The “Dacian” silver hoards from Moesia superior. Transdanubian cultural connections in the iron gates region from Augustus to Trajan

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to discuss some aspects concerning the “Tekija-Bare hoards horizon”: their “Dacian” origin, their significance, and the manner in which this phenomenon emerged after the practice of burying assemblages of silver body ornaments had ceased to the north of the Danube one or two generations earlier. The so-called Tekija-Bare group of hoards originates from the northern Danubian hoards containing silver body ornaments. This is demonstrated by the typology of some silver costume accessories and the tradition of burying them together with silver coins and metal or ceramic vessels. The appearance of these hoards south along the Danube in the second half of the 1st century AD was the result of the revival of some northern Danubian ritual practices. This revival can be ascribed to the “Getae” who were moved to the south of the river by Aelius Catus at the beginning of the 1st century AD and were later known as Moesi, according to Strabo (VII.3.10). The displacement of a large number of people, including entire communities, resulted in the transfer of a number of ritual practices and beliefs from one territory to another. However, these were transformed and adapted according to the new social conditions from Roman Moesia.

Keywords

• silver hoards
• moesia
• dacia
• tekija-bare hoards horizon
• iron gates region
• late iron age