Peuce (Nov 2014)
Isaccea–Noviodunum. Artefacte din materii dure animale descoperite în 2012 şi 2013
Abstract
The archaeological researches carried out in 2013 in various sectors of Isaccea-Noviodunum, Tulcea County (NOV) made possible the recovery of an assemblage comprising osseous material artefacts. Their study continues the systematic analysis started in 2013 for this type of pieces found at Noviodunum. Such artefacts already form here a rich collection, gathered during the past six decades of archaeological excavations. Two pieces discovered in 2012 were added to those from 2013. The dispersion of discoveries in various sectors of the site does not allow us to formulate detailed conclusions. We should take into consideration, however, the existence of some workshops where osseous material artefacts (especially those made of red deer antler) were produced during the Middle Ages (13th –14th centuries). These pieces were probably used in composite artefacts, such as furniture, various objects made of wood, tools, weapons etc. The raw materials discovered in various stages of manufacture (blanks, repaired pieces etc.) are proofs in this respect. This analysis aims at extensively highlighting the last finds and the related primary data. The catalogue offers all the significant data regarding the artefacts, presenting them according to the current methodology of the domain. The illustration includes numerous figures of overviews and macrophotographs, as well as an online set of photographs (https://www.flickr.com/photos/2679 2353@N05 /sets/). In order to achieve the objectives of the study, optical means of observation were used (optical microscope, zoom ×10 – × 40; digital microscope, zoom ×10 – ×400); complete sets of images at various scales were taken (microscopic including), thus initiating an image data base of the artefacts found at Noviodunum. The catalogue includes NOV/2012 and NOV/2013 artefacts, numbered from 1 to 27, classified typologically. Chronological and cultural data related to the studied artefacts were provided by the author of the researches (A.-D. Stănică) and were correlated (whenever possible) with the observations regarding the specificity of the typological and technological aspects. The data are preliminary and may be revised. The main periods of inhabitation of Noviodunum site are dated from the 1st to the 7th century, the 10th to the 11th and the 12th to the 15th century. The analysed artefacts are dated grosso modo to the Roman period (1st – 4th centuries) and the Middle Ages (13th – 14th centuries). Each artefact was studied according to a standard protocol comprising several levels and components with the aim of registering the data in an extensive/exhaustive manner (table 1). Raw materials, status of conservation, typology, morphology, dimensions, manufacture traces, use-wear traces, and functionality were the main aspects taken into account. The standard form includes data regarding the artefact, according to the following structure: Indicative/Code ● Type ● Typological code ● Category (tools, weapons, adornments, raw materials, accessories etc.) ● Holder/Collection ● Inventory number ● Context ● Culture ● Fig. ● Raw material ● Status of conservation (whole, fragmentary, fragment) ● Description (morphology, technical data regarding the manufacture, use-wear traces, presumed functionality etc.) ● Dimensions (mm) ● Bibliography/Unpublished. The typological categories that form the assemblage are presented according to Beldiman 2007 Typological List: Weapons: arrowhead (1); Adornments/Accessories/Game pieces: bone hair pins (2), bone token (1), bone belt (1), pendant made of red deer antler (1), bone sleeve (1), decorated plates made of red deer antler (5), a bone decorated plate (1); Hafts (handles, blanks for handles) (4); Technical pieces: raw materials (red deer antler: tines, fragments of beam) (8); Waste of red deer antler (beam, tines) (2). Two pieces made of red deer antler whose use is unknown were also included in the assemblage; for these, no analogies were identified so far. We should underline the fact that eight pieces were grouped in TA sector and TC 4 section. This could indicate the existence of some workshops dealing with osseous material manufacture (raw materials, blanks, unfinished artefacts): TA Sector – raw materials (NOV/2013_2, 21, 22, 24, 27 pieces); TC 4 Section = blanks and unfinished pieces (NOV/2013_1, 12, 17 pieces). From this point of view, the waste is insignificant (pieces NOV/2013_20 and NOV/2013_26) – table no. 1. Regarding the raw materials, the red deer antler is predominant (21 pieces): 12 are segments of tines, five fragments of beam and four could not be identified. The roe deer antler is also present (one piece), as well as long cattle bones (seven pieces). According to the data made available by the authors of the research as well as according to the data obtained during the typological and technological analysis, the chronology of the artefacts is the following: Roman period (1st –4th century – three pieces: bone hairpins, bone token); the Middle Ages (13th –14th century – 26 pieces). The ways in which the raw materials were processed include simple procedures such as: fracturing, chopping, scraping, abrasion, sawing, but also more complex technological procedures like: perforation, engraving for decorating and finishing the piece etc. Axe, knife and saw were the tools used for this purpose. The manufacture of the artefacts was specialised, which assumes the existence of some workshops within the site or outside it (including trade as possible source). The presence of the eight pieces grouped in the TA sector and TC 4 as well as the blanks, the raw materials and the unfinished pieces illustrate this idea. This preliminary conclusion could be confirmed by the extension of the study of the other artefacts from Noviodunum (old assemblages), including the archaeozoological materials. The analysis of the studied assemblage provides the new typological, technological, cultural and chronological benchmarks for the complex, and extensive approach of the cultural manifestations at Noviodunum during the Roman period and the Middle Ages.
