The hoard from the Stroentsy fortified settlement on the left bank of the Middle Dniester

Abstract

In 2018, an Early Iron Age hoard was discovered in the expanse of fortified settlement near Stroentsy in Rybnitsa district. The hoard consisted of at least eight objects of bronze and silver, with personal ornaments (three bracelets, paired earrings, and a finger ring) and costume accessories (two fibulae and a chain) included. Apparently, the objects were placed in a vessel modeled by hand or in the bottom part of this. As the earliest objects, the early La Tene fibulae should be distinguished which are dated within the time range from the last third of the 4th century until the first half of the 3rd century BCE. However, the deposition time of the hoard should be attributed to the third quarter of the 3rd century BCE based on the dating of the latest items, namely a chain and a finger ring. It is impossible to establish who deposited the hoard. Nevertheless, the items discovered clearly combine the jewelry traditions of the Thracian, Scythian and La Tene Cultures.

Keywords

• early iron age
• middle dniester region
• stroentsy fortified settlement
• hoard
• thracians
• scythians
• la ten culture
• adornments
• costume accessories
• the 4th — the 2nd centuries bce