ISSN 1857-016X eISSN 2537-6144 Archaeology Magazine is the scientific journal published by the Archaeology Centre of the Institute of Cultural Heritage. The journal is accredited by the NAQAER in the “A” Category and is indexed in Scopus.
A 2nd-Century AD Grave discovered at Mereni (Anenii Noi District)
In the summer of 2023, during the excavation of a sewer pit in the village of Mereni, a Roman amphora was fortuitously discovered and subsequently handed over to the local Museum of History and Ethnography. The find was made in the southern part of the village, in the area known as “Pe Holm”, at a spot where the works partially disturbed a sunken archaeological feature. In addition to the amphora, several other ceramic vessels – both wheel-made and hand-made – as well as fragments of human bones were recovered from the pit. The amphora, preserved almost intact, belongs to type C (Neapolis) according to the classification of D. Shelov and is dated to the 2nd century AD, particularly to its second half, thus providing a reliable chronological marker for the entire complex. The ceramic analogies, corroborated by the presence of human bone remains, indicate that the assemblage represents a Sarmatian inhumation grave disturbed by modern intervention.
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Archaeometric investigation of the Hellenistic period Colchian amphoras from Pichvnari (Western Georgia)
The article presents a first extensive archaeometric (macroscopic and petrographic) analysis of the Hellenistic period Colchian “brown-clay” amphoras discovered at Pichvnari, one of the most representative sites for the study of this type of transport containers. The material consists of 44 amphora and 3 sand samples taken for comparative reasons in the broad surrounding of the site. The macroscopic fresh break and petrographic thin section analysis is set in the context of previous work done by other authors. The Pichvnari material reveals various fabric recipes that largely correspond to the already determined fabric groups. However, in contrast to the previous works, the study also manages to show the compositional profiles of the fabric groups in a greater detail and therefore supposes the possibility of a minor fabric variations eventually linked to sub-regional productions. Mineralogical comparison with the sand samples allows us to carefully suppose that the tempering material originated in the riverine and/or coastal sedimentary environment in the area around Pichvnari. However, due to the lack of a more extensive and systematic raw material sample collection from the region of interest, the question of the exact provenance of Pichvnari “brown-clay” amphoras remains open.
A lead control or official weight from Olbia bearing a caduceus and a dolphin, weighs 868 g (with losses estimated at c. 15-25 g). This object is of major importance for Olbian metrology at the turn of the 2nd-3rd centuries AD. It combines integral values of the principal units of two weight standards (sic): two minas of the Euboic-Attic system (mina = 425-437 g) correspond to three librae (36 unciae) of the light Roman standard (libra = 270-290 g = 12 unciae). The legend displays orthographic features characteristic of the 2nd-3rd centuries AD in the personal name: ἀγορα/νόμοι οἱ περ/ὶ Ὠἰκαδ〈ι〉ω/ν· Ἰτα(λική?) – “the agoranomoi under the leadership of Eikadios/Ekaddinos(?). Italian (weight)”. The ethnic attribution of the agoranomos is ambiguous: the name may be Greek (Εἰκάδιος) or barbarian (possibly Sarmatian) Εκαδδινος. Evidently the same individual is mentioned as the patronymic of an archon in the inscriptions IOSPE 46 and IOlb 52. A palaeographic peculiarity is the form of omega as a semicircle with a radial hasta, recorded in Olbia for the first time. The weight can be dated terminus post quem to the turn of the 2nd-3rd centuries AD.
Literary works as a means of promoting cultural heritage, on the example of Outlander
Cultural heritage plays a key role in shaping the collective identity of nations while also providing an important context for language and cultural education. This paper examines literary works as an effective means of promoting cultural heritage, with a focus on Outlander, written by Diana Gabaldon, as the primary text for further interpretation. The main goal of the paper is to demonstrate, through the lens of a historical approach, that cultural heritage is not a static phenomenon but a living and dynamic element actively used in the creation of contemporary literary works, and to show that literary texts incorporate and reinterpret elements of heritage, making them accessible and meaningful for contemporary audiences. At the same time, the paper highlights that literature enables readers to internalise historical and cultural contexts more effectively by embedding them within engaging storylines and emotionally resonant experiences. Methodologically, the article employs close reading, textual analysis, and thematic analysis. Based on interpretation, the paper discusses the broader potential of literature as a tool for promoting cultural heritage both within formal educational settings and beyond them, contributing not only to cultural awareness but also to the development of cultural tourism and regional growth.
Non-ferrous metalworking of the Upper Kyiv in the 10th-13th centuries
The Upper Kyiv is the oldest part of the city, where the administrative center with princely palaces, church estates, and boyar residences was located. The inhabitants of these complexes required a significant number of items made from non-ferrous metals. Between 1907 and 2013, excavations were conducted at 20 areas, where 83 specialized objects and 1363 artifacts were discovered and studied, including materials from 14 cultural layers that may have originated from nearby production structures. Among the identified features were 6 bronze casting workshops, 22 jewelry workshops, 6 smithy/locksmithy workshops, and 23 dwelling-workshops. Most of these objects date to the 12th – the beginning of the 13th century. Some of them were combined with ironmaking/ironworking and/or glassmaking/glassworking crafts. Numerous production structures formed five specialized craft centers in the Upper City, covering areas from 0.5 to 6 hectares. Within their fillings, 12 marketable metals, 503 semi-finished products, 690 casting vessels, 15 casting molds, 34 tools, and 112 examples of production waste were found. The emergence of a significant number of non-ferrous metalworking facilities in Upper Kyiv is explained by their proximity to the grand princely courts with their palace complexes, the estates of the boyar elite, the marketplace square, and religious buildings.
metalworking smith and locksmithworkshops
Gvozdova, not Hvozdiv. Uncovering the Moldovan origin of one frequently cited Mesolithic flint collection
This article focuses on a collection of lithic artefacts first described by V. Danylenko in his 1969 monograph as material found at the Hvozdiv site on the Southern Buh River (Vinnytsia Region, Ukraine) in 1956. Subsequently, researchers frequently cited this site as being associated with the Kukrek culture. However, recent field investigations, discrepancies between published and archival data, and inconsistent inscriptions on the artefacts cast doubt on the published origin of the collection. An alternative hypothesis was proposed and tested by identifying locations meeting specific criteria designed to resolve these contradictions. As a result, the collection’s origin was linked to the Mesolithic sites investigated in 1956 near the village of Gvozdova (Florești District, Moldova) in the Răut River basin. Archival materials indirectly confirm that V. Danylenko brought the collection from Chișinău to Kyiv in May 1964. By extension, this study highlights the necessity of critically examining even long-standing academic assertions that may prove erroneous.
Об изучении этнической идентичности как фактора междисциплинарного исследования
The aim of this study is to examine the content of the structural components of ethnic identity as a factor of interdisciplinary research among youth and to identify their sociological characteristics. The article presents a scientific-theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of “ethnic identity” and similar concepts, defining the mechanisms and factors of psychological development of ethnic identity. Based on the analysis of data from researchers on ethnic identity, the author identifies issues in psychological development. The study examines the commitment of youth to their ethnic identity in an intercultural society through a self-report questionnaire. Respondents were divided into three age groups: 17-22 years − “students”; 23-28 years “family formation age”; 29-35 years − “age of certainty”. The results showed that the level of commitment to ethnic identity was moderate. Additionally, there was a significant difference in the commitment to ethnic identity between age groups. To study and confirm the factor structure of ethnic identity, the principal component method was used. Three factors were identified: 1. Emotional connection with the ethnic group; 2. Understanding and knowledge about the ethnic group; 3. Active social involvement. The study presented the factor of knowledge of the individual's ethnic origin, as well as an understanding of the significance of ethnic affiliation. Active involvement reflects activity in social groups. These results are significant for the development of youth who may experience difficulties in forming a sense of self-worth, beliefs, values, and a strong sense of self. Future research is needed to further explore this topic.
Masa rotundă 95 de ani de la naşterea arheologului Nicolae Chetraru, 70 de ani de la naşterea arheologilor Oleg Levițki
Dorința de a învăța nu are limită de vârstă, iar discuțiile în amintirea predecesorilor merită o atenție aparte. Așa se face, că după o perioadă de timp se revine la seria de manifestări științifice care are ca generic Arheologia Moldovei: trecut, prezent și viitor, inițiată și organizată, începând cu 1 aprilie 2014, de Centru de Arheologie din cadrul Institutului Patrimoniului Cultural (Chișinău) [Bacumenco-Pîrnău 2014, 2016; Sîrbu 2015, 2017; Pașenciuc 2019], iar recent, continuată de Secția Patrimoniu Arheologic al aceluiași institut. Astfel, la 26 mai 2026, a avut loc Masa rotundă consacrată împlinirii a 95 de ani de la naşterea arheologului Nicolae Chetraru (24 octombrie 1931 – 24 noiembrie 2011) și 70 de ani de la naşterea arheologului Oleg Levițki (26 mai 1956 – 18 mai 2020). Prin această reuniune se con tinuă activitățile inițiate în scopul omagierii unor cercetători cunoscuți în domeniul arheologiei din Moldova postbelică și din perioada recentă.
From the History and Historiography of the Gothic Choir of St. Mary’s Church in Sibiu
St. Mary’s Church in Sibiu is one of the most important Gothic religious monuments in Transylvania, its architectural development unfolding in successive stages throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, until the beginning of the 16th century (ca. 1520). The present study analyses interpretations of the construction and evolution of the church’s Gothic sanctuary, drawing on documentary sources and presenting the main hypotheses advanced in the scholarly literature to date regarding its chronology and function over time. One of the most important discoveries is the identification, during the archaeological investigations conducted in 2013 under the coordination of Ioan Marian Țiplic, of a fragment of the foundation of the Romanesque apse of the parish church of Sibiu, an edifice already existing in the second half of the 12th century.
Archaeological research at the medieval necropolis of Lozova-La hotar cu Vornicenii (2024 campaign)
The authors present the preliminary results of the archaeological research conducted during the 2024 campaign in the area of the medieval necropolis of Lozova-La hotar cu Vornicenii (Strășeni district, Republic of Moldova). The continuation of systematic excavations within the perimeter of this site led to the discovery of 17 burial features, comprising 18 inhumations. These belong to a local Christian community. The deceased (adults and children) were buried according to Christian ritual: on their backs, with their heads facing west and their legs extended, and their arms bent at the elbows, with their hands placed on their abdomen, chest, or shoulders. The grave goods are rich and diverse, including jewelry such as earrings, rings, beads, pendants, and veil rings, along with various clothing accessories (spherical buttons, brooches, buckles) and utensils (thimbles) and fabric remains, etc. The artifacts indicate that the cemetery was in use during the 14th century. The medieval necropolis of Lozova is one of a series of archaeological sites of particular importance for reconstructing the spiritual life of the orthodox population of 14th-century Moldavia, and the continuation of interdisciplinary research and rigorous analysis of the entire archaeological inventory will provide further valuable insights into the rural communities in the region between the Prut and the Dniester during the late period of the Golden Horde and the emergence and eastward expansion of the Principality of Moldavia.
On the use of pits near dwellings B17 and B18 at the Trypillian culture site of Nebelivka
During excavations at the settlement of the Trypillia Culture of the BII stage near the village of Nebelivka, pit-like objects were investigated, located next to the remains of buildings B17 and B18. Magnetic surveying conducted at dozens of settlements of the Cucuteni-Trypillian cultural complex revealed a huge number of such objects, but only a few of them have been excavated so far. Thus, the results and experience of relatively large-scale excavations in Nebelivka may be useful in further studying the Trypillian pits. The objects in Nebelivka were discovered using magnetic surveying, which showed their non-standard configuration. Archaeological research confirmed the results of magnetic surveying and provided significant material, the study of which allows reconstructing some aspects of the use of these objects. At first, archaeologists believed these were dugouts used as dwellings. Later, they began to be seen as a source of clay for construction and repair of dwellings, as well as a source of clay for pottery production. Researchers also considered their ritual function. As a result, we can talk about the initial purpose of the pits as pits for extracting building materials, and later as cult objects.
Treasure of Jewelry and Clothing Accessories from the Late Middle Ages Discovered at Ordășei (Telenești District)
In the autumn of 2024, on the plateau between the villages of Ordășei and Prodănești, a treasure consisting of 36 items – most of them made of silver, along with several bronze objects and two ceramic fragments – was discovered. The pieces were found scattered over an area of approximately 15×15 m, as a result of agricultural activity, near a Bronze Age barrow. The treasure includes jewelry and clothing accessories: filigree earrings with multifaceted settings, a multipartite earring with pendants, a truncated-conical pendant, an “S”-shaped belt clasp, numerous globular buttons of two types (small and large, some with a rattling core), as well as a fragment of a bronze ring. XRF analyses revealed the technological diversity of the items, most of them being made of silver with varying proportions of copper and tin, while two pieces belong to copper‑based alloys. Comparison with similar treasures from the Republic of Moldova and the Carpathian–Dniester region allowed the assemblage to be dated to the last decades of the 16th century through the end of the 17th century, most likely to its first half. The luxurious character of some pieces, as well as the presence of a rare belt clasp, suggests that the treasure belonged to a person of high social status. The study highlights the importance of medieval hoards for reconstructing the social, economic, and cultural contexts of the period.
Scythian dagger from the Museum of Orheiul Vechi Reserve
The paper analyses a Scythian iron dagger of the Mircești type preserved in the Orheiul Vechi Cultural-Natural Reserve Museum. Donated anonymously in 2021 and most likely originating from the right bank of the Dniester River, the artefact represents a rare example of Scythian weaponry from a region where such finds are uncommon and usually lack archaeological context. The dagger is well preserved and displays a diamond-section blade, a semicircular “pelte-shaped” hilt, and an ornithomorphic antenna-like pommel, allowing its secure attribution to the Mircești type, closely related to the Găiceana one. Comparative analysis demonstrates that while such daggers are frequently found in burial contexts within the Black Sea steppe and the North Caucasus, their presence west of the Dniester and Danube is largely limited to stray finds. Chronologically, Mircești-type daggers date from the late 6th to the first half of the 5th century BC, with a concentration in the early 5th century BC. The Orheiul Vechi specimen fits well within this horizon and highlights the Carpathian-Dniester region as a key contact zone between the Scythian steppe and Central Europe.
Coins of the State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia in the Territory of Medieval Ukraine and Neighboring Lands: The Contemporary Scholarly Discourse
The article examines the distribution and historiography of coins of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia within the monetary circulation of Eastern Europe, with particular attention to the Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Moldavian lands of the late Middle Ages. It has been established that the spread of Teutonic coinage exhibited a clearly defined regional differentiation, determined by the intensity of economic, political, and military contacts with the Order’s state. While in the border regions of the Kingdom of Poland these coins could play a significant role in monetary circulation, in the lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania they functioned as a secondary element of a multi-currency system, whereas in the Principality of Moldavia their presence was episodic. The article outlines the main directions in the development of historiography on this issue. Two interrelated levels of research are identified: the first, in which Teutonic coins are considered within broader archaeological, topographical, and regional numismatic studies; and the second, represented by specialized works in which this material is treated as an independent subject of analysis. Within the latter, key research problems are defined, including the topography of finds, the relationship between single finds and hoards, issues of attribution, the problem of counterfeiting, and the use of numismatic materials for reconstructing economic connections. The historiographical analysis demonstrates that, despite the growing number of studies, Teutonic Order coinage has only relatively recently emerged as a distinct object of research. For a long time, it remained embedded within broader numismatic syntheses, which resulted in the fragmentary character of its study. Additional difficulties arise from terminological ambiguity and varying levels of source attribution. As a result, the current state of research is characterized by uneven development and requires further systematization of material and the development of coherent methodological approaches.
Certain types of Macrolithic Tools from the Neolithic Sites of Hasansu I and II
The study examines the assemblages of macrolithic tools from the Neolithic settlements of Hasansu I and II within the framework of the food-producing economy of early farming communities. Stone tools played a fundamental role in plant processing – primarily cereals – as well as in the treatment of mineral resources such as ochre and salt and in the manufacture of another types of stone tools. The assemblage includes grinding slabs, hand stones, querns, mortars, pestles, and other heavyduty macrolithic tools made from volcanic, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. These raw materials were either intentionally shaped through grinding, pecking and flaking or utilized without prior shaping. Beyond typological classification, the study applies macroscopic use-wear analysis to identify functional patterns and reconstruct operational sequences. The diversity of grinding systems – characterized by reciprocal, circular, irregular, and percussive motions – demonstrates a technologically flexible and functionally differentiated processing system associated with food production and craft activities. Comparative analysis reveals close typological, quantitative and raw material strategy parallels with early settlements of Shomutepe culture dated to the beginning of the 6th millennium BCE, contributing to a clearer understanding of regional technological traditions during the initial stages of agricultural economy.
The tumulus 10 from Burlăceni (Cahul District)
În anul 2022, Agenția Națională Arheologică a efectuat investigații arheologice preventive la tumulul nr. 10 de la Burlăceni. Tumulul avea un diametru de aproximativ 40 m și o înălțime de 0,7 m. În cadrul cercetărilor, au fost descoperite 17 morminte. Tumulul se distinge printr-o structură stratigrafică simplă, având o singură manta ridicată deasupra mormântului nr. 17 al culturii Iamnaia. Ulterior, au fost realizate mormintele nr. 2, 4, 5, 7, 13, 14 și 15, atribuite tot culturii Iamnaia. Acestea au fost realizate în principal în gropi dreptunghiulare, unele prevăzute cu trepte, în jurul mormântului primar. Mormântul nr. 12, care datează probabil dintr-un orizont târziu al culturii Iamnaia, a afectat o parte din treapta mormântului nr. 13. Următorul orizont cultural și cronologic este asociat cu mormintele nr. 3 și 10, care aparțin culturii Mnogovalikovaia din perioada mijlocie a epocii bronzului. Mormântul nr. 3 conținea un vas de tip borcan specific acestei culturi, iar în mormântul nr. 10 a fost identificat un fragment de cataramă de os, tot caracteristic acestei culturi. Mormintele nr. 8, 9 și 16 pot fi, de asemenea, atribuite perioadei mijlocii a epocii bronzului. Șanțul și complexul săpat în interiorul acestuia, identificate în apropierea mormintelor nr. 6 și 10, pot fi datate în perioada mijlocie sau târzie a epocii bronzului, dar ulterior acestora. Mormântul nr. 6, care conține două vase ceramice, poate fi atribuit culturii Sabatinovka. Cele mai recente morminte descoperite în tumul, marcate cu nr. 1 și 11, conțin defuncți depuși în poziție întinsă pe spate, orientați cu craniul spre sud-vest. Acestea sunt atribuite populației turanice medievale. Analiza paleoantropologică a materialului osteologic a fost realizată pe baza metodologiilor de specialitate consacrate. Vârsta biologică la deces pentru indivizii sub 20 de ani a fost estimată pe baza erupției dentare, a dezvoltării osoase și a dimensiunilor scheletice. Pentru adulți, estimarea vârstei s-a realizat prin combinarea mai multor criterii morfologice și degenerative. Determinarea sexului s-a bazat pe caracteristicile craniene și pelviene. Statura a fost calculată pe baza oaselor lungi, evidențiindu-se diferențe între indivizii de sex masculin și feminin. Pe lângă datele obținute din analiza paleoantropologică, în articol sunt prezentate și informații privind gradul de uzură și trăsăturile dentare nonmetrice. Uzura dentară a fost evaluată prin metode standardizate, fiind clasificată în trei stadii principale. Rezultatele indică o uzură predominant moderată și avansată, mai ales la molari și incisivi. Diferențele de uzură între tipurile de dinți reflectă influența dietei și a activităților comportamentale. În cazul indivizilor culturii Iamnaia, fracturile dentare apar mai frecvent la dinții anteriori, sugerând utilizări non-masticatorii. La indivizii culturii Mnogovalikovaia, uzura este mai accentuată și asociată unui regim alimentar mai abraziv. Subiecții medievali turanici prezintă variații ale uzurii dentare determinate în principal de vârsta la deces. Analiza trăsăturilor dentare non-metrice a fost realizată utilizând sistemul ASUDAS. Au fost identificate caracteristici precum cuspidul lui Carabelli, protostilidul și diverse modele cuspide și de șanțuri.
Jewelry made from ancient bronze coins in the Northern Black Sea region, the Ukrainian Steppe, and the Forest-Steppe in the 6th-1st centuries BC
The article is devoted to the study of the practice of using ancient bronze coins as ornaments in the material culture of the population of the Northern Black Sea region, the Ukrainian Steppe, and the Forest-Steppe in the 6th-1st centuries BC. The methodological framework is based on a combination of general scientific, historical, and numismatic methods, with a predominance of the descriptive approach, which made it possible to systematize the known finds and trace the process of their “demonetization” – the transformation from a means of payment into an element of adornment. The study analyzes 52 coins, information about which was collected from museum collections, scholarly publications, electronic catalogues, and private communications from local historians and collectors. It has been established that the problem of using ancient coins as ornaments remains insufficiently studied in historiography, despite the presence of occasional references in the works of modern researchers. A classification of “demonetized” coins is proposed based on the method of manufacture (jewelry изделия and primitively modified coins with perforations) and functional purpose (pendants, amulets, elements of clothing). Particular attention is paid to common types of bronze coins, their chronology, the geography of finds, and the specifics of their everyday use. The study expands the understanding of the non-economic functions of coins and their role in the symbolic and daily culture of ancient populations. The results of the study suggest that the process of “demonetization” of ancient bronze coins of the 6th-1st centuries BC in the Northern Black Sea region, the Ukrainian Steppe, and the Forest-Steppe was widespread and fulfilled various functions within material culture. The spatial distribution of the finds, which effectively covers most of the territory of modern Ukraine, indicates the significant spread of the practice of using coins as ornaments.
The Final Series of Cast Coins and the Transition to Struck Coinage in Olbia
The article examines the final stage of cast coin production in Olbia and the transition to struck coinage in the late 5th to the first half of the 4th century BC. Based on a comprehensive analysis of numismatic material and its correlation with archaeological data, the authors reconstruct the sequence of emissions of large cast denominations (A and B) and fractional denominations (C, D, E), including both cast and struck issues. Particular attention is paid to denomination C (dichalkon?), which plays a key role in understanding the technological transition from casting to striking. The study identifies 66 varieties of coins of this denomination and analyzes their control marks, iconography, and typology. Special significance is attributed to a coin hoard discovered in the Mykolaiv region around 2011, which contained nearly 2,000 coins and provides direct evidence for the simultaneous circulation of cast and struck coinage in Olbia. The composition of the hoard refutes the hypothesis of a return to casting after the introduction of struck coinage and instead demonstrates a gradual technological transition. The authors argue that the production of cast coins of large denominations continued alongside the emergence of struck fractional coinage, and that the complete transition to striking occurred no later than the mid-4th century BC.
Ancient archaeological finds related to weaving in Azerbaijan
As a result of archaeological excavations conducted in Azerbaijan, numerous finds related to the weaving art have been discovered in monuments dating from the Neolithic to all subsequent periods. These are tools with piercing functions such as spindle whorls, needles, awls and pins made of clay and bone, and rarely from stone. In the Bronze Age, piercing tools were also made of metal. Traces of fabrics woven in various ways on ceramic products dating from the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages are indicators of the widespread development of this art form in ancient Azerbaijan. Thus, the “bagging method” used in the production of pottery indicates that the bag, which is a woven product, was also applied in the field of pottery. At the same time, direct remains of fabric were also discovered during the excavations. Although the remains of fabric discovered in grave monuments are very poorly preserved, they indicate that weaving was one of the main craft forms in the region. Some examples of clothing found among the petroglyphs are also a certain source of information about ancient weaving.
Horse Bridle of the Sсythians of Pryinhullia
The article is devoted to the study of equestrian burials and horse equipment of the Scythian tribes that inhabited the basins of the Inhulets and Inhul rivers in the Northern Black Sea region. The burial rites associated with barrows are examined, and the structural features of their mounds are clarified. The presence of moats around the the mounds, crepids, Scythian stone statues, and fire-related rituals is noted. The grave types include pits, catacombs, and wooden tombs. Horse burials, the types of horse graves, methods of laying the animals, and associated finds are analysed. The assemblage of horse equipment comprises bits, cheek-pieces, plates, frontlets, buckles, tubes, nahrapnyks, and whips. It has been established that only bronze bits are known in the region from the Early Scythian period. All currently identified mounds containing horse burials and bridle elements date to the 5th-4th centuries BC and belonged to male warriors. The presence of such burial mounds in the region indicates the spread of equestrian culture during the Scythian period. Horsemen formed the core of the Scythian army, while advanced sets of horse equipment and weapons ensured high mobility and a developed level of military skill.
Some results of excavations at the Brînzeni Grotto (Middle Basin of Prut River) in 2024
During the field research in 2024, a rich collection of flint finds consisting of 2,100 artifacts and more than 3,000 fragments of wild animal bones was collected on an area of just a few square meters of the entrance platform of the Brînzeni Grotto in Edinet District, Republic of Moldova. Most of them belong to the third cultural layer, which was divided into Epigravettian and Moldavian Szeletian. Particular attention was paid to the variable lithological nature of the deposits in the grotto, the stratigraphic position of the cultural layers, and the technical and morphological appearance of the defining types of flint inventory.
On a Traumatic Cranial Injury from a “Mongol” Burial at Mingachevir (Republic of Azerbaijan)
The article examines anthropological materials dating to the medieval period, recovered during rescue archaeological excavations (field season of 1950) conducted in the construction zone of the Mingachevir Hydroelectric Power Station at Settlement No. 3. The study focuses on a cranium (No. 1) belonging to a male individual aged over 45 years at the time of death, originating from a so-called “Mongol” burial dated to the late 13th − early 14th centuries. At present, the human cranium is housed in the exhibition of the Museum of Human Anatomy at the Department of Anatomy and Medical Terminology, Azerbaijan Medical University (Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan). The examined cranium is brachycranial and exhibits Mongoloid morphological traits, corresponding to a representative of the Central Asian anthropological type. A traumatic lesion was identified on the left temporal bone: a sharp-force chop wound measuring 4.8 cm in length and approximately 3 mm in width, with a total affected area of 7.5 cm. The absence of healing indicates that the injury is diagnostic of perimortem trauma. The fatal injury was most likely inflicted by a sharp sabre or a long-edged sword. The study incorporates data obtained through modern computed tomography (CT) scanning of the cranium, which confirmed and further refined our conclusions regarding the identi-fied lethal cranial injury of the Mongol warrior. The article also presents comparative data on perimortem trauma from contemporaneous (13th-14th centuries) contexts in the Caucasus, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the Volga region, summarized in a consolidated table.
Andirons from Khanbulag (Republic of Azerbaijan)
The article deals with the samples of the ceramic wares – movable hearths. These artifacts were accidentally discovered during agricultural works in the yard of a local resident of the Khanbulag village (Yardımli district, Azerbaijan Republic). After examining the site, the authors of this article concluded that there was a multilayered settlement. Unfortunately, the cultural layer was almost completely destroyed and the materials were in a mixed form. This process is not surprising, taken into account the long-term and continuous agricultural work in the area. The discovered artifacts belong to three historical periods: the Early Bronze Age, Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The six fragments of clay hearths were presented to us for scientific analysis. According to the accepted classification, the objects were used locally as hearth stands in the shape of a “horseshoe”. The artifacts are well decorated (with incisions, “signs”, circular marks and applied motifs), have zoomorphic ends in the form of a ram’s head and a ram. The objects were handmade and well fired. The color shades of the andirons vary, but are mainly brown. Movable hearth stands of this type have similarities with other objects from the South Caucasus, Eastern Anatolia, north-western Iran and the Southern Levant. All clay andiron fragments examined in this article symbolized the image of a ram’s head/ram to one degree or another. Such clay hearth stands, which were horseshoe-shaped and could be transported, were mainly found in the western territory of the Kura-Araxes cultural-historical community. The artifacts from Khanbulag expand the range of such items among the Kura-Araxes tribes to the east and are currently considered the only finds discovered in the southeastern region of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Kura-Araxes cultural-historical community
Epigraphic Stable Formulae: Manifestations of the Phenomenon in the Context of the Written Heritage of the Armenian Highlands
The epigraphic culture of the Armenian Highlands is noteworthy for its distinctive manifestations, among which the structure of the text stands out with a number of specific features. The phenomenon becomes especially intriguing when studied diachronically, through a comparison of pre-Christian and Christian written heritage. A comprehensive study of stable epigraphic formulae – examined here for the first time on the basis of the cuneiform inscriptions of the Kingdom of Van, the Aramaic inscriptions of Classical Armenia, and Armenian medieval epigraphic inscriptions – reveals that the tradition of composing inscriptions in the Armenian Highlands follows a unified canonical system. Within this system, the introductory, occasion-event, purpose-expectation, and concluding (curse-blessing) formulae of the text are clearly distinguished.
The medieval necropolis of Lozova-La hotar cu Vornicenii. Anthropological report (campaign of 2024)
The human skeletal series referred to in this study was exhumed in 2024 from the perimeter of the medieval necropolis of Lozova-La hotar cu Vornicenii (Străşeni District, Republic of Moldova). According to the data provided by the research team, based on the funerary inventory, the use of the necropolis is chronologically placed between the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century. The necropolis belonged to a Christian community because the deceased were buried according to the Christian ritual. The anthropological study was preceded by bone marking and restoration, to allow morphological analysis, osteometry, estimation of age at death and determination of sex, as well as paleopathological evaluation. In this excavation campaign, 18 skeletons from 17 funeral complexes were investigated: six children (three infant I and three infant II – 33,33%), four adolescents – indeterminable sex (22,22%) and eight adults (three ♂ and five ♀ – 44,45%). The state of preservation of the skeletons is satisfactory. The sex ratio (masculinity index) in this osteological series is subunitary. The presence of anomalies, pathologies and non-metric features is moderate. At the cranial level, the following were identified: dental caries, dental enamel hypoplasia (four cases each) and radicular cyst (one case). At the postcranial segment level, the following were reported: osteoarthritis, olecranon perforation (two cases each) and spina bifida occulta (one case).
On the chronology of the copper puls from Shahr al-Jadid (Old Orhei)
The article is devoted to the chronology of the emissions of copper puls of the Golden Horde city of Shahr al-Jadida (Old Orhei), based on the analysis of numismatic material. The study examines the main types of urban copper coinage, their epigraphic and stylistic features, as well as die links. Comparison of the obtained data with the characteristics of the emissions and the stylistic features of the silver dang coinage of Shahr al-Jadida makes it possible to refine the dating of individual series of copper puls. The results of the research expand the possibilities of using this group of coins as reliable chronological markers and contribute to a better understanding of monetary circulation in Shahr al-Jadida during the final period of this Golden Horde city’s existence.
Preliminary results of an integrated Petrographic, Chemical and Organic Residue Analysis of Neolithic pottery from Makhvilauri
In recent years, extensive archaeological and laboratory investigations have been conducted at prehistoric sites in southwestern Georgia. The integrated analysis of data obtained through interdisciplinary research has made it possible to develop a clearer understanding of ancient human activities, stone-processing technologies, climatic conditions, mobility patterns, chronology, and other aspects of prehistoric life. Within the assemblage from the Neolithic settlement of Makhvilauri, pottery occupies a prominent place. From a typological perspective, vessel bases are particularly informative, as they clearly preserve traces of use. The present study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the Neolithic ceramic assemblage from Makhvilauri, carried out in laboratories in Georgia and abroad. For this research, two ceramic fragments dated to the 7th-6th millennia BCE were selected. The investigations have made it possible to draw several important preliminary conclusions, which lay the foundation for future research involving a larger number of ceramic samples.
Almgren Group VII, Series I Brooches in Sarmatian Graves of the North-Western Pontic Region*
This study examines two Sarmatian graves from the north-western Pontic region – Holmskoe grave 19 and Hlinaia tumulus 38, grave 2 – in which brooches belonging to the wider Almgren Group VII, Series I horizon were discovered. It argues that both finds belong to the same broad typological field, but do not occupy the same internal position within it: the Hlinaia specimen belongs more clearly to the headknob and external-chord branch, whereas the Holmskoe pair represents the knobless external-chord variant, close to Almgren 193, and is cautiously integrated here into the later Cociș-Bârcă framework as B1a1b1. Questions of origin and circulation provide the broader interpretative background, while the funerary contexts clarify how these brooches acquired meaning in specific graves. For this reason, the article connects typological analysis with funerary context, comparing the deposition of a single brooch with deposition in pairs and highlighting the principal typological frameworks relevant to the interpretation of these finds. The two graves thus show that the bearers of Sarmatian culture in the region actively participated in the interregional circulation and reinterpretation of ornaments within the post-Marcomannic horizon.
A Roman gladius discovered at Noșlac, Alba County
Two years ago, in Noșlac – a locality in the northern part of Alba County – a piece of Roman weaponry was discovered using a metal detector. Based on its typological characteristics, it belongs to a relatively rare type within in Dacia Province. The object falls into the Pompeii type, characterized by the triangular shape of its tip and its two parallel cutting edges. The location of the discovery, now a deciduous forest, lies not far from a Roman settlement. Moreover, the area is well suited for agriculture, and the salt deposit at Ocna Mureș, located a few kilometers away, along with the presence of the Ala I Batavorum fort on the opposite bank of the Mureș River, contributed to dense habitation across a broader area. The relative rarity of pieces of this type required increased attention during the restoration process, which attempted to restore as much of the original shape as possible and stabilize the physical and chemical structure of the metal.
To the anniversary of Professor S.A. Skoryi
This year marks the 75th birthday of the famous Ukrainian archaeologist Serhii Anatoliiovych Skoryi, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Early Iron Age Archaeology Department at the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The scientist was born on December 14, 1949, in the town of Staryi Krym in the family of Anatolii Skoryi and Yevheniia Hordieieva. Since childhood, the boy was interested in various antiquities.
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