NEW TRACES IN OLD BARROWS. A REINTERPRETATION OF PARTICULAR FINDS FROM BARRROW 2 AT SZWAJCARIA CEMETERY (SUDOVIAN CULTURE)

The author recalls the famous princely Sudovian culture grave at Szwajcaria (today within the administrative limits of Suwałki). Apart from presenting the grave furnishings according to up-to-date typological standards, he tries to reinterpret particular finds, identifying the metal fittings of a saddle and the metal mountings of a possible leather bucket aimed at hiding a horse harness. Additionally, an engraved ornament spotted on the head of a shafted weapon Type Vennolum/Ilkjær 15 is presented. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v19i0.279 Key words: Sudovian culture, princely grave, Szwajcaria, saddle, horse gear, Vennolum

TRADE, SALT AND AMBER. THE FORMATION OF LATE MIGRATION PERIOD ELITES IN THE ‘BALTI-KULTI’ AREA OF NORTHERN POLAND (THE ELBLĄG GROUP)

The paper presents the Elbląg group during its peak, i.e., late sixth and early seventh century. There are presented imports, namely Scandinavian (but Merovingian too), denominators of opulence (drinking horns, particular imported goods, seaxes in ornamental scabbards etc.), but also possible grounds on which local settlers thrived (amber trade, maybe also salt trade). Geostrategic position of the Elbląg group is analyzed as well as sea trade routes and boats used in the Baltic Sea during the Late Migration Period. Contacts between south Scandinavia and the Elbląg group are described on the wider cultural and political background. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v17i0.52 Key words: elites, the Elbląg group, Migration Period, Scandinavia, Merovingian circl

THE TURNING POINT: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF UNDERWATER RESEARCH OF THE FORMER HERRN-SEE AT THE VILLAGE OF LUBANOWO (WESTERN POMERANIA, POLAND)

In October 2014 and June 2015, a team of scholars and students from the Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw featuring the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, made an underwater survey in the unnamed lake (formerly Herrn-See) in the village of Lubanowo (formerly Liebenow) in Western Pomerania. During the underwater research, weapons, tools and horse harness parts (including chain reins) were found. They are dated mainly to the Roman Period, but also to the Middle Ages. Some items bear traces of ritual destruction. Parallels may be pointed out with weapons in Przeworsk culture, and to some extent also in Scandinavia. The site should be attributed to sacrificial military deposits. Its extraordinary character lies in the fact that so far it is the only site of its type which is still in its ‘lake stage’, i.e. not a marsh or bog. Most probably it was used by local inhabitants, the people of the Lubusz group.Key words: Herrn-See, Lubanowo village, underwater research, weapon deposit, Roman Period.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v23i0.129

Nowinka. Site 1 : the cemetery from the Late Migration Period in the northern Poland

The book was written to realize the research grant of the Ministry of Science and Information Technology: The burial ground of the Elbląg group from the West Balt circle at Nowinka, Tolkmicko com. The complete study and preparation for the publication (Project No.: N N109 0362 33; Contract No.: 0362/B/H03/2007/33).Agnieszka Uziębł

Una posible espada de periodo romano de Grzybowo (Grzybowen), Masuria, NE. de Polonia. Contexto arqueológico y tecnológico

The paper discusses a recent stray find of a sword fragment with a possible stamp from Masuria in NE Poland. It was found close to a Roman Period cemetery of the Bogaczewo Culture. On typological grounds, the sword can be classified as a Roman Period weapon. However, the results of metallographic examinations suggest that the find may have been made either from very clean bloomery steel (or hypoeutectoid crucible steel) or from mass-made Industrial Age steel (Bessemer, Thomas, Siemens-Martin, etc.). On the other hand, the chemical composition of the sword would rather imply a pre-Industrial Period steel. In conclusion, it is carefully suggested that the weapon may be a genuine Ancient sword, although its final recognition as a Roman Period weapon could only be verified by finds made from similar metal in undoubted Roman Period contexts.En este trabajo se analiza el fragmento de una espada con posible sello de Masuria hallada en el NE de Polonia. Fue encontrada cerca de una necrópolis romana de la Cultura Bogaczewo. Tipológicamente es una espada romana. Sin embargo, los resultados de los análisis metalográficos sugieren que fue fabricada o bien con un limpio hierro forjado (o hipotéticamente con hierro fundido) o con acero preindustrial (Bessemer, Thomas, Siemens-Martin, etc.). Por otro lado, la composición química de la misma implicaría el empleo de acero pre-industrial. Para concluir, se sugiere, con cautela, que la espada puede ser una espada antigua, pero esta conclusión solo puede verificarse si aparecen hallazgos similares del periodo romano

Novaesium type chape from the area of Międzyrzecz

A copper alloy chape was found by chance by a detectorist, Ernest Buczkowski, at Silna – several kilometers to the east of Międzyrzecz. It is a unipartite form with an openwork crescent decoration on the front side fastened to the scabbard with the use of a nail. One should attribute the item to the Roman type Novaesium, dated to the late 2nd century and the first half of the 3rd century. Outside the Roman limes, it was popular in the Elbe Circle as well as the Isle of Funen and the Jutland Peninsula during Subphases C1a and C1b. Some of the chapes of the said type (specifically the multipartite specimens) may be treated as barbarian replicas of Roman originals. However, it is not the case for the finding from Międzyrzecz. It is the second find of this type from the territory of Poland. It should be associated with the Wielbark Culture, which was situated in the Międzyrzecz region in the beginning of the Early Roman Period. It makes the finding very intriguing, as this cultural unit is characterised by the lack of weapons among the grave goods; therefore, the one in question sheds some light on the problem of armament in the Wielbark Culture

Prekyba, druska ir gintaras. Elito formavimasis vėlyvuoju Tautų kraustymosi laikotarpiu Balti-Kulti regione Šiaurės Lenkijoje (Elblongo grupė)

This paper presents the Elbląg group at its peak, that is, the late sixth and early seventh centuries. Imports are presented, namely Scandinavian (but also Merovingian) denominators of opulence (drinking horns, particular imported goods, seaxes in ornamental scabbards, and so on), and also the possible grounds on which local settlers thrived (the amber trade, maybe also the salt trade). The geostrategic position of the Elbląg group is analysed, as well as sea trade routes and boats used on the Baltic Sea during the Late Migration Period. Contacts between southern Scandinavia and the Elbląg group are described against the wider cultural and political background