring regions from the second half of the 8th century to the 9th century, however its important features – the collar, the (pointed) quillon bent towards the sword blade, and the arched sleeve – can be identified on swords from the Menologion of Basil II (between 979– 989 and 1001– 1016) as well. The three mentioned combat pickaxe heads with spear-like blades and blunt butts fall into the Danubian axe type from the territory of the Lower Danube region. The dating of this type is based on the dating of the mentioned hoards, i. e. ca. the 10th century.

The paper presents the results of archaeological research carried out from 2017 to 2018 in the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Cracow, funded by the National Science Centre. The aim of the work undertaken was to locate, inventory, and explore crypts, and to study in detail burials and grave goods. The paper discusses different devices, research methods, and procedures developed by the team and used to locate crypts. They allowed to find eighteen crypts in the church and four in the cloisters. All underground chambers were inventoried using 3D laser scanning. During research, ninety-six burials of the lay and the clergy, men, women, and children, were found.

This paper shows an overview of the achievements of historiography regarding education in the Republic of Croatia in the 21st century. The paper represents an attempt of bringing all results achieved by Croatian historiography regarding the forementioned question. Due to the number of different kinds of publications, only the basic information are represented in the paper, i.e. information about authors, publication year, publishers, journals (for articles),number of pages i bibliography of the publication. Therefore,this paper is not about content analysis of the publications, so it does not pretend to be an analysis of the Croatian historiography achievements regarding the aforementioned question in the specified period. The main aim of this paper was to present all publications regarding the question at one place. The author reserves a possibility that some publications, unintentionally, may have been omitted from this overview

The diplomatic activity of Bosnian territorial lord was omnipresent and diverse. Some of the territorial lord were engaged in multiple diplomatic activities. That is the reason for the classification of the activities, which was done by a criterion based on their complexity. Apart from the above-mentioned, this paper aims to address the number of responsibilities assumed by diplomats,the membership and composition of the diplomatic missions and activities conducted to prepare the ground for future negotiations.These questions are interrelated and should be treated as a whole. Details of the missions together with the drawing of adequate conclusions, comprise the scrutiny of the paper. The author used published historical sources and adequate literature for the purpose of the research presented in the paper.