First Bio-Anthropological Evidence for Yamnaya Horsemanship.

The origins of horseback riding remain elusive. Scientific studies show that horses were kept for their milk similar to 3500 to 3000 BCE, widely accepted as indicating domestication. However, this does not confirm them to be ridden. Equipment used by early riders is rarely preserved, and the reliability of equine dental and mandibular pathol-ogies remains contested. However, horsemanship has two interacting components: the horse as mount and the human as rider. Alterations associated with riding in human skeletons therefore possibly provide the best source of information. Here, we report five Yamnaya individuals well-dated to 3021 to 2501 calibrated BCE from kurgans in Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, displaying changes in bone morphology and distinct pathologies associated with horseback riding. These are the oldest humans identified as riders so far.Peer reviewe

First bioanthropological evidence for Yamnaya horsemanship

The origins of horseback riding remain elusive. Scientific studies show that horses were kept for their milk ~3500 to 3000 BCE, widely accepted as indicating domestication. However, this does not confirm them to be ridden. Equipment used by early riders is rarely preserved, and the reliability of equine dental and mandibular pathologies remains contested. However, horsemanship has two interacting components: the horse as mount and the human as rider. Alterations associated with riding in human skeletons therefore possibly provide the best source of information. Here, we report five Yamnaya individuals well-dated to 3021 to 2501 calibrated BCE from kurgans in Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, displaying changes in bone morphology and distinct pathologies associated with horseback riding. These are the oldest humans identified as riders so far

Fibulele turnate romano-bizantine / Fibulas with bent stem

Cast fibulas with bent stem are one of the most characteristic finds from the second half of the VIth century on Lower Danube. They have a precise area of spreading and a well establish chronology. In this paper I try to propose a new approach regarding typology by renouncing to old criteria. So I suggest the stylistic criteria as the only one to form groups of fibulas. Some of the groups are specific for a small area and some have a larger spreading. Of course, this aspect, the spreading, will always depend of the publication of museum collections from the South of Danube. Also, I try to draw a more accurate image regarding how this type of fibula was produce. The solitary picture of the workshop from Drobeta is now more complete because of some other discoveries, especially those from Caričin Grad. Drobeta still remains the only workshop for mass production. Concerning the chronology, I think I succeed to argue a particular aspect. Most of the fibulas cease to exist after the end of the VIth century. But this is true only for the south Danube finds, because in the Avars area, this type of fibula is still in use till mid VIIth century. A long discussion has been taking related to the dimension of fibulas. I think that beside the economic or mercantilist explications, it can be suggested one based on the dressing rule : the big fibulas was wearied on shoulder level, while the small one was wearied on the basin level. As well, are some indications that fibulas were use, sometime, in pare or attach by a small chain by other dressing elements. It is hard to indicate, according to present data, if this type of fibula belonging to the male or female costume. Finds from the graves suggest the appurtenance to female costume, while the pieces from military fortress hint the male costume. Till new data this is an open discussion. Not to forget the possibility that it can be a unisex type of fibula or the differences of appurtenance can suggest different areas. I have in mind possible differences between the Avar zone and the South of Danube area (Byzantine Empire). Anyway, these fibulas are not an ethnic symbol. It represents a Byzantine product that, in small number, was exported in Barbaricum. It is the mark of a dressing mode developed in a short time and in a well delimited area.Fibulele reprezintă o piesă de port şi podoabă populară în lumea bizantină de la sud de Dunăre. Ele au o arie de răspândire şi o cronologie foarte bine delimitată.Măgureanu Andrei. Fibulele turnate romano-bizantine / Fibulas with bent stem. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°4 2008. pp. 99-155

Radu Harhoiu, Daniel Spânu, Erwin Gáll, Barbari la Dunăre, seria „Istorie Documente Mărturii”, Editura Argonaut, Cluj-Napoca, 2011, 162 p., 73 fig.

Măgureanu Andrei. Radu Harhoiu, Daniel Spânu, Erwin Gáll, Barbari la Dunăre, seria „Istorie Documente Mărturii”, Editura Argonaut, Cluj-Napoca, 2011, 162 p., 73 fig.. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°8 2012. pp. 223-225

Radu Harhoiu, Daniel Spânu, Erwin Gáll, Barbari la Dunăre, seria „Istorie Documente Mărturii”, Editura Argonaut, Cluj-Napoca, 2011, 162 p., 73 fig.

Măgureanu Andrei. Radu Harhoiu, Daniel Spânu, Erwin Gáll, Barbari la Dunăre, seria „Istorie Documente Mărturii”, Editura Argonaut, Cluj-Napoca, 2011, 162 p., 73 fig.. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°8 2012. pp. 223-225

Cercetări arheologice în Curtea Domnească de la Târgşoru Vechi / Archaeological research in Voivodal Court at Târgşoru Vechi

Over 50 years ago, an archaeological team initiated the research in the area of the medieval town from Târgşoru Vechi. In 1956 only the ruins of three churches and some fragments of the buildings of the former Voivodal Court and Turnu monastery could still be observed. Those medieval remains were the starting point for the investigation of Târgşoru Vechi town, a town that today celebrates 600 years since it was first mentioned in a medieval document. The Novo Foro, as it was known in the Latin version of the document issued by Mircea cel Bătrân to the merchants of Braşov, was an important custom point, voivodal residence and later on, monastery. Following a project of restoration proposed by the architect C. Hoinărescu, archaeological excavations in the area of the Medieval Court were resumed in 2005. Excavations during two seasons (2005, 2006) aimed to verify and complete the results of the previous research undertook by N. Constantinescu, research that was abruptly stopped in the mid-1960-ies. The recent investigations provided new data about structures from interior of the Voivodal Court area, identifying a first habitation level going back to the 15th century. Also, the existing information referring to the cellar of the Voivodal House was completed with new data and a new chronological interpretation of other structures was proposed. A new opened surface (located in the north-east corner of the second medieval enclosure) allowed the identification a long-term inhabitated area, with the same evolution from the mud-bricks constructions to stone ones.Cercetările arheologice de la Târgşoru Vechi, din zona Curţilor Domneşti, au fost reluate după aproape 50 de ani de la începutul acestora, în 1956. În acel an se începeau lucrările de identificare a locuirii medievale, precum şi ale limitelor oraşului, care în 2013 împlineşte 600 de ani de la prima atestare documentară. Novo Foro, cum apare numele său în varianta latină a documentului emis de Mircea cel Bătrân pentru negustorii braşoveni, a fost un important punct de vamă, scaun domnesc şi apoi o mănăstire. Cercetările din anii 2005– 2006 au fost ocazionate de punerea în aplicarea a unui proiect de refacere volumetrică a clădirilor mănăstirii care activa în secolele XVII– XIX. Au fost identificate clădiri din chirpici aparţinând secolului al XV-lea, nivel de locuire pentru prima dată identificat în zona Caselor domneşti sau din piatră, au fost redatate diferite structuri şi au fost completate date despre clădiri deja cercetate.Ciupercă Bogdan, Măgureanu Andrei, Paveleţ Eugen, Sârbu Dorin. Cercetări arheologice în Curtea Domnească de la Târgşoru Vechi / Archaeological research in Voivodal Court at Târgşoru Vechi. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°9 2013. pp. 219-230

Alba sau Băneasa – La Stejar? Reidentificarea unui sit arheologic din nord-vestul Bucureștiului / Alba or Băneasa – La Stejar? Re-identifying an archaeological site in northwestern Bucharest

Rescue archaeological excavations at Sisești Street, nos. 147– 175 led to the identification and investigation of 29 archaeological features dated to the Bronze Age, the 9th and the 18th centuries. The paper discusses in detail the results of the research (archaeological materials and features) from an interdisciplinary perspective. It also raises the question of the previos misidentification of certain sites along the Colentina River in the area of interest, and suggests a correct geographical location of the still existing ones.Cercetarea arheologică preventivă realizată la adresa Șoseaua Sisești, nr. 147– 175 a dus la identificarea a 29 de complexe arheologice atribuite epocii bronzului, secolului IX și secolului XVIII. Articolul de față prezintă detaliat rezultatele cercetării (complexe și materiale arheologice) din perspectivă interdisciplinară. Se discută, de asemenea, problema localizării corecte a siturilor arheologice de pe malul Colentinei din zona geografică de interes.Boroneanţ Adina, Măgureanu Andrei, Toderaş Meda, Cărăbiși Vlad, Bălășescu Adrian, Vasile Gabriel. Alba sau Băneasa – La Stejar? Reidentificarea unui sit arheologic din nord-vestul Bucureștiului / Alba or Băneasa – La Stejar? Re-identifying an archaeological site in northwestern Bucharest. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°17 2021. pp. 267-328

Bucureşti – centrul istoric. Campania 2007. Raport preliminar privind cercetările arheologice efectuate pe strada Smârdan / Bucarest – Historical Center. Archaeological researches in Smârdan Street

During the XVII century the historical documents mentioned a „ Lane going from the Princely Court towards the Greek’s Church’ while later on, until the second half of the XIX century the street was known as the German Lane. It acquired the present day name with the end of the Independence War in 1878. The 2007 excavations were the first ones focusing on the entire street. No archaeological remains were identified on the segment stretching from Lipscani St to Sf. Dumitru St. Foundations of brick constructions were exposed throughout the next segment, from Sf. Dumitru St. to Şelari St. Several fragments of wall foundations were observed at street numbers 30, 37, 39 and 41 and while dismanteling the sidewalk other short wall remains were exposed at street numbers 14, 26, 27, 28, 29. The excavations also uncovered the outlines of four XIX century constructions and one from the XVIII century. Other features included two garbage pits and remains of the old street paved with timber. The trench at no. 41 also yielded an area paved with small river boulders. A large number of pot sherds was recovered, resulted from various pottery types and also a large range of glass items. The majority was found within the cultural layer and only few from closed complexes such as pits or cellars. The ceramics was very fragmented, dating mostly from the XVII– XIX centuries. A major drawback constitutes the fact that this period is at the confluence between Late Medieval archaeology and ethnography, preventing a more refined chronology. The pottery material was grouped in two – the XVI– XVII centuries and the XVIII– XIX centuries, hoping that further publications will be more detailed. Mixed with the above mentioned fragments, isolated sherds, typical for the Dridu culture (X century) also occurred, in the soil resulted while digging the wall foundations.În documentele de secol XVII strada Smârdan este menţionată drept „ Uliţa care merge de la Curtea Domnească spre biserica Grecilor”, pentru ca mai târziu, până în a doua jumătate a secolului XIX să fie cunoscută drept „ Uliţa nemţească”. Numele actual a fost adoptat în 1878, după sfârşitul războiului de Independenţă. Cercetările arheologice din 2007 sunt primele care se ocupă de studiul întregii străzi în Bucureştiul medieval. Pe tronsonul dintre străzile Lipscani şi Sf. Dumitru nu au apărut materiale arheologice. Între Sf. Dumitru şi intersecţia cu str. Şelari au fost identificate fundaţii de construcţii şi ziduri atât în stradă, cât şi sub trotuar. Au fost cercetate, parţial, patru construcţii de secol XIX, una din secolul XVIII, două gropi menajere (sec XVIII), vechile podiri de lemn ale străzii şi un fragment de pavaj stradal din piatră de râu (sec XVIII– XIX). A fost recuperat un număr important de fragmente provenind de la diverse tipuri ceramice şi obiecte din sticlă. Datarea pieselor, majoritatea provenind din strat, este cuprinsă între secolele XVII– XIX. Foarte puţine dintre ele au apărut în complexe închise (gropi, pivniţe) care ar fi permis o încadrare cronologică mai clară. Materialele sunt în stare fragmentară, la foarte puţine fiind posibilă reconstituirea unui profil complet. Un alt handicap major îl reprezintă perioada de provenienţă a majorităţii materialelor (sec. XVIII– XIX) aflată la confluenţa între arheologia medievală târzie şi etnografie. Studiul materialului ceramic se constituie astfel într-o prezentare succintă a descoperirilor, grupate în sec. XVI– XVII, respectiv XVIII– XIX cu speranţa că în viitor ele vor beneficia de un studiu mai amplu. Alături de ceramica menţionată au fost descoperite şi fragmente ceramice izolate specifice culturii Dridu, databile în secolul X, antrenate de săpăturile pentru fundaţiile locuinţelor din Evul Mediu.Mănucu-Adameşteanu Gheorghe, Măgureanu Andrei, Panait Panait I., Boroneanţ Adina, Gavrilă Elena, Popescu Raluca-Iuliana, Rădulescu Maria-Venera, Toderaş Meda, Velter Ana-Maria, Boglárka Tóth, Botár István. Bucureşti – centrul istoric. Campania 2007. Raport preliminar privind cercetările arheologice efectuate pe strada Smârdan / Bucarest – Historical Center. Archaeological researches in Smârdan Street. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°3 2008. 2007. pp. 163-223