marți, 11 mai 2010

Unpublished findings belonging to Early Bronze in Buzau Valley



Unpublished findings belonging to Early Bronze in Buzau Valley


Daniel Costache


în vol. The Thracians and their Neighbours in Antiquity, Brăila, 2010


Tags: Monteoru culture, Schneckenberg culture, Valea Viei, Early Bronze Age

We present in this material a specific lot of pottery belonging to the Early Bronze Age discovered in Buzau Valley and brought in Buzau County Museum collections in 1973. The lot was acquired by Vasile Drâmbocianu from Valeriu Avram, history teacher at Pătârlagele High School, Buzau County. Ceramic fragments were found at Vârful Stânii/Dealul Stânii, a plateau at the southern – eastern boundary of the Valea Viei village in Buzau County. In the summer of 1987 at this point there were archaeological research which allowed the identification of pottery painted fragments attributed to Cucuteni B culture (Buzdugan 1992, p. 37) and pottery fragments belonging to Early Bronze Age.

      The lot consists of 26 ceramic fragments. 9 of them are fragments from rims, 2 handles from wich one is fragmentary, 15 are fragments from the walls of vessels (Fig.4) . There were identified 11 types of pottery, only 12 of the pottery fragments is typical, the other fragments are from different, unidentified pottery. Because all ceramic fragments show evidence that they were run down we can assume that they drained from the high plateau to the base from which they were gathered.
      Ceramic paste. Pottery fragments made of intermediary ceramic paste have been discovered, well mixed, most with crushed limestone in composition, thus giving the appearance of „Crushed Shells”, there were 4 fragments also discovered from three pottery made of good paste, very well mixed with sand in composition (Fig. 5). Along with crushed limestone it has been noticed the use of small pebbles. We also note the lack of crushed fragments in paste composition. Regarding the color of pottery fragments, it has been noticed that it prevails brick color - yellow on the outside and dark with grey spots on the inside, many of them being burned incompletely.
      Use of crushed limestone in the composition of the paste is a feature of pottery belonging to the Early Bronze Age from Sub-Carphatien Arche, this phenomenon being noticed in Năeni (Motzoi – Chicideanu, Şandor – Chicideanu 1999, p. 59 - 97) and Pietroasa Mică – Gruiu Dării .
      Decoration techniques and decorative motifs. Predominant decoration techniques is the incision (46%), followed by the application (43%) and alveolar (11%). Predominant motif is the applied belt, placed horizontally with alveolar and incised, parallel lines, also arranged horizontally. 24 of the 26 pottery fragments are decorated, in most cases combined techniques and decorative motifs are used which adds needle, added in ordered, horizontal series and oblique deep cuts. For a better illustration of this situation, we present some ceramic fragments that could not be attributed to specific ceramic forms. Two fragments of rim made of intermediary paste, well mixed, one decorated with two incised lines parallel, horizontally, having on the line of rim and above them a row of needle and one with two parallel horizontally lines at the bottom. Another fragment from a pottery rim, made of intermediary paste, well mixed, is decorated with a belt applied immediately below the rim, with needle. Another fragment of a rim is made of intermediary paste, decorated with a belt applied immediately below the rim, bordered from one line incised on the upper and lower. Another fragment of a rim, made of the same type of paste, is decorated with applied belt just below the rim, with one incised line above it and a line of notches above it. Among other pottery fragments there was one piece of good paste, with sand in composition, slightly arched, light gray, decorated with incised lines registers, horizontal and vertical, of which some arches and a "button" applied in their center.
      Type of pottery. It has been identified the next types of pottery: jars with splayed rim, a cup with handles slightly raised, drawn from the rim, bitronconic jars, globular jars slightly elongated (probably a so-called pot-bag), a jar with high neck and a large supplies vessel. Two fragments from the rim are from a bowl with splayed rim and slightly outside flap, made from intermediary ceramic paste, with pebbles in composition, color brick - yellow on the outside and gray on the inside, burned incompletely as can be seen in the gap, decorated with an applied belt, with alveolar and an incised line above it. Another piece of the rim comes from another vessel with splayed rim made from intermediary ceramic paste, well mixed, with stones and crushed shells in composition, brick color - yellow on the outside and gray on the inside, burned incompletely, decorated with an applied belt, with alveolar and an incised line above it. Two pottery fragments are from a bitronconic jar, made of good paste, with sand in composition, the color is dark with brick spots on the outside, black on the inside, decorated with fine, parallel, horizontally grooves at the top, it is possible that the surface has been polished. Another ceramic fragment from a bitronconic jar, made of good paste, well mixed, has a dark color with brick spots on the outside and black on the inside, decorated with an applied belt on the maximum line diameter, with oblique cuts on it. Another ceramic fragment comes from a globular jar, made of intermediary paste, well mixed, with crushed shells in composition, color gray, decorated with applied belt at the top, with finger impressions made in soft paste. A neck fragment probably comes from a vessel with high neck, truncated cone, made of intermediary ceramic paste, well mixed, colored brick, decorated with applied belt with oblique cuts on it, just under rim. Another fragment probably comes from a bag - jar, made of intermediary ceramic paste, well mixed, colored bricks on the outside and gray on the inside, burned incompletely, decorated with an applied belt located at the top, with impressions on it. A handle with a fragment of rim came from a cup with two staged handles branching out from the rim, made of intermediary ceramic paste, well mixed, colored bricks, without decoration. Another fragment of rim is a part of a vessel with splayed rim, made of intermediary ceramic paste, well mixed, colored black, with polish on the outside, decorated with two parallel lines, in relief, applied horizontally, and above them at the bottom of the rim was made a series of deep incisions. The last mug is a bitronconic one, from which was kept a piece of corpus, made of intermediary ceramic paste, well mixed, colored brick, decorated with a belt affixed to the maximum line diameter, with oblique notches on it.
      Cultural classification. All 26 ceramic fragments belong to the Early Bronze Age. Similar findings were made in many other locations in Buzău River valley, like Târcov – Vârful Dâlma (Andreescu 1992, p. 44 - 45), Sibiciu de Sus (Buzdugan, Trohani, 1992, p. 39 - 43) şi Mlăjet (Matei 2005, p. 17 - 23). These descoveries situates Valea Viei – Vârful Stânii/Dealul Stânii as the most northen point from the middle course of Buzau river where were found materials belonging to the Early Bronze Age (MIc4-2) in association with Eneolithic materials (Cucuteni B) (Fig. 1).
      On the current territory of Buzau county, Sub-Carpathein Arche and high hills were made discoveries belonging of phase Ic4-2 of culture Monteoru, at Năeni – Colarea (Vulpe, Drâmbocianu, 1981, p. 172, fig. 3), Pietroasa Mică – Gruiu Dării and Sărata Monteoru (Zaharia 1968, p. 17 - 44) (Fig. 2). Because such findings have generated a number of specific studies, we will present a brief picture on them. Initially Alexandru Vulpe (Vulpe, Drâmbocianu 1981, p. 171 – 186) considered such findings as belonging to the aspect Năeni– Sneckenberg or Năeni, aspect situated in the Early Bronze Age, with a limited distribution area of the southern and northern slopes of the Buzau and Prahova mountains (Vulpe, Drâmbocianu, 1981, p. 183 – 184). The author has relied on formulating this theory exclusively on findings from Năeni - Colarea, Buzau county. Assigned to the same cultural aspect are the discoveries from Târcov (Andreescu 1992, p. 45). Later Alexandru Vulpe presented new considerations on the initial theory and having a new series of discoveries, considered that aspect Năeni or Năeni - Schnekenberg is actually Ic4-2 phase of culture Monteoru, as it was defined on the basis of findings from Sărata Monteoru – Cetăţuia (Zaharia 1987, p. 21 - 49). In fact techniques and decorative motifs found on pottery fragments from the settlement of Sărata Monteoru (Zaharia 1987, p. 36) are found in the fragments of pottery group described in this article.Eugenia Zaharia and Ion Motzoi – Chicideanu attributed this findings to Monteoru culture, ceramic style/phase Ic4-2 (3000 – 2500 B.C.) (Motzoi – Chicideanu 2003, p. 49), presence of Schnekenberg B pottery being attributed to contacts between the two cultural areas. Research in recent years of Pietroasa Mică - Gruiu Darii allowed identification in this area of fragments of pottery belonging to the Early Bronze Age, phase Ic4-2 of Monteoru culture. Combining elements of MIc4 and Cucuteni B was surprised on the present territory of Buzau County in other cases too. At Sărata Monteoru - Cetăţuia, MIc4 level-1 overlaps with a pottery level Cucuteni B (Zaharia 1968, p. 27), at Berca a fierplace was identified belonging to Bronze Age, ceramic style MIc4-3, arranged on a bed of Cucuteni pottery fragments (Motzoi – Chicideanu 2003, p. 41, nota 29), at Aldeni - Muchia Vulturului, the Cucuteni B level is overlaid by a dwelling belonging to the Bronze Age, Monteoru culture, ceramic style Ic4 (Ştefan 1938, p. 143, fig. 4/1 – 3, 6 – 8; fig. 5/ 3 – 5, 7, 8), at Pietroasa Mică - Gruiu Dării, the level of the Early Bronze represented by phase MIc4-2 overlaps another level characterized by Cucuteni B and Cernavoda I pottery fragments.
      Other findings. Together with fragments of pottery were discovered a rectangular piece of bone, with three partial perforations and traces of filing on one of the sides and at extremities. The perforation was not completed and on the other side it has traces of friction with a hard object, probably sandstone. We do not know how much the artifact can be attributed to the Bronze Age.



Abstract

      Article wants to introduce into scientific circulation of a lot of pottery fragments from Buzău River valley, village Valea Viei – Vârful Stânii/Dealul Stânii. These pottery fragments belong to Buzău County Museum collection from 1973, being brought by Professor Valeriu Avram, after a visit in the area with the students of Pătârlagele High School.
      Pottery fragments belong to Early Bronze Age , phase Ic4-2 of Monteoru culture. Archaeological research from Valea Viei – Vârful Stânii/Dealul Stânii in summer of 1987 allowed the discovery, along with fragments of pottery belonging to the Early Bronze Age, some Neolithic pottery fragments from culture Cucuteni B. The importance of this discovery is that until now Valea Viei is the most northern point of the Subcarpatian Arch where there were discovered artifacts belonging to Early Bronze Age, respectively MIc4-2 associated with Neolithic artifacts from culture Cucuteni B. This association exists in the present territory of the Buzau County in SarataMonteoru, Berca, Aldeni, Năeni - Colarea and Pietroasa Mica - Gruiu Dării.
      Only 12 of the 26 fragments could be identified. They are part of jars with splayed rim, a cup with handles slightly raised, drawn from the rim, bitronconic jars, globular jars slightly elongated (probably a so-called pot-bag), a jar with high neck and a large supplies vessel. Buzau valleys were discovered artifacts from Târcov - Vârful Dâlma, Sibiciu de Sus - Dealul Burduşoaia and Mlăjet.

Rezumat

      Materialul de faţă îşi propune introducerea în circuitul ştiinţific a unui lot de fragmente ceramice provenite de pe valea râului Buzău, din satul Valea Viei – Vârful Stânii/Dealul Stânii. Aceste fragmente ceramice au intrat în colecţiile Muzeului Judeţean Buzău în anul 1973, fiind predate de către profesorul Valeriu Avram, după o vizită întreprinsă cu elevii Liceului Teoretic din Pătârlagele în zonă.
      Fragmentele ceramice aparţin bronzului timpuriu, respectiv etapei Ic4-2 a culturii Monteoru. Cercetările arheologice întreprinse în punctul Valea Viei – Vârful Stânii/Dealul Stânii în vara anului 1987 au permis descoperirea, alături de fragmente ceramice aparţinând epocii bronzului timpuriu şi a unor fragmente ceramice aparţinând locuirii eneolitice de tip Cucuteni B. Importanţa acestei descoperiri rezidă din aceea că până în prezent Valea Viei devine cel mai nordic punct din zona Subcarpaţilor de Curbură unde au fost descoperite elemente aparţinând bronzului timpuriu, respectiv MIc4-2 asociate cu elemente eneolitice de tip Cucuteni B. Această asociere a mai fost surprinsă pe actualul teritoriu al judeţului Buzău la Sărata Monteoru, Berca, Aldeni, Năeni - Colarea şi Pietroasa Mică – Gruiu Dării.
      Din lotul de 26 de fragmente ceramice doar 12 au putut fi determinate tipologic. Formele ceramice identificate sunt reprezentate de vase cu gura evazată, o ceaşcă cu toarte uşor supraînălţate, trase din buză, vase cu corpul bitronconic, vase cu corpul globular (probabil un aşa-numit „vas-sac”), un vas cu gâtul înalt precum şi un vas de provizii de mari dimensiuni. Pe valea Buzăului descoperiri de materiale MIc4-2 au mai fost efectuate la Târcov – Vârful Dâlma, Sibiciu de Sus – Dealul Burduşoaia şi Mlăjet.

Bibliography:
Andreescu, R. 1992. Sondajul arheologic efectuat la Târcov – Vârful Dâlma, jud. Buzău, Cercetări Arheologice, 9, p. 44-45.
Buzdugan, C. 1992. Cercetările arheologice de la Valea Viei (judeţul Buzău), Cercetări Arheologice, 9, p. 35-38.
Buzdugan, C., Trohani, G. 1992. Cercetările arheologice de la Sibiciu de Sus – judeţul Buzău, Cercetări Arheologice, 9, p. 39-43.
Cronica Cercetărilor Arheologice. Campania 2008. Pietroasa Mică – Gruiu Dării.
Matei, S. 2005 Un mormânt în cistă descoperit la Mlăjet, jud. Buzău, Mousaios, X, p. 17-23.
Motzoi – Chicideanu, I. 2003. Câteva observaţii asupra culturii Monteoru, Mousaios, VIII, p. 37-59.
Motzoi – Chicideanu, I., Şandor – Chicideanu, M. 1999. Cercetările arheologice de la Năeni – Zănoaga (jud. Buzău). Campaniile 1982 – 1986, 1988 – 1993 şi 1996, Materiale şi Cercetări Arheologice, I, p. 59-97.
Vulpe, A., Drâmbocianu, V., 1981. Cercetări arheologice în raza comunei Năeni (Buzău), Studii şi Cercetări de Istorie Veche şi Arheologie, 32, 2, p. 171-193.
Zaharia, E. 1968. Sur la période de transition de néolithique a l'âge du bronze dans l'aire des civilisations de Cucuteni et de Gumelnita, Dacia, 12, p. 17-44.
Zaharia, E. 1987. La culture Monteoru. L’etape des debuts a la lumiere des fouilles de Sărata Monteoru, Dacia, Nouvelle Serie, 1-2, p. 21-49.
Ştefan, Gh. 1938. Fouilles de Băeşti-Aldeni (dép. de Buzău), Dacia, 5-6, p. 139 – 149.

Illustration list:
Fig. 1. Localization of village Valea Viei, Buzău County.
Fig. 2 1. Localization of discoveries from Early Bronze Age, phase MIc4-2, on the Buzau river Valley. 2 – 18. Pottery fragments discovered at Târcov – Vârful Dâlma (apud Andreescu, 1992, Pl. 1 - 3).
Fig. 3 1. Localization of settlements where were discovered pottery from Early Bronze Age, phase MIc4-2, in Buzau County. 2 – 4. Pottery fragments discovered at Sărata Monteoru (apud Zaharia, 1987, fig. 6/1,3,5). 5 – 6. Pottery fragments discovered at Mlăjet (apud Matei, 2005, Pl. I/4,5).
Fig. 4. 1. Statistics with pottery fragments from Valea Viei, Buzău County.
Fig. 5. 1 – 10. Pottery fragments discovered at Valea Viei, Buzău County.
Fig. 6. 1 – 10. Pottery fragments discovered at Valea Viei, Buzău County.
Fig. 7. 1 – 6. Pottery fragments discovered at Valea Viei, Buzău County.7. Bone piece discovered at Valea Viei, Buzău County.
















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