BURIALS AS IDENTITY STATEMENTS. SOME REMARKS ABOUT NORTH-THRACIAN FU NERARY PHENOMENON in the 4Th-3Rd CENTURIES BC
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Sîrbu Valeriu (Brăila), Duţescu Magdalena, Ştefan Dan (Bucharest) BURIALS AS IDENTITY STATEMENTS. SOME REMARKS ABOUT NORTHTHRACIAN FU NERARY PHENOMENON IN THE 4th3rd CENTURIES BC Introduction the burials (the mound burials especially) as Due to their inventory, on may consider the amazing archaeological resources capable to burials from Agighiol, Peretu and Mogilanskata reveal facts about the identity of the dead and Mogila - Vratsa as some of the most spectacular the people who buried them. Thus, the analy- examples within the Thracian area. We believe sis will start with the presentation of three par- though, that their individualizing features, as for ticular cases, the graves from Agighiol-Tulcea example, the variety of the funerary furnishing (Andrieşescu, 1934; Berciu, 1969a-b; 1969b), and a complementary lack of complex funerary Peretu-Teleorman (Moscalu, 1986: 59-70; 1989: architecture, may be understood in a larger phe- 129-190, pl. 41-64), Mogilanskata Mogila – nomenological context dated in the second half Vratsa (Torbov, 2005; Theodossiev, 2000: 144- of the 4th century BC and in the first half of the 147; Venedikov, Gerasimov, 1979), as archaeo- next, in the northern periphery of the Thracian logical contexts1. We will take into account the territory. In this study, the authors plan to in- following criteria: a) localization, b) funerary terpret these archaeological contexts as identity architecture, c) inventory composition (in statements of individuals or social groups and to terms of diversity, quality and item’s associa- decode the particular conditions, which triggered tion) and d) artifacts’ iconography as symbols authority and prestige manifestations in similar of sacred and prestige. Because the mentioned expressions on large spaces. In this way, the study graves were published in detail, we are going will particularly include the discoveries from Cu- to mention only several of their main charac- cuteni-Gosan and Băiceni-Laiu as necessary el- teristics, necessary in our argumentation. Fur- ements in the description of the North-Thracian ther, a statistic study will describe the funerary cultural space. context to which these burials belong, in order to evaluate their amount of distinctiveness and Methods of analysis originality. Finally, the authors will integrate Considering the material culture as more the results of the archaeological and statisti- than the result of human interaction with the cal analyses in an attempt to interpret the so- environment, but agent of significances and cial and cultural significances of the observed instrument for communication, we will regard phenomena. 1 Unfortunately, all the three funerary complexes were deranged by modern, unauthorized interventions, finally representing the object of rescue excavations. This is the reason why certain details regarding associated rituals will not be fully explainable. We refer here to Agighiol and Tombs no. 2 and no. 3 from Vratsa – Mogilanskata Mogila, cases for which there can be expressed doubts concerning the associations between deposited funerary inventory items of «masculine» and «feminine» type and the identity of the buried individuals. 427 Эпоха раннего железа Сборник научных трудов Burials as archaeological contexts and ceramic vessels – recipients for liquids, oils In Agighiol – Movila lui Uţă, under the and food offerings (Thassos amphora, Attic ce- same embankment (Diameter = 32 m), there ramic4 with red figures) (Fig. 08). were identified, in 1931, two different architec- In the case of Peretu grave, the funerary tural unities with different entrances (Fig. 05). setting up was entirely modest (Fig. 06). The In the centre of the mound there was found a 30 m in diameter mound was erected in suc- tomb, built out of polished stone blocks, com- cessive soil layers. It covered up a previously posed from two rectangular chambers (3 x 3 m burnt area (approximately 6 m in diameter) and 3 x 1,80 m) and a dromos built out of ashlars, on the ancient soil level, burnt area above orientated towards west (2,40 x 0,80 m), tomb in which they deposited the buried dead and which deranged human bones were discovered2. some bones (long bones and head) of a horse. Another separate chamber was built towards There were some personal items around the east from the main tomb. It was rectangular dead individual, scattered on the burnt area: shaped (2, 60 x 2, 40 m), built out of ashlars and a spearhead, a knife, both bended, a buckle. had a dromos opened towards east. It contained A pit dug in the burnt soil contained the me- three complete horse skeletons, discovered in tallic remains of a funerary cart. In Peretu correct anatomical order. Because the bones of mound, the dead individual was accompanied one horse contained several bronze arrowheads by three hounds, deposited complete, two side and more such artifacts were scattered inside by side in the northern part of the mound, at the room, we may presume that the horses were 5 m distance from the dead, and a third one, killed on the spot. They were decorated with at 5,5 m southeast of him, together with bones lavish harness, containing more than 30 items, from a different animal. Local ceramic frag- crafted in silver, gold and bronze, some orna- ments were also discovered, among which we mented with zoomorphic motifs. The harness mention half of a hand-made mug deposited items were found in their functional position. in the nearby of one of the dogs’ heads with The gear contained 8 frontal pieces (seven bears the other half of the mug found near the tail and a wild cat with a rabbit head in its’ claws), of another dog (the case of the two dogs de - 7 appliqués with two or three arms decorated posited in the northern side of the mound). with zoomorphic representations (five horses in At 7,5 m northeast of the buried human, in a whirlpool, two sited deer) and 6 round, undeco- level with 40 cm above the level on which the rated silver appliqués; 3 bits (two iron ones and a dead laid, the excavator found the rest of the silver bit), various rings and chain links. The fu- funerary furniture, deposited inside a bronze nerary furniture3 contained the following cere- container and covered with a bronze tray. This monial items: weapons (100 bronze arrowheads, treasure included: harness gear (bridle, frontal several spear heads), armor (helmet, two greaves, head piece, 30 whirlpool appliqués with two, all three items crafted in silver with gilded parts three or four horse heads, 19 simple appliqués, and decorated with specific motifs), symposium round shaped, all these crafted in silver), cere- vessels (five phialae, two decorated goblets, all monial equipment (armor – silver helmet and crafted in silver), adornments (a necklace made symposium vessels – three phialae, a strainer, of silver beads, glass beads, two silver pendants) an aryballos, a tube, all crafted in silver) and 2 Since the tomb was badly deranged, without doubts in 1931 and very probable even from ancient times, and no anthropological analyses were made, the number and gender of the deceased individuals represent an un- solved issue. Because Berciu (1969a: 36-37) found deranged bones in both rooms of the tomb, he interpreted this situation as the result of the deposition of two distinct individuals. 3 Only few funerary items were discovered in situ (the harness gear) and almost sure, the artifacts published by Berciu in 1969 do not represent the totality of the original inventory. Some think that the goblet from the Metropolitan Museum and the Detroit helmet were initially looted in 1931 from Agighiol tomb (Taylor, 1982: 55; Berciu, 1969a: 90). 4 Considering the ceramic with red figures, Berciu (1969a: 76, note 22) dated Agighiol around 400 BC. Alex- andrescu (1971: 660-662) proposed a more reliable chronology using analogies with the Otchёt group (Beaz- ley, 1963: 1496-1499), datable between 370-340 BC; then in 1983 he found more similarities with the Fat Boy 428 Painter (Beazley, 1963: 1484-1495), datable at 350 BC. Sîrbu V., Duţescu M., Ştefan D. Burials as identity statements. Some remarks about North-Thracian ... also a silver bead necklace (Moscalu 1986, p. its left shoulder, was a silver greave with gilded 59-70; 1989, p. 129-190, pl. 41-64) (Fig. 09). ornaments, a bronze Chalkidic type helmet in A very special case is the Mogilanskata the nearby of its feet, two iron knives, an iron Mound from the town of Vratsa (Torbov, 2005; scabbard, 88 bronze arrowheads. Further away, Theodossiev, 2000: 144-147) built probably, the excavator found two distinct groups of sym- along a 50 or 70 years period. This mound devel- posium vessels made of bronze, silver and gold: oped around a first nucleus, dated in the second four phialae, two situlae, hydria, oenochoe, jugs, quarter – the middle of the 4th century BC. Lat- rhyton, candelabrum, podanipter. The dead indi- er, during two different, successive moments, vidual5 had it left hand rose, holding a bronze the mound was completed with distinct funer- mirror. Around its skull, there were scattered ary structures (chambers built from ashlars and more than 50 clay miniature figurines. In the wood), the covering embankment being in eve- last quarter of the 4th century BC, another tomb ry case rebuilt and enlarged. Finally, the entire was added. This one was a two-chamber struc- structure was surrounded with stonewall built ture, built of ashlars and wood beams, with rec- in steps, resembling a possible dynastic mau- tangular, oblong shape. Inside it, two persons soleum (Fig. 07B). Tomb no. 1 was built from were buried, each one with its own funerary ashlars, like a primitive structure resembling furniture. One of them had adornments, dress the shape of a tholos with nartex (Fig. 07A), cov- accessories, ceramic recipients, and the other ering a dismembered skeleton of an individual, one, weapons, symposium vessels, clay figurines, together with two dogs and local ceramic vessels Greek imported ceramic, dress accessories and and fragments from a Greek skyphos.