The Glina-type flanged axes revisited

Abstract

The Glina-type flanged axes were acknowledged as such in 1975 by Alexandru Vulpe. Seventeen artefacts of this type exist up to the present moment, distributed in south-eastern Transylvania and south of the Carpathians, mainly in the Olt and Argeș basins. The finds here suggest the presence of several typological variants, while their inclusion in one main type is indicated by their general aspect and proportions. All are cast in closed bivalve moulds with the metal poured through the butt. Some were subjected to compositional analyses, such as the axe from Râșnov (cat. no. 14) with 5% Sn. In the case of two artefacts, the conditions of discovery are unknown, three are isolated finds, two are part of a hoard alongside a shaft-hole axe, and the remaining nine originate from various occupation contexts. Geographically-wise, two finds from south-eastern Transylvania come from Schneckenberg or Jigodin-type contexts and seven artefacts recovered south of the Carpathians originate from Glina-type settlements. We may thus conclude that the Glina-type flanged axes represent a consistent group, well individualised in time and space. They constitute one of the arguments (alongside the Dumbrăvioara-type shaft-hole axes, the Runcuri-type pottery etc.) for the very close links between the Glina-type communities and those on the Upper Olt Basin, within a chronological horizon dated, most probably, between 2700 and 2500 BC.

Keywords

• early bronze age
• lower danube area
• flanged axe blades
• glina culture
• chronology