Books by Postica Gheorghe
Hansca. The early medieval settlement from Lăpușna Codrii
The monograph “Hansca. The early medie... more Hansca. The early medieval settlement from Lăpușna Codrii
The monograph “Hansca. The early medieval settlement from Lăpușna Codrii”, represents the synthesis of the archaeological investigations carried out during 20 research campaigns, during the years 1960-1991, in the early medieval settlement Hansca–“Limbari-Căprăria”, located at a distance of 21 km south -west from Chișinău municipality.
The book consists of two parts: the analytical part, in which are analyzed the medieval vestiges discovered in the Hansca settlement, and the documentary part, in which are presented, systematically, the archaeological complexes and artifacts discovered in the years 1960-1991.
Part I of the work consists of 15 chapters: I. The geographical framework and the archaeological map of the microzone, II. History of archaeological research, III. Generalities regarding the medieval settlement, IV. Chronology of the medieval settlement, V. Characteristic of the medieval settlement, VI. Housing, VII. Auxiliary and production structures, VIII. Archaeological inventory, IX. Farming and auxiliary occupations, X. Crafts and household occupations, XI. Commercial relations, XII. Religious beliefs, XIII. Clothing, leisure, medicine, XIV. Weapons and military equipment, XV. The medieval community of Hansca.
Part II of the work is made up of 7 chapters: I. Archaeological complexes from the 5th-7th centuries, II. Archaeological complexes from the 8th-9th centuries, III. Archaeological complexes from the 10th-11th centuries, IV. Archaeological complexes from the 12th-13th centuries, V. Archaeological complexes from the 14th century, VI. Archaeological complexes from the 15th-16th centuries and VII. Archaeological complexes from the 17th-18th centuries.
The work is accompanied by a preface written by the academician Victor Spinei, an introduction and a conclusion. At the end of the work is the bibliography, 85 statistical tables that reflect the archaeological remains discovered, 109 figures with cartographic and photographic materials relating to the settlement of Hansca and 249 plates with graphic and photographic materials regarding the archaeological complexes and discovered artifacts.
The medieval settlement of Hansca is located on the estate of the village of the same name, in the Ialoveni district, Republic of Moldova (Figures1-8). From a historical point of view, the village of Hansca was part of the former land of Lăpuşna and, respectively, of the region of the Lăpuşna Codrii (forest).
10 archaeological sites were discovered around the village of Hansca: Hansca–„Limbari-Căprăria”, Hansca–„Toloaca”, Hansca–„Lutăria”, Hansca–„La Matcă”, Hansca–„Cetate”, Hansca–„Hârtop”, Hansca–„Sat”, Hansca–„Livada”, Hansca–„Valea Lutăriei” and Hansca–„Dealul Socii” (Figure 26), within which 15 cultural-chronological horizons were delimited, dating from the Eneolithic to the pre-modern era. These sites are located in the valley of the Botnișoara stream, a right tributary of the Botna river, on a stretch of about 3.0 km with a width of 0.6-0.8 km, forming a consecutive row, from the northwest towards southeast.
The famous Hansca–“Limbari-Căprăria” site is located at the northwestern end of this area, 0.2 km northwest of the current village, on both sides of the Botnișoara stream valley, at an altitude of 130-150 m (Figures 9-20). This archaeological site is complex, consisting of 12 levels of habitation, dating from the Bronze Age to the pre-modern period.
The archaeological site occupies an area of about 1000 x 500-600 m, while the medieval settlement within it, depending on the period, ranges in size from 4-6 ha to 15-20 ha (Figures 26-29).
At the Hansca–"Limbari-Căprăria" site, research was carried out during 20 systematic archaeological excavation campaigns, the works being coordinated by Ana I. Meliukova (1960); Ion Hîncu (1964-1977) in the team with Isak Rafalovici (1964-1972), Ion Niculiță (1966-1977), Emanuil Rikman (1968, 1970) and Gheorghe Postică (1976-1977); Ion Niculiță (1979-1981) in the team with Gheorghe Postică (1979-1981); Gheorghe Cebotarenco (1979-1981) in the team with Natalia Golțeva (1980) and Nicolai Telnov (1980-1981); Gheorghe Postică (1990-1991) in the team with Valerii Kavruk (1990-1991) (Figures 21-22).
Within the Hansca site, an area of 23246,46 m2 was investigated, which is about 20% of its total area (Figure 31-34). 717 early medieval archaeological complexes were discovered, including 163 dwellings, 3 workshops, 14 outbuildings, 16 hearths, 51 ovens dug in virgin clay, 14 iron ore reduction furnaces, 250 household pits, a well and 203 graves (Tables 4, 5-a).
The collection of early medieval archaeological material from Hansca includes 1537 inventory items, about 90 complete ceramic vessels, over 75000 ceramic fragments and other materials.
Starting from the systematization of the investigated surfaces, within the Hansca settlement five basic sectors were delimited (North-West, South-West, South, North-East and South-East), these being investigated unevenly, from 4% up to 24% of their total area.
Within the researched sectors, 20 housing groups (No. I-XX) were delimited, two spaces with well-defined necropolises („Căprăria” and „Limbari”), to which is added a housing sector (No. XXI) from the nearby settlement Hansca–„La Matcă” (Figures 35-55).
The cultural layer of the settlement, depending on the researched area, contains archaeological remains from various historical periods, the predominant ones being the early medieval remains from the 5th-14th centuries and of the Getae culture from the 4th-3rd centuries BC. Within the settlement, no clear delimitation of the Getae layer from the medieval layer was found. At the same time, multiple crossings of Getae or prehistoric constructions with early medieval complexes were found. Also, were found multiple intersections or overlays of early medieval constructions from the 5th-7th, 8th-9th, 10th-11th, 12th-13th centuries.
From a cultural-chronological point of view, the medieval archaeological remains discovered in the Hansca settlement are classified into seven groups: 1) remains of the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca type (5th-7th centuries), 2) remains of the Lozna-Dodești type (8th-9th centuries), 3) vestiges of the Dridu type (10th-11th centuries), 4) vestiges of the Răducăneni type (11th-13th centuries, 5) vestiges of the Lozova-Vorniceni type (14th century), 6) vestiges of the Moldavian medieval type (15th-16th centuries) and 7) vestiges of the pre-modern type (17th-18th centuries).
The groups of dwellings delimited in the medieval settlement of Hansca represent compact areas, which gather archaeological complexes from different stages of the Middle Ages - from the 5th-7th centuries to the 12th-14th centuries, and in some cases also from the 15th-16th or 17th-18th centuries. The delimited housing groups are located on both banks of the Botnișoara stream, on the south-west slope 15 groups are documented (no. I-XIII and XXI) and on the north-east – six groups (no. XIV-XX).
The chronology of the medieval settlement at Hansca is established on the basis of the artifacts with an absolute or relative chronological range, evaluated on the basis of analogies within the archaeological sites of the same time period in the area, the neighboring regions of the Carpathian-Dniester space, or more distant, in the Central-Eastern European area.
Artifacts with absolute chronological potential, which historically persisted for a limited time, calculated from a few decades to a century, are represented by coins, various types of fibulae, arrowheads, appliques, pendants or other objects, whose moment of manufacture can be expressed by an absolute date, or whose duration can be expressed in limited chronological intervals.
On the other hand, artifacts with relative chronological potential are represented by various objects with a wide distribution in time, in particular, ceramic fragments, but also inventory pieces with extended chronological intervals, which can include from two to three centuries to six - seven consecutive centuries.
Most of the artifacts discovered in the Hansca settlement, as well as in other sites of the same period, usually have a relative chronological potential, those with absolute chronological potential rather representing exceptions.
However, absolute or quasi-absolute chronological data is also obtained by the method of correlating objects from archaeological contexts, as in the case of closed complexes, which in certain cases contain artifacts with different chronological potential.
The early medieval settlement at Hansca occupies the lower part of the slopes and partly the meadow on both banks of the Botnișoara stream northwest of the current village, at an altitude of 130-150 m, on a stretch of about 1.0 km from northwest to southeast. From the northwest, the medieval settlement was bounded by the „Limbari” plateau, and from the south by the northern slope of the „Căprăria” hill. The sector of the settlement to the left of Botnișoara located at the foot of the „Pidașca” hill and partly in the meadow with a south-west orientation, unlike the sector on the opposite bank of the stream, has a regular smooth valley aspect.
The place of the medieval habitation in Hansca evolved over the centuries from a territorial point of view, in some periods being more extensive, in others more restricted, sometimes quite compact, in other periods relatively rarefied, these realities being ascertained on the basis of the mapping of the archaeological complexes in the 5th-7th, 8th-9th, 10th-11th, 12th-13th, 14th and 15th-16th centuries. At all historical stages, the Hansca settlement was structured in territorial units (nests) composed of dwellings and household annexes, most of which kept the evolutionary thread throughout the Middle Ages.
Starting from the spread area of the archaeological complexes (Figure 56), the surface of the Hansca settlement in the 5th-7th centuries is...
Early medieval settlement from Păhărniceni -"Petruca"
in Codrii Orheiului
The settlement from ... more Early medieval settlement from Păhărniceni -"Petruca"
in Codrii Orheiului
The settlement from Păhărniceni–„Petruca” is located in the central part of the Prut-Dniester area, in the point „Petruca” near Păhărniceni village, Orhei district, Republic of Moldova, at a distance of 40 km North of Chișinău, in the historical-geographical area Codrii Orhei (=The Orhei Forest) (Fig. 1, 2). It has a length of about 800 m on the East-West axis and about 500 m on the South-North axis (Fig. 5-6). It is located on a smooth plateau with northern orientation, at an altitude of 185-190 m, exceeding by about 158-160 m the water level of the river Răut, located 4 km north (Fig. 4-6).
The early medieval settlement from Păhărniceni–„Petruca” is a remarkable example of continuity of an agricultural community for over a thousand years in a small geographical area at the eastern extremity of the Romanian world. Located in the heart of the Orhei Codri, this settlement went through all the known historical stages of the Middle Ages in the Romanian space (Fig. 1, 2). The settlement is one of the few multilayered archeological sites which also has representative houses from most of the known historical epochs in the Carpathian-Dniester area. As a multi-layered archaeological site, the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement has 12 phases, which belong to five major historical periods, including: I. The prehistoric period: a) the Cucuteni-Tripillia culture phase – 5th – 4th millennia BC, b) Multi-cordoned ware culture (Mnogovalikovaya) phase – 22th – 18th centuries BC, c) the phase of the Noua culture – 15th –13th centuries BC; II. Early Bronze Age: a) Chișinău-Corlăteni culture phase – 12th – 10th centuries BC, b) the phase of the Poienești-Lucașeuca culture – end of the 3rd – 1st centuries BC; III. Late Ancient period: the phase of the Sântana de Mureș-Cerneahov culture – 3rd – 4th centuries; IV. Early Medieval Age – a) the phase of the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca culture (5th – 7th centuries), b) the Lozna-Dodești type culture phase (8th – 9th centuries), c) the Dridu culture phase (10th – 11th centuries), d) the Brănești type culture phase (12th – 13th centuries) and e) Lozova-Vorniceni type culture phase (first half of the 14th century) and V. Late Middle Ages: the phase of the Moldavian medieval culture (15th – 16th centuries). The medieval habitat within the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement compared to other historical periods is the most representative, summing up over 78.0% of the total identified archaeological materials.
The Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement was discovered in 1957. After a control survey from 1958 (P. Bârnea), the settlement had been studied through systematic archaeological excavations in 1961-1963 – on an area of 376 m2 (I. Hîncu) and in 1988 – on a surface of 860 m2 (Gh. Postică and V. Kavruk). The cultural layer of the settlement has a thickness varying from 0.80-1.10 m to 1.20-1.40 m. Compared to other sites of the same period in the eastern Carpathian area, the early medieval settlement from Păhărniceni is notable for the intensity of the archaeological material. Within the site, on an area of 1236 m2 were discovered: 28 constructions (dwellings, outbuildings, autonomous fire constructions, metallurgical installations, ditches from fencing, household pits) (Tab. 2), 27351 fragments of medieval pottery (Tab. 3-23), 242 pieces of inventory (Tab. 25), 636 pieces of iron ore (= 51.1 kg), 1331 pieces of iron slag (= 149.2 kg), 1427 pieces of burnt clay, 359 fragments of burnt clay trays, 92 fragments of burnt clay nozzles from metallurgical furnaces (Tab. 24) and 5506 animal bones (Tab. 26).
The analysis of the archeological material, denotes a predominance of the vestiges from the 10th – 14th centuries – 21760 ceramic fragments (79.6% of the total number of medieval ceramics), followed by the period of the 5th – 9th centuries – 3519 fragments (12.9%) and the 15th – 16th centuries – 2072 fragments (7.5%).
Within the medieval settlement from Păhărniceni, there are six phases of inhabitation, which correspond to the cultural aspects of the Prut-Dniester area: a) the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca type phase (5th – 7th centuries), b) the Lozna-Dodești type (8th – 9th centuries), c) the Dridu type (9th – 11th centuries), d) the Brănești type (12th – 13th centuries), e) the Lozova-Vorniceni type (14th century) and f) the Moldavian medieval type (15th – 16th centuries).
In the settlement were discovered 13 medieval houses, including 3 – from the 5th – 7th centuries, 5 – from the 8th – 9th centuries and another 5 – from the 10th – 13th centuries. Among them, there are two categories of dwellings: a) terrestrial, represented by a construction from the 5th – 7th centuries (no. 26) and b) deep, represented by 12 constructions (Fig. 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 24, 28, 36), including, 2 from the 5th – 7th centuries (no. 32, no. 44), 5 from the 8th – 9th centuries (no. 1-B, no. 1-C, no. 4, no. 25, no. 33) and another 5 from the 10 – 13th centuries (no. 1-A, no. 2, no. 3, no. 30, no. 31). The houses are divided into two types by their building method: a) houses with overlapping beam structure (“Blockbautechnik” type) - documented in 7 cases: no. 44 (5th – 7th centuries), no. 1-B, no. 1-C, no. 25, no. 33 (8th – 9th centuries) and no. 1-A, no. 2 (10th – 13th centuries) and b) dwellings with a structure built on pillars – documented in 5 cases: no. 32 (5th – 7th centuries), no. 4 (8th – 9th centuries) and no. 3, no. 30 and no. 31 (11th – 14th centuries). The fire constructions in the houses include 18 installations, represented by stone ovens (11 constructions), clay ovens (one construction) and open hearths (6 constructions).
The discovered auxiliary and production constructions are represented by 13 complexes, including an outbuilding from the 8th – 9th centuries (no. 39-A), 5 household pits – from the 8th –9th centuries (no. 1, no. 43) and the 10th – 14th centuries (no. 4, no. 38, no. 35), a stone oven from the 10th – 12th centuries (no. 1), 3 hearths of fruit drying from the 10th – 13th centuries (no. 1, no. 27, no. 34), 3 furnaces for reducing iron ore from the 10th – 12th centuries (no. 1, no. 2, no. 29) and an ore enrichment furnace from the 10th – 12th centuries (no. 1).
Paleobotanic analyzes showed that in the early medieval period in the settlement of Păhărniceni, soft wheat, rye, barley, oats and millet corn were grown. At the same time, archaeozoological analyzes showed the following composition of the herd of domestic animals in the early medieval period: cattle – 41.5%, ovicaprine – 19.1%, pig – 24.5% and horse – 14.9%.
Out of a total of 242 pieces of inventory, 212 pieces represent household tools (household tools – 68 pieces, textile tools – 87 pieces, leather tools - one piece, agricultural tools – 4 pieces, metallurgy and blacksmith tools – 28 pieces, tools for construction works – 6 pieces), 1 piece of clothing, 20 ornaments, 6 pieces of worship and 3 pieces of armament. Among them are 2 pieces made of silver, 5 of bronze, 6 of copper, 78 of iron, 1 of lead, 5 of glass, 14 of shale, 3 of sandstone, 93 of burnt clay, 30 of bone and 5 of ceramics. Most of the listed objects date from the 10th – 14th centuries – 223 units, followed by the 8th – 9th centuries – 15 pieces and the 5th – 7th centuries – 4 pieces. Among the most common are the following pieces: 49 iron knives, 80 clay / shale / ceramic spindles, 19 bone awls, clay nozzles from metallurgical furnaces, 6 beads of bass or burnt clay, 4 bronze / glass bracelets, 3 bone amulets, 3 iron arrows and 2 bronze pendants.
The Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement is organically part of the territorial group of early medieval settlements in the historical-geographical region of Codrii Orheiului. This territorial group includes 41 archeological sites, which in proportion of 80% have structures made up of 2-4 levels of early medieval habitation, the settlements with a single cultural horizon being rare (Fig. 2, Tab. 27). This group of settlements are located in the lower part of the Răut river basin, occupying an area of about 40x40 km. Within this group of settlements, the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” location occupies the central place. Through a complex multi-layered structure, the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement presents itself as a unique archaeological phenomenon, a model of early medieval habitation in the Codrii Orheiului area, which at the same time has a special historical and cultural significance for the entire Romanian space.
THE EARLY MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATION IN THE PRUT-NISTRU SPACE (5TH-13TH CENTURIES) (v.: Summary the e... more THE EARLY MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATION IN THE PRUT-NISTRU SPACE (5TH-13TH CENTURIES) (v.: Summary the end of the monograph)
This monograph represents a synthesis focused on the early medieval civilization from the Prut-Nistru region, elaborated with the aim to determine the ethno-cultural fond of this civilization, to elucidate its main characteristics, to highlight the elements of continuity and discontinuity, to establish the form of social-political organization, the relations between this and alien civilizations.
The geographical framework analyzed in the book is the space between the rivers Nistru and Prut, stretching from the Black Sea and the delta of Danube up to the north of Bucovina. The choice of Prut-Nistru space is motivated by research considerations so as to restore the picture of social evolution at a certain historical stage.
From geographical viewpoint the Prut-Nistru space is divided in three main areas: north, center and south. The northern zone begins with the territories from the north of Bucovina and stretches down to the limit Făleşti-Bălţi-Soroca; the central zone – comprises the territories lying south of Bălţi until the limit Leova-Cimişlia-Căuşeni-Bender, and the southern zone includes the territories between the later limit and Lower Danube.
The chronological framework of the book corresponds to the early medieval period which, in the case of Prut-Nistru region, is dated traditionally with the 5th-13th centuries. In certain cases, the upper chronological limit of the monograph was extended to the middle of the 15th century hence taking into account the complexity of archaeological realities, especially those referring to the nomads from the last period of the early medieval period.
The work is structured in Introduction, I. Sources and historiography, II. Demographic framework, III. Habitat, IV. Economy, V. Spirituality, VI. Social-political and military organization of the autochthons, VII. Relations with migration peoples and the neighboring countries and Conclusion. Bibliography; Statistical tables (31); Diagrams (75); Maps (48), as well as Repertory of settlements, necropolises, barrows complexes and monetary discoveries are annexed to the main text.
We conclude at the end of the study that in the Prut-Nistru space in the early medieval period developed a complex civilization which generally corresponds to the level of development characteristic to the central and eastern European regions. This civilization had a strong ethno-cultural autochthonous fond at its basis, infused to a certain degree with alien influences.
The complexity of the early medieval civilization from Prut-Nistru region was the product of ethno-cultural interactions: autochthons-aliens, Christians-pagans and sedentary-nomads, who bear the diverse characteristics of the populations which settled down permanently or temporarily in the region. These relations are observed in the Prut-Nistru space during the entire early medieval period – at the level of demographic evolutions, habitat, economic development, spirituality and socio-political relations. The sedentary population from Prut-Nistru space is incorporated perfectly in the circle of the old Romanian civilization from the northern Danubian region and it was part of it during the entire early medieval period.
Gheorghe Postică, Românii din Codrii Moldovei în evul mediu timpuriu (studiu arheologic pe baza ceramicii din aşezarea Hansca), Chişinău, Universitas, 1994, 234 p. (122 pag. text., 23 tab., 11 foto, 53 fig., Bibl., Zusammenfasung, Резюме). ZUSAMMENFAßUNG: DIE RUMÄNEN AUS DEN MOLDAUISCHEN KODRY IN FRÜHMITTELALTER (Archäologische Forschu... more ZUSAMMENFAßUNG: DIE RUMÄNEN AUS DEN MOLDAUISCHEN KODRY IN FRÜHMITTELALTER (Archäologische Forschung auf Grund der Keramikerzeugnissen von der Siedlung Hanska)
Die Analyse des archäologischen Materials aus dem Siedlungsstätte Hanska und anderen Stätten hat auch gezeigt, daß in der ethnokulturellen Hinsicht im Gebiet der moldauischen Kodry im 5.–14. Jh. die Nachfolge der Haupttraditionen beobachtet wird, obwohl sie verstärktem Einfluß und der Veränderung ausgesetzt worden waren. Während des genannten Zeitraums veränderte die materielle Kultur der autochthonen Bevölkerung in diesem Gebiet ihren Charakter einige Male. Dieser Vorgang findet seinen Niederschlag in der konsequenten Abwechslung von vier archäologischen Kulturen, die am beispiel der Siedlung Hanska deutlich zuruckverfolgt und in acht chronologische stufen gegliedert sind.
Die im 5.–7. Jh. datierte erste Stufe kennzeichnet sich durch die archäologischen Materialen der Costischa-Botoschana-Hanska-Kultur, die für die romanische Bevölkerung des Karpaten-Nistrugebiets typisch ist und wo die für die alte Slawen kennzeichnenden Elemente der Prag- und Penkowo-Kulturen vorhanden sind. In der Siedlung Hanska sind 31 die Wohnungen diser Zeit aufgefundet die sich in 13 Territorialeinheiten befinden.
Die im 8. Jh. datierte Stufe kennzeichnet sich durch die archäologischen Materialen der ersten Phase der Dridu-Kultur, die für die altrumänische Bevölkerung typisch ist. Im der Siedlung Hanska sind 24 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefungen, die sich in 11 Territorialeinheiten befinden, 9 von denen sind die Fortzetzung der zu der vorigen Stufe gehörten Sitzen.
Die im 9. Jh. datierte Stuffe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der zweiten Phase der Dridu-Kultur kennzeichnet. In der zu der genannten Zeit gehörende Siedlung Hanska sind 17 Wohnungen aufgefunden, die sich in 8 Territorialsitzen befinden, sieben von denen schon in der vorigen Stufe bekannt waren.
Die im 10. – die erste Hälfte des 11. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der dritten Phase der Dridu-Kultur kennzeichnet unter denen sich die für die Türkobulgarische Bevölkerung typischen einzelne elemente sondern. In der Siedlung Hanska sind 18 Wohnungen dieser Stufe aufgefunden, die sich auf 8 Territorialeinbeiten befinden, sechs davon sind schon in der vorigen Stufe bemerkt.
Die im 11. – Anfang des 12. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der letzten vierten Phase der Dridu-Kultur kennzeichnet, darunter sind die für die Steppenbevölkerung typischen einzelnen Elemente vorhanden. In der Siedlung Hanska sind 25 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefunden, die sich in 8 auf Grundlage der Sitze der vorigen Stufe entstanden Territorialeinheiten befinden.
Die im 12. – Anfang des 13. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der frühen Phase der Räducäneni-Kultur kennzeichnet, die genetisch aus den Stätten des Dridu-Typs herausgewachsen sind. Neben den vorwiegenden autochthonen Kulturellementen kommen auch unter den Materialen dieser Stufe die kulturfremden Traditionen vor, die nur unter dem Einfluß der Steppenvölker-Petschenegen und Kumaner entstehen konnten. In Hanska sind 14 Wohnungen dieser Zeit erforscht, die sich in 8 Territorialeinheiten befinden, sieben von denen schon in den früheren Stufen der Siedlungsexistenz bekannt waren.
Die im 13. Ih. datierte siebente Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der spaten Phase der Räducäneni-Kultur kennzeichnet. In Hanska sind 15 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefunden, die sich in 8 Territorialeinheiten befinden, fünf von denen auch in der vorigen Stufe bekannt waren.
Die in der ersten Hälfte des 14. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der Kultur der autochthonen Bevölkerung in Verbindung mit den Elementen der Goldene-Horde-Stadtzivilisation kennzeichnet. In Hanska sind 9 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefunden, die auf der Stelle der früheren Territorialeinheiten liegen.
Резюме: РУМЫНЫ МОЛДАВСКИХ КОДР В РАННЕМ СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЬЕ (археологическое исследование на основе керамики поселения Ханска).
На основе керамического материала с селища Ханска выделены восемь хронологических этапов поселения, датируемых в пределах V-XIV вв.
Первый этап датируемый V-VII вв. характеризуется археологическими материалами культуры Костиша-Ботошана-Ханска, типичной для романского населения Карпато-Днестровского региона, в которой присутствуют элементы пражской и пеньковской культур, характерных для древних славян. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 31 жилище этого времени которые размещены в 13 территориальных единицах.
Второй этап, датируемый VIII веком, характеризуется археологическими материалами первой фазы культуры Дриду, типичной для древнерумынского населения. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 24 жилища этого времени, которые размещены в 11 территориальных единицах, 9 из которых являются продолжением гнёзд предшествующего этапа.
Третий этап датируемый IX веком характеризуется археологическими материалами второй фазы культуры Дриду. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 17 жилищ указанного времени, которые размещены в 8 территориальных гнёздах, семь из которых были известны на предшествующем этапе.
Четвёртый этап, датирующийся Х - первой четвертью XI в. характеризуется археологическими материалами третьей фазы культуры Дриду, среди которых выдляются отдельные элементы типичные для группы тюрко-болгарского населения. На поселении Ханска обнаружено 18 жилищ данного этапа, размещённые в 8 территориальных единицах, шесть из которых отмечены на предшествующем этапе.
Пятый этап, датирующийся XI - началом XII вв. характеризуется археологическими материалами последней, четвертой фазы культуры Дриду, среди которых присутствуют отдельные элементы типичные для степного населения. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 25 жилищ этого времени, размещённых в восьми территориальных единицах, возникших на основе гнёзд предшествующего этапа.
Шестой этап, датирующийся XII - началом XIII вв. характеризуется археологическими материалами ранней фазы культуры Рэдукэнень, генетически вырастившей из памятников типа Дриду. Наряду с преобладающими автохтонными культурными элементами среди материалов данного этапа встречаются также и инокультурные традиции, которые могли появится под воздействием степных народов печенегов и половцев. В Ханске исследованы 14 жилищ этого времени, размещённых в 8 территориальных единицах, семь из которых были известны на более ранних этапах поселения.
Седьмой этап, датирующийся XIII веком характеризуется археологическими материалами поздней фазы культуры Рэдукэнень. В Ханске обнаружены 15 жилищ этого времени размещённых в 8 территориальных единицах, пять из которых были известны и на прошлом этапе.
Восьмой этап, датирующийся первой половины XIV в. характеризуется археологическими материалами культуры автохтонного населения типа Лозово в сочетании с элементами городской цивилизации Золотой Орды. В Ханске обнаружены 9 жилищ этого времени, размещённых на месте более ранних территориальных единиц.
The prehistoric and Late Antique settlements at Mereni
The monograph presents the results of t... more The prehistoric and Late Antique settlements at Mereni
The monograph presents the results of the archaeological research carried out in 1986-1987 at the Mereni “Chirca” site near the village of Mereni, Anenii Noi District of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the results of the 1974-2014 archaeological explorations conducted in this area.
At the current stage, 23 archaeological sites have been discovered on the lands of the village of Mereni and in the adjacent areas, of which five are prehistoric and ancient settlements, and 18 ones are burial mounds with graves of different eras.
The oldest human settlement on the land of the village of Mereni in the Petroșița Valley, dating back to the Copper Age (Cucuteni-Trypillian culture, the 5th-4th millennia BC), is superimposed by the Late Antique settlement of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture (the 3rd-4th centuries).
Another ancient settlement in the area, at the “Chirca” point, dating back to the Bronze Age (Sabatinovka culture, the 16th-11th centuries BC), is also superimposed by a settlement of the Late Antiquity period (Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture, the 3rd-4th centuries).
In the farmlands of the village of Mereni there are two more settlements of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture dating back to the Late Antiquity period: one in the “Școala Berjan” sector located in the residential part of the present village, and the other at the “Costișa Maximului” point to the north-west of the village.
Another settlement, located in the center of the village of Mereni, in the “Vatra satului” sector, belongs to the medieval and modern period.
The burial mounds in the historical grounds of the Mereni village are located in nine places on the tops of the hills in the Mereni valley, in groups of 2, 3 or 5 mounds.
The Mereni “Chirca” site is located in the valley of the Mereni stream, at a distance of 0.7 km southeast of the village, spread over a space 1000 m long and 200-300 m wide. An area of 1560 square meters was explored. Cultural horizons of the Bronze Age (a settlement attributed to the Noua-Sabatinovka-Coslogeni cultural complex, the 16th-11th centuries BC) and the Late Antiquity (a settlement with necropolis attributed to the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture, the 3rd-4th centuries) have been well documented in this site. Also, within this site sporadic remains of the Early Iron Age were found: from the 7th-3rd centuries BC (a temporary settlement, possibly of Scythian nomads) and of the Middle Ages: the 6th-9th, 10th-11th and 16th-17th centuries.
The 15 structures, 26 objects and 1185 pottery fragments represent the archaeological remains attributed to the Sabatinovka culture. Among the structures, there are three dwellings recessed into the ground with hearths made of fired clay and stones, a stone surface structure, a recessed auxiliary structure and 10 trash pits. The finds include two bronze objects (dagger, piercing tool), 14 flint objects (blades and scrapers), three sandstone objects (an axe, a grinding stone and a figurine), one made of granite (a pestle), four made of fired clay (zoomorphic figurines) and two made of bone. The pottery includes the following five groups: a. burnished black color fine ware – 14 fragments (1.2%): b. burnished fine ware of light colors – 295 fragments (24.9%); c. coarse cooking ware – 369 fragments (31.1%); d. cooking ware with a smooth surface – 249 fragments (21.0%); e. coarse containers for food storage – 358 fragments (21.8%).
No traces of “ash lenses” were found at the Mereni site, as is the case in most Sabatinovka-type settlements. This situation probably indicates a short-term habitation in this space. This is also shown by the relatively poor cultural layer and the small amount of pottery, with a clear predominance of coarse ware, which are characteristic of the early phase of the Sabatinovka culture. The unearthed bronze dagger characteristic of the pre-Sabatinovka phase also evidences the relation of the archaeological material from the Mereni settlement to the early stage.
The 85 archaeological complexes, 138 objects and 11842 pottery fragments belonging to the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture represent the archaeological remains attributed to the Late Antique period.
Among the structures, there are eight dwellings (three surface ones and five recessed into the ground), 73 trash pits, an annex, a fireplace feature and two inhumation graves. At the same time, among the discovered objects, three were made of bronze (a fibula, bracelets), one of brass (a small bell), 11 of iron (buckle, horseshoes, spear, wedge, clamps), nine of glass (beads, fragments of cups), one made of carnelian (a small bead), one of shale and nine of sandstone (whetstones), six of limestone (circular grinding stones), one of pebble (a weight), 90 made of burnt clay (spindle whorls, discs, balls, loom weights), three made of ancient amphorae (discs, polishers), one made of local pottery (a disc), and three made of bone (a skate, dice, piercing tools).
Pottery includes eight groups: coarse hand-shaped cooking ware – 3068 fragments (25.9%), fine gray ware – 3582 fragments (30.2%), gray rough ware – 2635 fragments (22.3%), black burnished ware – 536 fragments (4.5%), fine red ware – 482 fragments (4.1%), red rough ware – 322 fragments (2.7%), red-glazed Roman pottery – 13 fragments (0.1%) and Roman amphorae – 1204 fragments (10.2%).
The ancient settlement at Mereni is part of a microzone located between the courses of the Bâc, Ichel and Dniester rivers (about 35×35 km) where 75 settlements belonging to the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture are mapped. Thus, this settlement is near the well-known ancient sites from Budești and Bălțata, and together they form the group of the most archaeologically investigated Late Antique settlements in the Republic of Moldova.
Mănăstirea Căpriana cu Schitul Condrița (secolul XV - începutul secolului al XXI-lea): Studii, documente și materiale / Coord.: Andrei Eșanu și Gheorghe Postică / Autori: A. Eșanu, Gh. Postică, V. Eșanu, S. Ciocanu, V. Pelin, N. Fuștei, I. Negrei, Chișinău, Cartdidact, 2019, 640 p. Mănăstirea Căpriana cu Schitul Condrița (secolele XV-XXI). Studii, documente și materiale reprezi... more Mănăstirea Căpriana cu Schitul Condrița (secolele XV-XXI). Studii, documente și materiale reprezintă o lucrare științifică complexă realizată de un grup de cercetători și constituie rezultatul unor investigații îndelungate sub mai multe aspecte: arheologic, istoric, cultural-spiritual, documentar ș.a. Studiul cuprinde o istorie exhaustivă a Mănăstirii Căpriana de la începuturile ei în domnia lui Alexandru cel Bun până în ultimii ani și include o serie de importante cercetări în diferite domenii de cunoaștere privind cel mai important și mai vechi lăcaș sfânt din Republica Moldova.
Lucrarea este structurată în cinci părți, cu compartimente și subcompartimente ce țin de istoria multiseculară a mănăstirii, de cele mai recente descoperiri arheologice, cuprinde un bogat set de peste 300 de documente, numeroase descrieri de cărți manuscrise și de vechi tipărituri din biblioteca lăcașului, inscripții, legende și materiale descriptive, precum și o bogată bibliografie.
O deosebită atenție în lucrare este acordată „urmelor” lăsate de marii voievozi Ștefan cel Mare și Petru Rareș la mănăstire, relațiilor Mănăstirii Căpriana cu Muntele Athos, activității mitropolitului Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni la acest sfânt lăcaș și canonizării sale, procesului de renaștere și activităților de restaurare a mănăstirii ș.a. Un compartiment aparte este dedicat metocului Căprianei – Schitul Condrița.
Ediția este adresată oamenilor de știință, studenților, clerului și tuturor celor care se interesează de istoria și cultura românească.
The national heritage comprises a treasure of testimonies specific to a nation’s creativity, prec... more The national heritage comprises a treasure of testimonies specific to a nation’s creativity, precious and necessary today and tomorrow, to preserve national identity.
The volume Textile archaeological heritage. From discovery to museum valorization is intended as a tribute to those who created these cultural goods, to those who discovered them and to those who, by conservation-restoration works, enabled them to transmit their contained message
- historical, technical, artistic - throughout centuries. At the same time, the volume addresses to the specialists in the field, with a view to share impressions related to the voyage made together with the archaeological textile artefacts, from discovery to museum valorization.
It is necessary to mention, from the very beginning, the fruitful collaboration in the field of preserving the cultural heritage, equally on the institutional level, between “Moldova” National Museum Complexof Iașiandreligious/academic assemblies from the Republic of Moldova, and between the museum specialists and specialists in archaeology and the related fields from the Republic of Moldova and Iași.
The archaeological artefacts have a special status within the type of textile artefacts, mostly due to the excessive brittleness, and their conservation-restoration require a synergy of actions coming from specialists in different fields, such as archaeology, history, art history, physics, chemistry, textile technology. The collaboration between the persons responsible for the conservation and restoration of the textile cultural heritage is essential for sustainable conservation and restoration, by means of adopting appropriate methodologies which respect its originality, history and integrity. The close collaboration between restorers and specialists in adjacent fields gives access to diverse information which comes to extend the overall picture of former epochs.
The study of the archaeological textiles reveals a large amount of information. It can specify, refine or verify the context of the discovery and even provide a date. The information brought to light gives clues about the social status of the owner as well as about the manufacture, local or imported from more or less remote areas, about taste, fashion, price, trade, etc. In this respect, the analysis of textiles enables the documentation of the history of techniques and garments; even the smallest fragment of textile material could be a rich source of data for archaeology and history.
Theconservation-restorationprocessofthearchaeological textiles is, for specialists, a true challenge. Dependent on the discovery contexts, the textile fragments have very different states of conservation/alteration: charred, mineralized, impressions, conserved in the regions with an extremely dry, cold or hot environment. The quality of their conservation significantly influences the quality of the collected information.
The volume presents the case studies of the archaeological textiles dated the 16th-19th centuries and discovered in three archaeological sites in the Republic of Moldova (Căpriana Monastery) and Romania (“St. Nicholas” Church of Aroneanu, Iași; “St. John the New” Nicoriță, Iași). Within these case studies, reference is made to the research, respectively, the implementation of several analytical strategies, specific to the composing materials, for providing information related to the morphology, composition, structure, types of degradation, conservation-restoration and museum valorization of these textile artefacts.
We would like to mention the fact that the idea of this publishing project came up during the research and conservation-restoration of the archaeological artefacts originating from the crypt of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni within Căpriana Monastery (2016- 2020).
The museum valorization of this movable religious heritage of exceptional value was carried out through a cross-border project, financed through the Joint Operational Programme Romania - Republic of Moldova 2014-2020. Thus, “Moldova” National Museum Complex of Iași, Romania, as coordinator, and Căpriana Monastery, Republic of Moldova, as partner, implemented the project Revitalizarea Mănăstirii Căpriana pentru promovarea patrimoniului ecleziastic unic prin cooperare transfrontalieră și digitalizare/ Enhancement of Căpriana Monastery for the Promotion of the Unique Ecclesiastic Heritage by Cross-border Cooperation and Digitization, in the period March 2020 - November 2021.
The opening of the museum with archaeological ecclesiastical artefacts “Holy Hierarch St. Gabriel”, the first museum of its kind in the Republic of Moldova, a major objective of the project, took place on the 6th of May 2021.
Another major objective was to present, in digital form, the archaeological heritage originating from the crypt of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni from Căpriana Monastery, Republic of Moldova, by making a permanent exhibition at Moldavia’s History Museum in Iași, using a new technique of immersive and interactive projection and providing the visitors an innovative virtual experience.
“Moldova” National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania, as coordinator, and Căpriana Monastery, the R... more “Moldova” National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania, as coordinator, and Căpriana Monastery, the Republic of Moldova, as partner, implement the project Enhancement of Căpriana Monastery for the Promotion of the Unique Ecclesiastical Heritage by Cross-border Cooperation and Digitization, a project financed under The Joint Operational Programme Romania - Republic of Moldova 2014-2020. One of the project's major objectives is the museum valorisation of Căpriana Monastery's exceptional movable religious heritage, by organising a museum within the monachal assembly, with the ecclesiastical archaeological artefacts that belonged to Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni.
The idea of organising a museum within Căpriana Monastic Complex, for the safeguarding and valorisation of the archaeological artefacts that belonged to Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni, came up during the years in which these artefacts had been part of the conservation-restoration process carried out at the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration of the Cultural Heritage within "Moldova" National Museum Complex.
The uniqueness of the newly-created museum consists in the valorisation of the unparalleled ecclesiastical artefacts (textile items for clothing, fragments of leather footwear, religious objects made of metal) discovered at the Căpriana Monastery in 2016, when the relics of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni were exhumed, as part of the sanctification procedure. The ecclesiastical artefacts were saved through conservation-restoration works carried out by the specialists of the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania. The contract for the restoration of these ecclesiastical artefacts was financed through Căpriana Monastery's own funds only, courtesy of Archimandrite FILARET Cuzmin, the abbot of Căpriana Monastery.
The collaboration between "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania, and Căpriana Monastery started in 2002 and consisted in undertaking conservation-restoration works for the archaeological material derived from the necropolis of the monastery (“The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Church, the oldest church within the monachal complex), as a result of the archaeological research (1993-2016) coordinated by Prof. PhD. Hab. Gheorghe Postică. The guidebook of the Căpriana Monastery's Museum intends to provide useful information to the public uninformed in the field of heritage preservation, so that when visiting the museum and admiring a specific exhibit people would know the story behind it, its background information. Apart from the hard work needed for determining the manufacturing date or the specific time frame, sustained effort has also been put into saving these artefacts and making them properly prepared for museum display. The authors of the Guidebook wish not only to promote the artistic or documentary value of these unique artefacts, but to primarily present the diligence of those who, by their p r o f e s s i o n a l i sm, c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e restoration, reconstitution and conservation of these heritage items, representative for both the personality of metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni, and the world cultural heritage's culture, art and history.
The guidebook illustrates the richness of the archaeological items discovered in the crypt of metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni and restored by the specialists of the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania.
Căpriana Monastery has a special place within Romanian Christian monastic places, being founded b... more Căpriana Monastery has a special place within Romanian Christian monastic places, being founded by the great voivodes Alexander the Good, Stephen the Great, Petru Rareș, Alexandru Lăpușneanu, Vasile Lupu, but also by Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni. Located at the spring of Ișnovăț River, deep in the woods of the former Lăpușna region in the central part of the Pruto-Dniester area, Căpriana Monastery has been a true focal point of Christian civilization and culture since its foundation, irradiating, for several centuries, faith and spirituality in the eastern part of the Romanian world.
Moreover, in various historical stages, Căpriana Monastery represented a Christianity symbol in the Pruto-Dniester area, and in the late 20th century it was a symbol for the national liberation movement of the Bessarabian Romanians who were under the domination of the totalitarian Soviet empire.
In this context Căpriana Monastery has received increased attention from researchers, resulting in important studies on the history of the settlement, including the systematic archaeological investigations carried out during the last decades which brought to light important artefacts related to the past of this place.
As is the case for other period sites in the Romanian area, the archaeological vestiges found at Căpriana Monastery are mainly represented by inorganic materials (stone, mortar, ceramics, metal, etc.), the organic ones being relatively rare; within the last category, note should be made on samples of clothing textiles dated 16th-19th centuries.
The samples of archaeological textiles discovered within the funeral complexes of “The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Church and restored at the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration of the Cultural Heritage within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iași proved to be particularly valuable from the cultural-scientific point of view, as they provided unprecedented data regarding several types of historical clothing and techniques used in old textile processing and clothing making.
The monograph of Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D., focuses on the theoretical, methodological and applicative aspects implied by the process of safeguarding the early 19th century Christian- Orthodox liturgical costume, having as case study the liturgical vestment of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni. The present work is elaborated based on the archaeological textiles discovered within the High Hierarch’s crypt located at Căpriana Monastery and is a pioneering experience in the Central and Southeastern European area. At the same time, the monograph is a unique study, situated at the crossroads of archaeology and conservation-restoration.
The present work analyses the research history, the process of identifying the archaeological textiles found at Căpriana Monastery, the archaeological environment of the discovered liturgical textiles, the historical significance of the liturgical vestments, the methodology of research, conservation and restoration of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu- Bodoni’s liturgical vestments, the structure of the early 19th century liturgical costume, a special place being given to the process of conservation-restoration carried out in the case of the
liturgical archaeological textiles, and ends with a project designed for the museum valorisation of the restored liturgical vestments.
The work represents an original research which uses modern scientific principles and methodologies and is based on applied data resulted from the conservation-restoration of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni’s liturgical archaeological textiles, carried out by the author of the monograph - Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D.
The conservation-restoration of the archaeological textiles proved to be a very difficult and long-lasting process, due to the advanced state of degradation of the discovered artefacts. However, Mariana Gugeanu managed to find and implement the most effective scientific methods and solutions of conservation-restoration, safeguarding for humanity a cultural heritage treasure: an entire set of liturgical clothing dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. The significance of the clothing treasure recovered by means of the conservation- restoration project is all the greater as these cultural heritage assets belong to Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni, a remarkable historical personality, canonized among Christian Saints by the Orthodox Church in 2016.
A special part of the monographic work deals with the archaeological textiles originated from the necropolis of “The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Church, dated 16th-17th centuries, which are of great interest in establishing the techniques used in old textiles processing and clothing making.
The project carried out by Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D., had a strictly applicative final result: the inauguration of Căpriana Monastery Museum, in which the restored archaeological textiles took centre stage.
Therefore, the work signed by Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D., may be regarded as a genuine model for the research, conservation-restoration, safeguarding and cultural-scientific valorization of inestimable-value cultural heritage objects, such as the archaeological textiles.
The Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape is managed by the Public Institution Orheiul Vechi Cul... more The Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape is managed by the Public Institution Orheiul Vechi Cultural-Natural Reserve. The Property is clearly delimited by a border line, of which length is 13.232,0397 m. Its trail follows the Landscape natural limits (the river course and edges of the steep banks) and the border lines of the ownerships and the road lines. The boundary encompasses the surface of 539,127 ha. In this way, between the border of the Property and that of buffer zone there is a surface of 10.525,433 ha and length 48.647,863 m. The border of the buffer zone is the same of buffer zone of Cultural-Natural Reserve Orheiul Vechi, and was officially established by the Government Decision no. 228, 23.03.2009. The limits of the Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape are formed by natural landmarks (the route of the Răut River, cliffs, bottoms and banks of ravines), boundaries of the land properties and roads. The Landscape follows a tortuous path defined from four sides: northern, western, southern and eastern. On the northern side, the boundary route has a length of 3520.54 meters. It starts in the junction point between the Răut River and the ravine from the northern bank of the Peştera promontory, beside defence line no. 1 of the medieval town of Orhei and ends at the edge of the forest located on the east bank of the Morova ravine. For about 2/3 of this side (2023.60 meters), the boundary follows the course of the Răut River, to its confluence with the ravine on the southern bank of the Butuceni promontory, at 119.50 meters east of the Trebujeni bridge. From this point, the boundary ascends on the ravine's course (214.31 meters), then follows several interconnected country roads to the edge of the Morova ravine (739.05 meters). Further, on a natural ridge, the boundary (331.50 meters) descends to the Morovaia brook. Then, over a length of 106.38 meters, the boundary follows the aforementioned stream route and reaches its intersection with a ravine that starts at the edge of the forest on the east bank of the Morova ravine. Subsequently, the boundary ascends on the above-mentioned ravine to the edge of the forest (105.70 meters). On the eastern side, the boundary route has a length of 1749.66 meters. Starting from the end of the northern side, it follows a country road (1663.48 meters) on the eastern edge of the Morova ravine, up the Maşcăuţi-Ustia road. The last segment of this boundary, measuring 86.18 meters, follows the road to the Răut River, near the Maşcăuţi bridge. On the southern side, the boundary route has a total length of 4571.09 meters. Further along on the east side, it follows the course of the Răut River over a distance of 2029.50 meters. Then it ascends through a ravine to the south terrace of Răut (332, 68 meters). Further, it follows interconnected country roads over a distance of 1913.95 meters. In the west, it passes through two interconnected ravines over a length of 294.96 meters. On the western side, the route of the boundary has a total length of 3390.73 meters. This side, in continuation to the south side, along most of its length (3068.14 meters), up to the Brăneşti-Trebujeni highway, the boundary follows country interconnected roads stretching over the southern and western edge of the Răut gorge. From the Brăneşti-Trebujeni highway, along the defense line no. 1 of the medieval town of Orhei (146.44 meters), the boundary crosses an agricultural field. Subsequently, it goes down through the ravine from the north bank of the Peştera promontory over a length of 176.15 meters, up to the Răut River, where the northern and the western boundaries connect.
ORHEIUL VECHI:RECHERCHES ARCHEOLOGIQUES 1996-2001 (v.: Rezume a la fin de monographie)
Le site a... more ORHEIUL VECHI:RECHERCHES ARCHEOLOGIQUES 1996-2001 (v.: Rezume a la fin de monographie)
Le site archéologique Orheiul Vechi (=L’Anciene Orhei) représente un système de monuments historiques et de paysages naturels situés sur les promontoires de la rivière Răut entre les villages Trebujeni et Butuceni, district Orhei, République de Moldova.
Les fouilles de Orheiul Vechi des années 1996-2001 nous ont offert des matériaux précieux qui permetent de resoudre une série de problèmes liés à l’histoire de ce site dans la période médievale.
Les investigations archéologiques ont prouvé que près de la citadelle de pierre, le peuplement actif date du Moyen Age tardif, plus exactement du XIIIe/XIVe-XVIIe siècles. Conformément aux données archéologiques obtenues, dans la région de la citadelle de Orheiul Vechi on distingue huit horizons cronologiques.
Le premier horizon cronologique, datant du XIIIe siècle - la première moitié du XIVe siècle, relève de l’évolution du site local, qui avait le centre dans la partie inférieure du promontoire, vers sud-ouest. Dans la partie supérieure de la terrasse, cet horizon culturel est représenté par le matériel céramique sporadique.
Le deuxième horizon cronologique, datant de la première moitié du XIVe siècle - 1369, vise la période de la Ville Sehr al-Cedid / Yanghi-Sehr (la Nouvelle Ville) de la Horde d’Or, construite sur le promontoire auprès de l’habitation autochtone. De la même période datent une tombe decouverte auprès de la muraille, deux fosses à bruler la chaux et deux fosses ménagères. Les fouilles archéologiques ont prouvé que la citadelle de pierre a été construite dans les années 1366-1369. Ainsi, on abouti à la conclusion que cette construction est cent ans encore plus ancienne qu’on la croyait. A l’appui du matériel archéologique obtenu, on peut affirmer qu’à l’étape initiale, la citadelle représentait la clôture autour du palais de l’enceinte connu dans la littérature comme “le palais du chef de la citadelle” qui formait ensemble un complexe intègre, nomé par les chercheurs la maison féudale (manoir) du chef politique de la région.
Les découvertes monétaires de Orheiul Vechi prouvent la présence d’une authorité politique d’importance régionale dans la ville située sur le Răut. Dans les années 1363-1365 la Nouvelle Ville située sur le Răut était la résidence de khan Abdallah, qui a initié la mise en circulation des monnaies de type Yanghi-Sehr / Seh al-Cedid. Le fait que les émissions monétaires locales ont continué à Orheiul Vechi même après le départ du khan Abdallah prouvent que la ville Sehr al-Cedid dans la période suivante a gardé le rôle de centre régional. Compte tenu des documents historiques on peut affirmer que dans les années 1366-1369 Orheiul Vechi, devient un centre résidentiel de certains chefs locaux qui promovaient une politique séparatiste vis à vis la Horde d’Or. Les recherches disciplinaires de la dernière décennie ont consolidé la conviction selon laquelle dans les années 1368-1369 Orheiul Vechi était la résidence de l’émir Dimitrie.
L’identification de Dimitrie avec l’émir des monnaies de Orheiul Vechi est très plausible, vu l’activité de ce prince, déployée dans les années 60 du XIVe siècle qui correspond en totalité avec la cronologie archéologique de la citadelle de pierre de ce site. Or, dans ce cas il s’agit d’une étrange coincidence des données archéologiques avec celles numismatiques et des documents écrits de même que les données d’architecture selon lesquelles “la citadelle” et “le palais” font partie des constructions de type oriental de la période de la Horde d’Or.
Donc, on peut considerer la construction de pierre autour du palais, connue en littérature comme “la citadelle de pierre de Orheiul Vechi avec le palais du chef politique”, la résidence de l’émir Dimitrie, qui la édifiée dans les années 1366/68-1369, et qui a probablement fonctionné à l’étape suivante du site dans le dernier quart du XIVe siècle.
Le troisième horizon cronologique, datant du dernier quart du XIVe siècle vise la première étape du habitat Orheiul Vechi, de la transformation de la ville orientalle en ville moldave. Dans le cadre de la construction du palais de Orheiul Vechi on a découvert une habitation avec un four de brique, préservé en bon état qui comprenait en préponderance des matériaux de céramique moldave en alternance avec des matériaux de type oriental.
Le quatrième horizon cronologique, datant de la première moitié du XVe siècle, couvre la période des prices Alexandru cel Bun (1400-1432) Iliaş (1432-1433, 1435-1442), Ştefan II (1433-1435, 1436-1447). De cette époque datent 4 habitations, decouvertes dans la partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle, dont deux étaient creusées et deux situées à la surface. Un intérêt à part présente l’habitation de muraille, située dans la partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle, qui représentait une construction ayant une architecture particulière, peut-être d’origine orientale et qui a souffert plusieurs modifications au cours de quelques étapes.
Le cinquième horizon cronologique, datant de la deuxième moitié du XVe siècle- début du XVIe siècle relève de la période du prince Ştefan cel Mare. Cette époque est représenteé par trois habitations, y compris une habitation reconstruite à la base de l’habitation de muraille de la partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle. A cette étape, dans le contexte des travaux de fortification de la citadelle de Orhei sur l’ordre du prince Ştefan cel Mare, on a remis a neuf les murs de la citadelle qui était transformée en résidence des chefs de la citadelle de Orhei. Dans la période de gouvernance de Ştefan cel Mare la citadelle de Orheiul Vechi a disposé d’artilerie de feu, fait prouvé par la découverte des deux canons de bronze, fabriqués dans le dernier quart du XVe siècle dans la remblai de l’habitation de muraille située dans partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle. Ces canons étaient cachés dans les décombres d’une habitation du XVIe siècle peut être au cours de l’invasion des tatars de Crimée de 1510. L’église en bois et la nécropole située auprès de la muraille d’est de la citadelle où on a découvert quelques dizaines de tombes datent du XVe siècle - début du XVIe siècle.
Le sixième horizon cronologique, datant de la première moitié du XVIe siècle, vise la période de déclin de la citadelle, de la ville Orheiul Vechi et le déplacement de la ville Orhei dans un autre lieu, à 15 km vers nord-ouest. De cette période datent deux constructions à caractère locatif.
Le septième horizon cronologique, datant du milieu du XVIe siècle, relève de la démolition de la citadelle de pierre, opération effectuée probablement lors du règne de Alexandru Lăpuşneanu qui a supprimé à la demande des turques plusieurs citadelles parmis lesquelles pourrait figurer celle de Orhei. Cette affirmation s’appuie sur des données archéologiques, qui placent les décombres de la citadelle de pierre dans la période du XVIe siècle.
Le huitième horizon cronologique, datant de la deuxième moitié du XVIe siècle - première moitié du XVIIe siècle, vise la tentative du prince Eremia Movilă de refaire en 1600 la citadelle Orheiul Vechi et l’étape du bourg (village) Peştere - Movilău. À la période respective se rapporte le repli de terre situé à l’est de la citadelle et une habitation de surface avec un four de brique, identifiée dans la partie de sud-ouest de l’ enceinte fortifiée.
Ainsi, les fouilles archéologiques des années 1996-2001 de Orheiul Vechi ont offert des données qui contestent les affirmations préconçues de certains auteurs anciens concernant l’absence dans le cadre de ce site de l’horizon culturel autochton dans la période prémongole ; le manque d’une liaison entre la ville de la période de la Horde d’Or et la ville moldave ; l’attribution de ces deux citadelles médievales au XVe siècle.
Les données archéologiques obtenues prouvent l’existence d’un habitat autochtone rural dans la période prémongole dans le site Orheiul Vechi avec le centre dans la partie inférieure du promontoire.
Dans la période de la domination de la Horde d’Or, dans l’espace de Orheiul Vechi, les mongoles ont bati une ville de type oriental, nommée la Nouvelle Ville - Yanghi-Sehr- Sehr al-Cedid, ayant une monnaie propre de cuivre et d’argent. Dans les années 1366-1369 au lieu de la citadelle on a aménagé une construction quadrilatère de pierre, qui clôturait le palais du chef politique, identifié avec l’émir Dimitrie.
Dans le dernier quart du XIV-e siècle, après le départ de la Horde d’Or le site continue sa vie d’une manière plus restreinte à la base de la population autochtone afin de dévenir vers le début du XVe siècle une véritable ville moldave, connue sous le nom de Orhei.
Dans le XVe siècle au cours du règne de Alexandru cel Bun et de Ştefan cel Mare la ville Orhei connait une progression ascendente, le nombre de la population augmente, le commerce se développe, la circulation monétaire prospère, de nouvelles constructions apparaissent, les fortifications du site sont consolidées, la citadelle de pierre avec le complexe palatin construits dans le XIVe siècle deviennent la résidence administrative et militaire des chefs politiques de Orhei.
Studii de arheologie şi istorie în onoarea profesorului Gheorghe Postică / ed.: Ludmila Coadă, Pavel Parasca. – Chişinău: ULIM, 2014. - 445 p., ISBN 978-9975-101-59-2, 2014
The collection includes bibliographic data on the activity of Professor Gheorghe Postică and 17 s... more The collection includes bibliographic data on the activity of Professor Gheorghe Postică and 17 studies in the field of archaeology, medieval and modern history.
Istoria satului Mereni, județul Chișinău, Republica Molodva.
Volumul reprezintă o recuperare a operei inedite a regretatului savant, arheolog și istoric medie... more Volumul reprezintă o recuperare a operei inedite a regretatului savant, arheolog și istoric medievist Ion Hîncu. Cuprinde lucrarea autobiografică "Scara Vieții", monografia "Populația Moldovei din secolele X-XIV" (interzisă în perioada sovietică) și bibliografia completă a autorului. Volumul este însoțit de un cuvânt introductiv, referiri la pesonalitatea lui Ion Hîncu și comentarii.
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Books by Postica Gheorghe
The monograph “Hansca. The early medieval settlement from Lăpușna Codrii”, represents the synthesis of the archaeological investigations carried out during 20 research campaigns, during the years 1960-1991, in the early medieval settlement Hansca–“Limbari-Căprăria”, located at a distance of 21 km south -west from Chișinău municipality.
The book consists of two parts: the analytical part, in which are analyzed the medieval vestiges discovered in the Hansca settlement, and the documentary part, in which are presented, systematically, the archaeological complexes and artifacts discovered in the years 1960-1991.
Part I of the work consists of 15 chapters: I. The geographical framework and the archaeological map of the microzone, II. History of archaeological research, III. Generalities regarding the medieval settlement, IV. Chronology of the medieval settlement, V. Characteristic of the medieval settlement, VI. Housing, VII. Auxiliary and production structures, VIII. Archaeological inventory, IX. Farming and auxiliary occupations, X. Crafts and household occupations, XI. Commercial relations, XII. Religious beliefs, XIII. Clothing, leisure, medicine, XIV. Weapons and military equipment, XV. The medieval community of Hansca.
Part II of the work is made up of 7 chapters: I. Archaeological complexes from the 5th-7th centuries, II. Archaeological complexes from the 8th-9th centuries, III. Archaeological complexes from the 10th-11th centuries, IV. Archaeological complexes from the 12th-13th centuries, V. Archaeological complexes from the 14th century, VI. Archaeological complexes from the 15th-16th centuries and VII. Archaeological complexes from the 17th-18th centuries.
The work is accompanied by a preface written by the academician Victor Spinei, an introduction and a conclusion. At the end of the work is the bibliography, 85 statistical tables that reflect the archaeological remains discovered, 109 figures with cartographic and photographic materials relating to the settlement of Hansca and 249 plates with graphic and photographic materials regarding the archaeological complexes and discovered artifacts.
The medieval settlement of Hansca is located on the estate of the village of the same name, in the Ialoveni district, Republic of Moldova (Figures1-8). From a historical point of view, the village of Hansca was part of the former land of Lăpuşna and, respectively, of the region of the Lăpuşna Codrii (forest).
10 archaeological sites were discovered around the village of Hansca: Hansca–„Limbari-Căprăria”, Hansca–„Toloaca”, Hansca–„Lutăria”, Hansca–„La Matcă”, Hansca–„Cetate”, Hansca–„Hârtop”, Hansca–„Sat”, Hansca–„Livada”, Hansca–„Valea Lutăriei” and Hansca–„Dealul Socii” (Figure 26), within which 15 cultural-chronological horizons were delimited, dating from the Eneolithic to the pre-modern era. These sites are located in the valley of the Botnișoara stream, a right tributary of the Botna river, on a stretch of about 3.0 km with a width of 0.6-0.8 km, forming a consecutive row, from the northwest towards southeast.
The famous Hansca–“Limbari-Căprăria” site is located at the northwestern end of this area, 0.2 km northwest of the current village, on both sides of the Botnișoara stream valley, at an altitude of 130-150 m (Figures 9-20). This archaeological site is complex, consisting of 12 levels of habitation, dating from the Bronze Age to the pre-modern period.
The archaeological site occupies an area of about 1000 x 500-600 m, while the medieval settlement within it, depending on the period, ranges in size from 4-6 ha to 15-20 ha (Figures 26-29).
At the Hansca–"Limbari-Căprăria" site, research was carried out during 20 systematic archaeological excavation campaigns, the works being coordinated by Ana I. Meliukova (1960); Ion Hîncu (1964-1977) in the team with Isak Rafalovici (1964-1972), Ion Niculiță (1966-1977), Emanuil Rikman (1968, 1970) and Gheorghe Postică (1976-1977); Ion Niculiță (1979-1981) in the team with Gheorghe Postică (1979-1981); Gheorghe Cebotarenco (1979-1981) in the team with Natalia Golțeva (1980) and Nicolai Telnov (1980-1981); Gheorghe Postică (1990-1991) in the team with Valerii Kavruk (1990-1991) (Figures 21-22).
Within the Hansca site, an area of 23246,46 m2 was investigated, which is about 20% of its total area (Figure 31-34). 717 early medieval archaeological complexes were discovered, including 163 dwellings, 3 workshops, 14 outbuildings, 16 hearths, 51 ovens dug in virgin clay, 14 iron ore reduction furnaces, 250 household pits, a well and 203 graves (Tables 4, 5-a).
The collection of early medieval archaeological material from Hansca includes 1537 inventory items, about 90 complete ceramic vessels, over 75000 ceramic fragments and other materials.
Starting from the systematization of the investigated surfaces, within the Hansca settlement five basic sectors were delimited (North-West, South-West, South, North-East and South-East), these being investigated unevenly, from 4% up to 24% of their total area.
Within the researched sectors, 20 housing groups (No. I-XX) were delimited, two spaces with well-defined necropolises („Căprăria” and „Limbari”), to which is added a housing sector (No. XXI) from the nearby settlement Hansca–„La Matcă” (Figures 35-55).
The cultural layer of the settlement, depending on the researched area, contains archaeological remains from various historical periods, the predominant ones being the early medieval remains from the 5th-14th centuries and of the Getae culture from the 4th-3rd centuries BC. Within the settlement, no clear delimitation of the Getae layer from the medieval layer was found. At the same time, multiple crossings of Getae or prehistoric constructions with early medieval complexes were found. Also, were found multiple intersections or overlays of early medieval constructions from the 5th-7th, 8th-9th, 10th-11th, 12th-13th centuries.
From a cultural-chronological point of view, the medieval archaeological remains discovered in the Hansca settlement are classified into seven groups: 1) remains of the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca type (5th-7th centuries), 2) remains of the Lozna-Dodești type (8th-9th centuries), 3) vestiges of the Dridu type (10th-11th centuries), 4) vestiges of the Răducăneni type (11th-13th centuries, 5) vestiges of the Lozova-Vorniceni type (14th century), 6) vestiges of the Moldavian medieval type (15th-16th centuries) and 7) vestiges of the pre-modern type (17th-18th centuries).
The groups of dwellings delimited in the medieval settlement of Hansca represent compact areas, which gather archaeological complexes from different stages of the Middle Ages - from the 5th-7th centuries to the 12th-14th centuries, and in some cases also from the 15th-16th or 17th-18th centuries. The delimited housing groups are located on both banks of the Botnișoara stream, on the south-west slope 15 groups are documented (no. I-XIII and XXI) and on the north-east – six groups (no. XIV-XX).
The chronology of the medieval settlement at Hansca is established on the basis of the artifacts with an absolute or relative chronological range, evaluated on the basis of analogies within the archaeological sites of the same time period in the area, the neighboring regions of the Carpathian-Dniester space, or more distant, in the Central-Eastern European area.
Artifacts with absolute chronological potential, which historically persisted for a limited time, calculated from a few decades to a century, are represented by coins, various types of fibulae, arrowheads, appliques, pendants or other objects, whose moment of manufacture can be expressed by an absolute date, or whose duration can be expressed in limited chronological intervals.
On the other hand, artifacts with relative chronological potential are represented by various objects with a wide distribution in time, in particular, ceramic fragments, but also inventory pieces with extended chronological intervals, which can include from two to three centuries to six - seven consecutive centuries.
Most of the artifacts discovered in the Hansca settlement, as well as in other sites of the same period, usually have a relative chronological potential, those with absolute chronological potential rather representing exceptions.
However, absolute or quasi-absolute chronological data is also obtained by the method of correlating objects from archaeological contexts, as in the case of closed complexes, which in certain cases contain artifacts with different chronological potential.
The early medieval settlement at Hansca occupies the lower part of the slopes and partly the meadow on both banks of the Botnișoara stream northwest of the current village, at an altitude of 130-150 m, on a stretch of about 1.0 km from northwest to southeast. From the northwest, the medieval settlement was bounded by the „Limbari” plateau, and from the south by the northern slope of the „Căprăria” hill. The sector of the settlement to the left of Botnișoara located at the foot of the „Pidașca” hill and partly in the meadow with a south-west orientation, unlike the sector on the opposite bank of the stream, has a regular smooth valley aspect.
The place of the medieval habitation in Hansca evolved over the centuries from a territorial point of view, in some periods being more extensive, in others more restricted, sometimes quite compact, in other periods relatively rarefied, these realities being ascertained on the basis of the mapping of the archaeological complexes in the 5th-7th, 8th-9th, 10th-11th, 12th-13th, 14th and 15th-16th centuries. At all historical stages, the Hansca settlement was structured in territorial units (nests) composed of dwellings and household annexes, most of which kept the evolutionary thread throughout the Middle Ages.
Starting from the spread area of the archaeological complexes (Figure 56), the surface of the Hansca settlement in the 5th-7th centuries is...
in Codrii Orheiului
The settlement from Păhărniceni–„Petruca” is located in the central part of the Prut-Dniester area, in the point „Petruca” near Păhărniceni village, Orhei district, Republic of Moldova, at a distance of 40 km North of Chișinău, in the historical-geographical area Codrii Orhei (=The Orhei Forest) (Fig. 1, 2). It has a length of about 800 m on the East-West axis and about 500 m on the South-North axis (Fig. 5-6). It is located on a smooth plateau with northern orientation, at an altitude of 185-190 m, exceeding by about 158-160 m the water level of the river Răut, located 4 km north (Fig. 4-6).
The early medieval settlement from Păhărniceni–„Petruca” is a remarkable example of continuity of an agricultural community for over a thousand years in a small geographical area at the eastern extremity of the Romanian world. Located in the heart of the Orhei Codri, this settlement went through all the known historical stages of the Middle Ages in the Romanian space (Fig. 1, 2). The settlement is one of the few multilayered archeological sites which also has representative houses from most of the known historical epochs in the Carpathian-Dniester area. As a multi-layered archaeological site, the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement has 12 phases, which belong to five major historical periods, including: I. The prehistoric period: a) the Cucuteni-Tripillia culture phase – 5th – 4th millennia BC, b) Multi-cordoned ware culture (Mnogovalikovaya) phase – 22th – 18th centuries BC, c) the phase of the Noua culture – 15th –13th centuries BC; II. Early Bronze Age: a) Chișinău-Corlăteni culture phase – 12th – 10th centuries BC, b) the phase of the Poienești-Lucașeuca culture – end of the 3rd – 1st centuries BC; III. Late Ancient period: the phase of the Sântana de Mureș-Cerneahov culture – 3rd – 4th centuries; IV. Early Medieval Age – a) the phase of the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca culture (5th – 7th centuries), b) the Lozna-Dodești type culture phase (8th – 9th centuries), c) the Dridu culture phase (10th – 11th centuries), d) the Brănești type culture phase (12th – 13th centuries) and e) Lozova-Vorniceni type culture phase (first half of the 14th century) and V. Late Middle Ages: the phase of the Moldavian medieval culture (15th – 16th centuries). The medieval habitat within the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement compared to other historical periods is the most representative, summing up over 78.0% of the total identified archaeological materials.
The Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement was discovered in 1957. After a control survey from 1958 (P. Bârnea), the settlement had been studied through systematic archaeological excavations in 1961-1963 – on an area of 376 m2 (I. Hîncu) and in 1988 – on a surface of 860 m2 (Gh. Postică and V. Kavruk). The cultural layer of the settlement has a thickness varying from 0.80-1.10 m to 1.20-1.40 m. Compared to other sites of the same period in the eastern Carpathian area, the early medieval settlement from Păhărniceni is notable for the intensity of the archaeological material. Within the site, on an area of 1236 m2 were discovered: 28 constructions (dwellings, outbuildings, autonomous fire constructions, metallurgical installations, ditches from fencing, household pits) (Tab. 2), 27351 fragments of medieval pottery (Tab. 3-23), 242 pieces of inventory (Tab. 25), 636 pieces of iron ore (= 51.1 kg), 1331 pieces of iron slag (= 149.2 kg), 1427 pieces of burnt clay, 359 fragments of burnt clay trays, 92 fragments of burnt clay nozzles from metallurgical furnaces (Tab. 24) and 5506 animal bones (Tab. 26).
The analysis of the archeological material, denotes a predominance of the vestiges from the 10th – 14th centuries – 21760 ceramic fragments (79.6% of the total number of medieval ceramics), followed by the period of the 5th – 9th centuries – 3519 fragments (12.9%) and the 15th – 16th centuries – 2072 fragments (7.5%).
Within the medieval settlement from Păhărniceni, there are six phases of inhabitation, which correspond to the cultural aspects of the Prut-Dniester area: a) the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca type phase (5th – 7th centuries), b) the Lozna-Dodești type (8th – 9th centuries), c) the Dridu type (9th – 11th centuries), d) the Brănești type (12th – 13th centuries), e) the Lozova-Vorniceni type (14th century) and f) the Moldavian medieval type (15th – 16th centuries).
In the settlement were discovered 13 medieval houses, including 3 – from the 5th – 7th centuries, 5 – from the 8th – 9th centuries and another 5 – from the 10th – 13th centuries. Among them, there are two categories of dwellings: a) terrestrial, represented by a construction from the 5th – 7th centuries (no. 26) and b) deep, represented by 12 constructions (Fig. 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 24, 28, 36), including, 2 from the 5th – 7th centuries (no. 32, no. 44), 5 from the 8th – 9th centuries (no. 1-B, no. 1-C, no. 4, no. 25, no. 33) and another 5 from the 10 – 13th centuries (no. 1-A, no. 2, no. 3, no. 30, no. 31). The houses are divided into two types by their building method: a) houses with overlapping beam structure (“Blockbautechnik” type) - documented in 7 cases: no. 44 (5th – 7th centuries), no. 1-B, no. 1-C, no. 25, no. 33 (8th – 9th centuries) and no. 1-A, no. 2 (10th – 13th centuries) and b) dwellings with a structure built on pillars – documented in 5 cases: no. 32 (5th – 7th centuries), no. 4 (8th – 9th centuries) and no. 3, no. 30 and no. 31 (11th – 14th centuries). The fire constructions in the houses include 18 installations, represented by stone ovens (11 constructions), clay ovens (one construction) and open hearths (6 constructions).
The discovered auxiliary and production constructions are represented by 13 complexes, including an outbuilding from the 8th – 9th centuries (no. 39-A), 5 household pits – from the 8th –9th centuries (no. 1, no. 43) and the 10th – 14th centuries (no. 4, no. 38, no. 35), a stone oven from the 10th – 12th centuries (no. 1), 3 hearths of fruit drying from the 10th – 13th centuries (no. 1, no. 27, no. 34), 3 furnaces for reducing iron ore from the 10th – 12th centuries (no. 1, no. 2, no. 29) and an ore enrichment furnace from the 10th – 12th centuries (no. 1).
Paleobotanic analyzes showed that in the early medieval period in the settlement of Păhărniceni, soft wheat, rye, barley, oats and millet corn were grown. At the same time, archaeozoological analyzes showed the following composition of the herd of domestic animals in the early medieval period: cattle – 41.5%, ovicaprine – 19.1%, pig – 24.5% and horse – 14.9%.
Out of a total of 242 pieces of inventory, 212 pieces represent household tools (household tools – 68 pieces, textile tools – 87 pieces, leather tools - one piece, agricultural tools – 4 pieces, metallurgy and blacksmith tools – 28 pieces, tools for construction works – 6 pieces), 1 piece of clothing, 20 ornaments, 6 pieces of worship and 3 pieces of armament. Among them are 2 pieces made of silver, 5 of bronze, 6 of copper, 78 of iron, 1 of lead, 5 of glass, 14 of shale, 3 of sandstone, 93 of burnt clay, 30 of bone and 5 of ceramics. Most of the listed objects date from the 10th – 14th centuries – 223 units, followed by the 8th – 9th centuries – 15 pieces and the 5th – 7th centuries – 4 pieces. Among the most common are the following pieces: 49 iron knives, 80 clay / shale / ceramic spindles, 19 bone awls, clay nozzles from metallurgical furnaces, 6 beads of bass or burnt clay, 4 bronze / glass bracelets, 3 bone amulets, 3 iron arrows and 2 bronze pendants.
The Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement is organically part of the territorial group of early medieval settlements in the historical-geographical region of Codrii Orheiului. This territorial group includes 41 archeological sites, which in proportion of 80% have structures made up of 2-4 levels of early medieval habitation, the settlements with a single cultural horizon being rare (Fig. 2, Tab. 27). This group of settlements are located in the lower part of the Răut river basin, occupying an area of about 40x40 km. Within this group of settlements, the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” location occupies the central place. Through a complex multi-layered structure, the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement presents itself as a unique archaeological phenomenon, a model of early medieval habitation in the Codrii Orheiului area, which at the same time has a special historical and cultural significance for the entire Romanian space.
This monograph represents a synthesis focused on the early medieval civilization from the Prut-Nistru region, elaborated with the aim to determine the ethno-cultural fond of this civilization, to elucidate its main characteristics, to highlight the elements of continuity and discontinuity, to establish the form of social-political organization, the relations between this and alien civilizations.
The geographical framework analyzed in the book is the space between the rivers Nistru and Prut, stretching from the Black Sea and the delta of Danube up to the north of Bucovina. The choice of Prut-Nistru space is motivated by research considerations so as to restore the picture of social evolution at a certain historical stage.
From geographical viewpoint the Prut-Nistru space is divided in three main areas: north, center and south. The northern zone begins with the territories from the north of Bucovina and stretches down to the limit Făleşti-Bălţi-Soroca; the central zone – comprises the territories lying south of Bălţi until the limit Leova-Cimişlia-Căuşeni-Bender, and the southern zone includes the territories between the later limit and Lower Danube.
The chronological framework of the book corresponds to the early medieval period which, in the case of Prut-Nistru region, is dated traditionally with the 5th-13th centuries. In certain cases, the upper chronological limit of the monograph was extended to the middle of the 15th century hence taking into account the complexity of archaeological realities, especially those referring to the nomads from the last period of the early medieval period.
The work is structured in Introduction, I. Sources and historiography, II. Demographic framework, III. Habitat, IV. Economy, V. Spirituality, VI. Social-political and military organization of the autochthons, VII. Relations with migration peoples and the neighboring countries and Conclusion. Bibliography; Statistical tables (31); Diagrams (75); Maps (48), as well as Repertory of settlements, necropolises, barrows complexes and monetary discoveries are annexed to the main text.
We conclude at the end of the study that in the Prut-Nistru space in the early medieval period developed a complex civilization which generally corresponds to the level of development characteristic to the central and eastern European regions. This civilization had a strong ethno-cultural autochthonous fond at its basis, infused to a certain degree with alien influences.
The complexity of the early medieval civilization from Prut-Nistru region was the product of ethno-cultural interactions: autochthons-aliens, Christians-pagans and sedentary-nomads, who bear the diverse characteristics of the populations which settled down permanently or temporarily in the region. These relations are observed in the Prut-Nistru space during the entire early medieval period – at the level of demographic evolutions, habitat, economic development, spirituality and socio-political relations. The sedentary population from Prut-Nistru space is incorporated perfectly in the circle of the old Romanian civilization from the northern Danubian region and it was part of it during the entire early medieval period.
Die Analyse des archäologischen Materials aus dem Siedlungsstätte Hanska und anderen Stätten hat auch gezeigt, daß in der ethnokulturellen Hinsicht im Gebiet der moldauischen Kodry im 5.–14. Jh. die Nachfolge der Haupttraditionen beobachtet wird, obwohl sie verstärktem Einfluß und der Veränderung ausgesetzt worden waren. Während des genannten Zeitraums veränderte die materielle Kultur der autochthonen Bevölkerung in diesem Gebiet ihren Charakter einige Male. Dieser Vorgang findet seinen Niederschlag in der konsequenten Abwechslung von vier archäologischen Kulturen, die am beispiel der Siedlung Hanska deutlich zuruckverfolgt und in acht chronologische stufen gegliedert sind.
Die im 5.–7. Jh. datierte erste Stufe kennzeichnet sich durch die archäologischen Materialen der Costischa-Botoschana-Hanska-Kultur, die für die romanische Bevölkerung des Karpaten-Nistrugebiets typisch ist und wo die für die alte Slawen kennzeichnenden Elemente der Prag- und Penkowo-Kulturen vorhanden sind. In der Siedlung Hanska sind 31 die Wohnungen diser Zeit aufgefundet die sich in 13 Territorialeinheiten befinden.
Die im 8. Jh. datierte Stufe kennzeichnet sich durch die archäologischen Materialen der ersten Phase der Dridu-Kultur, die für die altrumänische Bevölkerung typisch ist. Im der Siedlung Hanska sind 24 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefungen, die sich in 11 Territorialeinheiten befinden, 9 von denen sind die Fortzetzung der zu der vorigen Stufe gehörten Sitzen.
Die im 9. Jh. datierte Stuffe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der zweiten Phase der Dridu-Kultur kennzeichnet. In der zu der genannten Zeit gehörende Siedlung Hanska sind 17 Wohnungen aufgefunden, die sich in 8 Territorialsitzen befinden, sieben von denen schon in der vorigen Stufe bekannt waren.
Die im 10. – die erste Hälfte des 11. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der dritten Phase der Dridu-Kultur kennzeichnet unter denen sich die für die Türkobulgarische Bevölkerung typischen einzelne elemente sondern. In der Siedlung Hanska sind 18 Wohnungen dieser Stufe aufgefunden, die sich auf 8 Territorialeinbeiten befinden, sechs davon sind schon in der vorigen Stufe bemerkt.
Die im 11. – Anfang des 12. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der letzten vierten Phase der Dridu-Kultur kennzeichnet, darunter sind die für die Steppenbevölkerung typischen einzelnen Elemente vorhanden. In der Siedlung Hanska sind 25 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefunden, die sich in 8 auf Grundlage der Sitze der vorigen Stufe entstanden Territorialeinheiten befinden.
Die im 12. – Anfang des 13. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der frühen Phase der Räducäneni-Kultur kennzeichnet, die genetisch aus den Stätten des Dridu-Typs herausgewachsen sind. Neben den vorwiegenden autochthonen Kulturellementen kommen auch unter den Materialen dieser Stufe die kulturfremden Traditionen vor, die nur unter dem Einfluß der Steppenvölker-Petschenegen und Kumaner entstehen konnten. In Hanska sind 14 Wohnungen dieser Zeit erforscht, die sich in 8 Territorialeinheiten befinden, sieben von denen schon in den früheren Stufen der Siedlungsexistenz bekannt waren.
Die im 13. Ih. datierte siebente Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der spaten Phase der Räducäneni-Kultur kennzeichnet. In Hanska sind 15 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefunden, die sich in 8 Territorialeinheiten befinden, fünf von denen auch in der vorigen Stufe bekannt waren.
Die in der ersten Hälfte des 14. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der Kultur der autochthonen Bevölkerung in Verbindung mit den Elementen der Goldene-Horde-Stadtzivilisation kennzeichnet. In Hanska sind 9 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefunden, die auf der Stelle der früheren Territorialeinheiten liegen.
Резюме: РУМЫНЫ МОЛДАВСКИХ КОДР В РАННЕМ СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЬЕ (археологическое исследование на основе керамики поселения Ханска).
На основе керамического материала с селища Ханска выделены восемь хронологических этапов поселения, датируемых в пределах V-XIV вв.
Первый этап датируемый V-VII вв. характеризуется археологическими материалами культуры Костиша-Ботошана-Ханска, типичной для романского населения Карпато-Днестровского региона, в которой присутствуют элементы пражской и пеньковской культур, характерных для древних славян. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 31 жилище этого времени которые размещены в 13 территориальных единицах.
Второй этап, датируемый VIII веком, характеризуется археологическими материалами первой фазы культуры Дриду, типичной для древнерумынского населения. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 24 жилища этого времени, которые размещены в 11 территориальных единицах, 9 из которых являются продолжением гнёзд предшествующего этапа.
Третий этап датируемый IX веком характеризуется археологическими материалами второй фазы культуры Дриду. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 17 жилищ указанного времени, которые размещены в 8 территориальных гнёздах, семь из которых были известны на предшествующем этапе.
Четвёртый этап, датирующийся Х - первой четвертью XI в. характеризуется археологическими материалами третьей фазы культуры Дриду, среди которых выдляются отдельные элементы типичные для группы тюрко-болгарского населения. На поселении Ханска обнаружено 18 жилищ данного этапа, размещённые в 8 территориальных единицах, шесть из которых отмечены на предшествующем этапе.
Пятый этап, датирующийся XI - началом XII вв. характеризуется археологическими материалами последней, четвертой фазы культуры Дриду, среди которых присутствуют отдельные элементы типичные для степного населения. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 25 жилищ этого времени, размещённых в восьми территориальных единицах, возникших на основе гнёзд предшествующего этапа.
Шестой этап, датирующийся XII - началом XIII вв. характеризуется археологическими материалами ранней фазы культуры Рэдукэнень, генетически вырастившей из памятников типа Дриду. Наряду с преобладающими автохтонными культурными элементами среди материалов данного этапа встречаются также и инокультурные традиции, которые могли появится под воздействием степных народов печенегов и половцев. В Ханске исследованы 14 жилищ этого времени, размещённых в 8 территориальных единицах, семь из которых были известны на более ранних этапах поселения.
Седьмой этап, датирующийся XIII веком характеризуется археологическими материалами поздней фазы культуры Рэдукэнень. В Ханске обнаружены 15 жилищ этого времени размещённых в 8 территориальных единицах, пять из которых были известны и на прошлом этапе.
Восьмой этап, датирующийся первой половины XIV в. характеризуется археологическими материалами культуры автохтонного населения типа Лозово в сочетании с элементами городской цивилизации Золотой Орды. В Ханске обнаружены 9 жилищ этого времени, размещённых на месте более ранних территориальных единиц.
The monograph presents the results of the archaeological research carried out in 1986-1987 at the Mereni “Chirca” site near the village of Mereni, Anenii Noi District of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the results of the 1974-2014 archaeological explorations conducted in this area.
At the current stage, 23 archaeological sites have been discovered on the lands of the village of Mereni and in the adjacent areas, of which five are prehistoric and ancient settlements, and 18 ones are burial mounds with graves of different eras.
The oldest human settlement on the land of the village of Mereni in the Petroșița Valley, dating back to the Copper Age (Cucuteni-Trypillian culture, the 5th-4th millennia BC), is superimposed by the Late Antique settlement of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture (the 3rd-4th centuries).
Another ancient settlement in the area, at the “Chirca” point, dating back to the Bronze Age (Sabatinovka culture, the 16th-11th centuries BC), is also superimposed by a settlement of the Late Antiquity period (Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture, the 3rd-4th centuries).
In the farmlands of the village of Mereni there are two more settlements of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture dating back to the Late Antiquity period: one in the “Școala Berjan” sector located in the residential part of the present village, and the other at the “Costișa Maximului” point to the north-west of the village.
Another settlement, located in the center of the village of Mereni, in the “Vatra satului” sector, belongs to the medieval and modern period.
The burial mounds in the historical grounds of the Mereni village are located in nine places on the tops of the hills in the Mereni valley, in groups of 2, 3 or 5 mounds.
The Mereni “Chirca” site is located in the valley of the Mereni stream, at a distance of 0.7 km southeast of the village, spread over a space 1000 m long and 200-300 m wide. An area of 1560 square meters was explored. Cultural horizons of the Bronze Age (a settlement attributed to the Noua-Sabatinovka-Coslogeni cultural complex, the 16th-11th centuries BC) and the Late Antiquity (a settlement with necropolis attributed to the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture, the 3rd-4th centuries) have been well documented in this site. Also, within this site sporadic remains of the Early Iron Age were found: from the 7th-3rd centuries BC (a temporary settlement, possibly of Scythian nomads) and of the Middle Ages: the 6th-9th, 10th-11th and 16th-17th centuries.
The 15 structures, 26 objects and 1185 pottery fragments represent the archaeological remains attributed to the Sabatinovka culture. Among the structures, there are three dwellings recessed into the ground with hearths made of fired clay and stones, a stone surface structure, a recessed auxiliary structure and 10 trash pits. The finds include two bronze objects (dagger, piercing tool), 14 flint objects (blades and scrapers), three sandstone objects (an axe, a grinding stone and a figurine), one made of granite (a pestle), four made of fired clay (zoomorphic figurines) and two made of bone. The pottery includes the following five groups: a. burnished black color fine ware – 14 fragments (1.2%): b. burnished fine ware of light colors – 295 fragments (24.9%); c. coarse cooking ware – 369 fragments (31.1%); d. cooking ware with a smooth surface – 249 fragments (21.0%); e. coarse containers for food storage – 358 fragments (21.8%).
No traces of “ash lenses” were found at the Mereni site, as is the case in most Sabatinovka-type settlements. This situation probably indicates a short-term habitation in this space. This is also shown by the relatively poor cultural layer and the small amount of pottery, with a clear predominance of coarse ware, which are characteristic of the early phase of the Sabatinovka culture. The unearthed bronze dagger characteristic of the pre-Sabatinovka phase also evidences the relation of the archaeological material from the Mereni settlement to the early stage.
The 85 archaeological complexes, 138 objects and 11842 pottery fragments belonging to the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture represent the archaeological remains attributed to the Late Antique period.
Among the structures, there are eight dwellings (three surface ones and five recessed into the ground), 73 trash pits, an annex, a fireplace feature and two inhumation graves. At the same time, among the discovered objects, three were made of bronze (a fibula, bracelets), one of brass (a small bell), 11 of iron (buckle, horseshoes, spear, wedge, clamps), nine of glass (beads, fragments of cups), one made of carnelian (a small bead), one of shale and nine of sandstone (whetstones), six of limestone (circular grinding stones), one of pebble (a weight), 90 made of burnt clay (spindle whorls, discs, balls, loom weights), three made of ancient amphorae (discs, polishers), one made of local pottery (a disc), and three made of bone (a skate, dice, piercing tools).
Pottery includes eight groups: coarse hand-shaped cooking ware – 3068 fragments (25.9%), fine gray ware – 3582 fragments (30.2%), gray rough ware – 2635 fragments (22.3%), black burnished ware – 536 fragments (4.5%), fine red ware – 482 fragments (4.1%), red rough ware – 322 fragments (2.7%), red-glazed Roman pottery – 13 fragments (0.1%) and Roman amphorae – 1204 fragments (10.2%).
The ancient settlement at Mereni is part of a microzone located between the courses of the Bâc, Ichel and Dniester rivers (about 35×35 km) where 75 settlements belonging to the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture are mapped. Thus, this settlement is near the well-known ancient sites from Budești and Bălțata, and together they form the group of the most archaeologically investigated Late Antique settlements in the Republic of Moldova.
Lucrarea este structurată în cinci părți, cu compartimente și subcompartimente ce țin de istoria multiseculară a mănăstirii, de cele mai recente descoperiri arheologice, cuprinde un bogat set de peste 300 de documente, numeroase descrieri de cărți manuscrise și de vechi tipărituri din biblioteca lăcașului, inscripții, legende și materiale descriptive, precum și o bogată bibliografie.
O deosebită atenție în lucrare este acordată „urmelor” lăsate de marii voievozi Ștefan cel Mare și Petru Rareș la mănăstire, relațiilor Mănăstirii Căpriana cu Muntele Athos, activității mitropolitului Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni la acest sfânt lăcaș și canonizării sale, procesului de renaștere și activităților de restaurare a mănăstirii ș.a. Un compartiment aparte este dedicat metocului Căprianei – Schitul Condrița.
Ediția este adresată oamenilor de știință, studenților, clerului și tuturor celor care se interesează de istoria și cultura românească.
The volume Textile archaeological heritage. From discovery to museum valorization is intended as a tribute to those who created these cultural goods, to those who discovered them and to those who, by conservation-restoration works, enabled them to transmit their contained message
- historical, technical, artistic - throughout centuries. At the same time, the volume addresses to the specialists in the field, with a view to share impressions related to the voyage made together with the archaeological textile artefacts, from discovery to museum valorization.
It is necessary to mention, from the very beginning, the fruitful collaboration in the field of preserving the cultural heritage, equally on the institutional level, between “Moldova” National Museum Complexof Iașiandreligious/academic assemblies from the Republic of Moldova, and between the museum specialists and specialists in archaeology and the related fields from the Republic of Moldova and Iași.
The archaeological artefacts have a special status within the type of textile artefacts, mostly due to the excessive brittleness, and their conservation-restoration require a synergy of actions coming from specialists in different fields, such as archaeology, history, art history, physics, chemistry, textile technology. The collaboration between the persons responsible for the conservation and restoration of the textile cultural heritage is essential for sustainable conservation and restoration, by means of adopting appropriate methodologies which respect its originality, history and integrity. The close collaboration between restorers and specialists in adjacent fields gives access to diverse information which comes to extend the overall picture of former epochs.
The study of the archaeological textiles reveals a large amount of information. It can specify, refine or verify the context of the discovery and even provide a date. The information brought to light gives clues about the social status of the owner as well as about the manufacture, local or imported from more or less remote areas, about taste, fashion, price, trade, etc. In this respect, the analysis of textiles enables the documentation of the history of techniques and garments; even the smallest fragment of textile material could be a rich source of data for archaeology and history.
Theconservation-restorationprocessofthearchaeological textiles is, for specialists, a true challenge. Dependent on the discovery contexts, the textile fragments have very different states of conservation/alteration: charred, mineralized, impressions, conserved in the regions with an extremely dry, cold or hot environment. The quality of their conservation significantly influences the quality of the collected information.
The volume presents the case studies of the archaeological textiles dated the 16th-19th centuries and discovered in three archaeological sites in the Republic of Moldova (Căpriana Monastery) and Romania (“St. Nicholas” Church of Aroneanu, Iași; “St. John the New” Nicoriță, Iași). Within these case studies, reference is made to the research, respectively, the implementation of several analytical strategies, specific to the composing materials, for providing information related to the morphology, composition, structure, types of degradation, conservation-restoration and museum valorization of these textile artefacts.
We would like to mention the fact that the idea of this publishing project came up during the research and conservation-restoration of the archaeological artefacts originating from the crypt of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni within Căpriana Monastery (2016- 2020).
The museum valorization of this movable religious heritage of exceptional value was carried out through a cross-border project, financed through the Joint Operational Programme Romania - Republic of Moldova 2014-2020. Thus, “Moldova” National Museum Complex of Iași, Romania, as coordinator, and Căpriana Monastery, Republic of Moldova, as partner, implemented the project Revitalizarea Mănăstirii Căpriana pentru promovarea patrimoniului ecleziastic unic prin cooperare transfrontalieră și digitalizare/ Enhancement of Căpriana Monastery for the Promotion of the Unique Ecclesiastic Heritage by Cross-border Cooperation and Digitization, in the period March 2020 - November 2021.
The opening of the museum with archaeological ecclesiastical artefacts “Holy Hierarch St. Gabriel”, the first museum of its kind in the Republic of Moldova, a major objective of the project, took place on the 6th of May 2021.
Another major objective was to present, in digital form, the archaeological heritage originating from the crypt of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni from Căpriana Monastery, Republic of Moldova, by making a permanent exhibition at Moldavia’s History Museum in Iași, using a new technique of immersive and interactive projection and providing the visitors an innovative virtual experience.
The idea of organising a museum within Căpriana Monastic Complex, for the safeguarding and valorisation of the archaeological artefacts that belonged to Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni, came up during the years in which these artefacts had been part of the conservation-restoration process carried out at the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration of the Cultural Heritage within "Moldova" National Museum Complex.
The uniqueness of the newly-created museum consists in the valorisation of the unparalleled ecclesiastical artefacts (textile items for clothing, fragments of leather footwear, religious objects made of metal) discovered at the Căpriana Monastery in 2016, when the relics of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni were exhumed, as part of the sanctification procedure. The ecclesiastical artefacts were saved through conservation-restoration works carried out by the specialists of the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania. The contract for the restoration of these ecclesiastical artefacts was financed through Căpriana Monastery's own funds only, courtesy of Archimandrite FILARET Cuzmin, the abbot of Căpriana Monastery.
The collaboration between "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania, and Căpriana Monastery started in 2002 and consisted in undertaking conservation-restoration works for the archaeological material derived from the necropolis of the monastery (“The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Church, the oldest church within the monachal complex), as a result of the archaeological research (1993-2016) coordinated by Prof. PhD. Hab. Gheorghe Postică. The guidebook of the Căpriana Monastery's Museum intends to provide useful information to the public uninformed in the field of heritage preservation, so that when visiting the museum and admiring a specific exhibit people would know the story behind it, its background information. Apart from the hard work needed for determining the manufacturing date or the specific time frame, sustained effort has also been put into saving these artefacts and making them properly prepared for museum display. The authors of the Guidebook wish not only to promote the artistic or documentary value of these unique artefacts, but to primarily present the diligence of those who, by their p r o f e s s i o n a l i sm, c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e restoration, reconstitution and conservation of these heritage items, representative for both the personality of metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni, and the world cultural heritage's culture, art and history.
The guidebook illustrates the richness of the archaeological items discovered in the crypt of metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni and restored by the specialists of the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania.
Moreover, in various historical stages, Căpriana Monastery represented a Christianity symbol in the Pruto-Dniester area, and in the late 20th century it was a symbol for the national liberation movement of the Bessarabian Romanians who were under the domination of the totalitarian Soviet empire.
In this context Căpriana Monastery has received increased attention from researchers, resulting in important studies on the history of the settlement, including the systematic archaeological investigations carried out during the last decades which brought to light important artefacts related to the past of this place.
As is the case for other period sites in the Romanian area, the archaeological vestiges found at Căpriana Monastery are mainly represented by inorganic materials (stone, mortar, ceramics, metal, etc.), the organic ones being relatively rare; within the last category, note should be made on samples of clothing textiles dated 16th-19th centuries.
The samples of archaeological textiles discovered within the funeral complexes of “The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Church and restored at the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration of the Cultural Heritage within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iași proved to be particularly valuable from the cultural-scientific point of view, as they provided unprecedented data regarding several types of historical clothing and techniques used in old textile processing and clothing making.
The monograph of Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D., focuses on the theoretical, methodological and applicative aspects implied by the process of safeguarding the early 19th century Christian- Orthodox liturgical costume, having as case study the liturgical vestment of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni. The present work is elaborated based on the archaeological textiles discovered within the High Hierarch’s crypt located at Căpriana Monastery and is a pioneering experience in the Central and Southeastern European area. At the same time, the monograph is a unique study, situated at the crossroads of archaeology and conservation-restoration.
The present work analyses the research history, the process of identifying the archaeological textiles found at Căpriana Monastery, the archaeological environment of the discovered liturgical textiles, the historical significance of the liturgical vestments, the methodology of research, conservation and restoration of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu- Bodoni’s liturgical vestments, the structure of the early 19th century liturgical costume, a special place being given to the process of conservation-restoration carried out in the case of the
liturgical archaeological textiles, and ends with a project designed for the museum valorisation of the restored liturgical vestments.
The work represents an original research which uses modern scientific principles and methodologies and is based on applied data resulted from the conservation-restoration of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni’s liturgical archaeological textiles, carried out by the author of the monograph - Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D.
The conservation-restoration of the archaeological textiles proved to be a very difficult and long-lasting process, due to the advanced state of degradation of the discovered artefacts. However, Mariana Gugeanu managed to find and implement the most effective scientific methods and solutions of conservation-restoration, safeguarding for humanity a cultural heritage treasure: an entire set of liturgical clothing dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. The significance of the clothing treasure recovered by means of the conservation- restoration project is all the greater as these cultural heritage assets belong to Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni, a remarkable historical personality, canonized among Christian Saints by the Orthodox Church in 2016.
A special part of the monographic work deals with the archaeological textiles originated from the necropolis of “The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Church, dated 16th-17th centuries, which are of great interest in establishing the techniques used in old textiles processing and clothing making.
The project carried out by Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D., had a strictly applicative final result: the inauguration of Căpriana Monastery Museum, in which the restored archaeological textiles took centre stage.
Therefore, the work signed by Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D., may be regarded as a genuine model for the research, conservation-restoration, safeguarding and cultural-scientific valorization of inestimable-value cultural heritage objects, such as the archaeological textiles.
Le site archéologique Orheiul Vechi (=L’Anciene Orhei) représente un système de monuments historiques et de paysages naturels situés sur les promontoires de la rivière Răut entre les villages Trebujeni et Butuceni, district Orhei, République de Moldova.
Les fouilles de Orheiul Vechi des années 1996-2001 nous ont offert des matériaux précieux qui permetent de resoudre une série de problèmes liés à l’histoire de ce site dans la période médievale.
Les investigations archéologiques ont prouvé que près de la citadelle de pierre, le peuplement actif date du Moyen Age tardif, plus exactement du XIIIe/XIVe-XVIIe siècles. Conformément aux données archéologiques obtenues, dans la région de la citadelle de Orheiul Vechi on distingue huit horizons cronologiques.
Le premier horizon cronologique, datant du XIIIe siècle - la première moitié du XIVe siècle, relève de l’évolution du site local, qui avait le centre dans la partie inférieure du promontoire, vers sud-ouest. Dans la partie supérieure de la terrasse, cet horizon culturel est représenté par le matériel céramique sporadique.
Le deuxième horizon cronologique, datant de la première moitié du XIVe siècle - 1369, vise la période de la Ville Sehr al-Cedid / Yanghi-Sehr (la Nouvelle Ville) de la Horde d’Or, construite sur le promontoire auprès de l’habitation autochtone. De la même période datent une tombe decouverte auprès de la muraille, deux fosses à bruler la chaux et deux fosses ménagères. Les fouilles archéologiques ont prouvé que la citadelle de pierre a été construite dans les années 1366-1369. Ainsi, on abouti à la conclusion que cette construction est cent ans encore plus ancienne qu’on la croyait. A l’appui du matériel archéologique obtenu, on peut affirmer qu’à l’étape initiale, la citadelle représentait la clôture autour du palais de l’enceinte connu dans la littérature comme “le palais du chef de la citadelle” qui formait ensemble un complexe intègre, nomé par les chercheurs la maison féudale (manoir) du chef politique de la région.
Les découvertes monétaires de Orheiul Vechi prouvent la présence d’une authorité politique d’importance régionale dans la ville située sur le Răut. Dans les années 1363-1365 la Nouvelle Ville située sur le Răut était la résidence de khan Abdallah, qui a initié la mise en circulation des monnaies de type Yanghi-Sehr / Seh al-Cedid. Le fait que les émissions monétaires locales ont continué à Orheiul Vechi même après le départ du khan Abdallah prouvent que la ville Sehr al-Cedid dans la période suivante a gardé le rôle de centre régional. Compte tenu des documents historiques on peut affirmer que dans les années 1366-1369 Orheiul Vechi, devient un centre résidentiel de certains chefs locaux qui promovaient une politique séparatiste vis à vis la Horde d’Or. Les recherches disciplinaires de la dernière décennie ont consolidé la conviction selon laquelle dans les années 1368-1369 Orheiul Vechi était la résidence de l’émir Dimitrie.
L’identification de Dimitrie avec l’émir des monnaies de Orheiul Vechi est très plausible, vu l’activité de ce prince, déployée dans les années 60 du XIVe siècle qui correspond en totalité avec la cronologie archéologique de la citadelle de pierre de ce site. Or, dans ce cas il s’agit d’une étrange coincidence des données archéologiques avec celles numismatiques et des documents écrits de même que les données d’architecture selon lesquelles “la citadelle” et “le palais” font partie des constructions de type oriental de la période de la Horde d’Or.
Donc, on peut considerer la construction de pierre autour du palais, connue en littérature comme “la citadelle de pierre de Orheiul Vechi avec le palais du chef politique”, la résidence de l’émir Dimitrie, qui la édifiée dans les années 1366/68-1369, et qui a probablement fonctionné à l’étape suivante du site dans le dernier quart du XIVe siècle.
Le troisième horizon cronologique, datant du dernier quart du XIVe siècle vise la première étape du habitat Orheiul Vechi, de la transformation de la ville orientalle en ville moldave. Dans le cadre de la construction du palais de Orheiul Vechi on a découvert une habitation avec un four de brique, préservé en bon état qui comprenait en préponderance des matériaux de céramique moldave en alternance avec des matériaux de type oriental.
Le quatrième horizon cronologique, datant de la première moitié du XVe siècle, couvre la période des prices Alexandru cel Bun (1400-1432) Iliaş (1432-1433, 1435-1442), Ştefan II (1433-1435, 1436-1447). De cette époque datent 4 habitations, decouvertes dans la partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle, dont deux étaient creusées et deux situées à la surface. Un intérêt à part présente l’habitation de muraille, située dans la partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle, qui représentait une construction ayant une architecture particulière, peut-être d’origine orientale et qui a souffert plusieurs modifications au cours de quelques étapes.
Le cinquième horizon cronologique, datant de la deuxième moitié du XVe siècle- début du XVIe siècle relève de la période du prince Ştefan cel Mare. Cette époque est représenteé par trois habitations, y compris une habitation reconstruite à la base de l’habitation de muraille de la partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle. A cette étape, dans le contexte des travaux de fortification de la citadelle de Orhei sur l’ordre du prince Ştefan cel Mare, on a remis a neuf les murs de la citadelle qui était transformée en résidence des chefs de la citadelle de Orhei. Dans la période de gouvernance de Ştefan cel Mare la citadelle de Orheiul Vechi a disposé d’artilerie de feu, fait prouvé par la découverte des deux canons de bronze, fabriqués dans le dernier quart du XVe siècle dans la remblai de l’habitation de muraille située dans partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle. Ces canons étaient cachés dans les décombres d’une habitation du XVIe siècle peut être au cours de l’invasion des tatars de Crimée de 1510. L’église en bois et la nécropole située auprès de la muraille d’est de la citadelle où on a découvert quelques dizaines de tombes datent du XVe siècle - début du XVIe siècle.
Le sixième horizon cronologique, datant de la première moitié du XVIe siècle, vise la période de déclin de la citadelle, de la ville Orheiul Vechi et le déplacement de la ville Orhei dans un autre lieu, à 15 km vers nord-ouest. De cette période datent deux constructions à caractère locatif.
Le septième horizon cronologique, datant du milieu du XVIe siècle, relève de la démolition de la citadelle de pierre, opération effectuée probablement lors du règne de Alexandru Lăpuşneanu qui a supprimé à la demande des turques plusieurs citadelles parmis lesquelles pourrait figurer celle de Orhei. Cette affirmation s’appuie sur des données archéologiques, qui placent les décombres de la citadelle de pierre dans la période du XVIe siècle.
Le huitième horizon cronologique, datant de la deuxième moitié du XVIe siècle - première moitié du XVIIe siècle, vise la tentative du prince Eremia Movilă de refaire en 1600 la citadelle Orheiul Vechi et l’étape du bourg (village) Peştere - Movilău. À la période respective se rapporte le repli de terre situé à l’est de la citadelle et une habitation de surface avec un four de brique, identifiée dans la partie de sud-ouest de l’ enceinte fortifiée.
Ainsi, les fouilles archéologiques des années 1996-2001 de Orheiul Vechi ont offert des données qui contestent les affirmations préconçues de certains auteurs anciens concernant l’absence dans le cadre de ce site de l’horizon culturel autochton dans la période prémongole ; le manque d’une liaison entre la ville de la période de la Horde d’Or et la ville moldave ; l’attribution de ces deux citadelles médievales au XVe siècle.
Les données archéologiques obtenues prouvent l’existence d’un habitat autochtone rural dans la période prémongole dans le site Orheiul Vechi avec le centre dans la partie inférieure du promontoire.
Dans la période de la domination de la Horde d’Or, dans l’espace de Orheiul Vechi, les mongoles ont bati une ville de type oriental, nommée la Nouvelle Ville - Yanghi-Sehr- Sehr al-Cedid, ayant une monnaie propre de cuivre et d’argent. Dans les années 1366-1369 au lieu de la citadelle on a aménagé une construction quadrilatère de pierre, qui clôturait le palais du chef politique, identifié avec l’émir Dimitrie.
Dans le dernier quart du XIV-e siècle, après le départ de la Horde d’Or le site continue sa vie d’une manière plus restreinte à la base de la population autochtone afin de dévenir vers le début du XVe siècle une véritable ville moldave, connue sous le nom de Orhei.
Dans le XVe siècle au cours du règne de Alexandru cel Bun et de Ştefan cel Mare la ville Orhei connait une progression ascendente, le nombre de la population augmente, le commerce se développe, la circulation monétaire prospère, de nouvelles constructions apparaissent, les fortifications du site sont consolidées, la citadelle de pierre avec le complexe palatin construits dans le XIVe siècle deviennent la résidence administrative et militaire des chefs politiques de Orhei.
The monograph “Hansca. The early medieval settlement from Lăpușna Codrii”, represents the synthesis of the archaeological investigations carried out during 20 research campaigns, during the years 1960-1991, in the early medieval settlement Hansca–“Limbari-Căprăria”, located at a distance of 21 km south -west from Chișinău municipality.
The book consists of two parts: the analytical part, in which are analyzed the medieval vestiges discovered in the Hansca settlement, and the documentary part, in which are presented, systematically, the archaeological complexes and artifacts discovered in the years 1960-1991.
Part I of the work consists of 15 chapters: I. The geographical framework and the archaeological map of the microzone, II. History of archaeological research, III. Generalities regarding the medieval settlement, IV. Chronology of the medieval settlement, V. Characteristic of the medieval settlement, VI. Housing, VII. Auxiliary and production structures, VIII. Archaeological inventory, IX. Farming and auxiliary occupations, X. Crafts and household occupations, XI. Commercial relations, XII. Religious beliefs, XIII. Clothing, leisure, medicine, XIV. Weapons and military equipment, XV. The medieval community of Hansca.
Part II of the work is made up of 7 chapters: I. Archaeological complexes from the 5th-7th centuries, II. Archaeological complexes from the 8th-9th centuries, III. Archaeological complexes from the 10th-11th centuries, IV. Archaeological complexes from the 12th-13th centuries, V. Archaeological complexes from the 14th century, VI. Archaeological complexes from the 15th-16th centuries and VII. Archaeological complexes from the 17th-18th centuries.
The work is accompanied by a preface written by the academician Victor Spinei, an introduction and a conclusion. At the end of the work is the bibliography, 85 statistical tables that reflect the archaeological remains discovered, 109 figures with cartographic and photographic materials relating to the settlement of Hansca and 249 plates with graphic and photographic materials regarding the archaeological complexes and discovered artifacts.
The medieval settlement of Hansca is located on the estate of the village of the same name, in the Ialoveni district, Republic of Moldova (Figures1-8). From a historical point of view, the village of Hansca was part of the former land of Lăpuşna and, respectively, of the region of the Lăpuşna Codrii (forest).
10 archaeological sites were discovered around the village of Hansca: Hansca–„Limbari-Căprăria”, Hansca–„Toloaca”, Hansca–„Lutăria”, Hansca–„La Matcă”, Hansca–„Cetate”, Hansca–„Hârtop”, Hansca–„Sat”, Hansca–„Livada”, Hansca–„Valea Lutăriei” and Hansca–„Dealul Socii” (Figure 26), within which 15 cultural-chronological horizons were delimited, dating from the Eneolithic to the pre-modern era. These sites are located in the valley of the Botnișoara stream, a right tributary of the Botna river, on a stretch of about 3.0 km with a width of 0.6-0.8 km, forming a consecutive row, from the northwest towards southeast.
The famous Hansca–“Limbari-Căprăria” site is located at the northwestern end of this area, 0.2 km northwest of the current village, on both sides of the Botnișoara stream valley, at an altitude of 130-150 m (Figures 9-20). This archaeological site is complex, consisting of 12 levels of habitation, dating from the Bronze Age to the pre-modern period.
The archaeological site occupies an area of about 1000 x 500-600 m, while the medieval settlement within it, depending on the period, ranges in size from 4-6 ha to 15-20 ha (Figures 26-29).
At the Hansca–"Limbari-Căprăria" site, research was carried out during 20 systematic archaeological excavation campaigns, the works being coordinated by Ana I. Meliukova (1960); Ion Hîncu (1964-1977) in the team with Isak Rafalovici (1964-1972), Ion Niculiță (1966-1977), Emanuil Rikman (1968, 1970) and Gheorghe Postică (1976-1977); Ion Niculiță (1979-1981) in the team with Gheorghe Postică (1979-1981); Gheorghe Cebotarenco (1979-1981) in the team with Natalia Golțeva (1980) and Nicolai Telnov (1980-1981); Gheorghe Postică (1990-1991) in the team with Valerii Kavruk (1990-1991) (Figures 21-22).
Within the Hansca site, an area of 23246,46 m2 was investigated, which is about 20% of its total area (Figure 31-34). 717 early medieval archaeological complexes were discovered, including 163 dwellings, 3 workshops, 14 outbuildings, 16 hearths, 51 ovens dug in virgin clay, 14 iron ore reduction furnaces, 250 household pits, a well and 203 graves (Tables 4, 5-a).
The collection of early medieval archaeological material from Hansca includes 1537 inventory items, about 90 complete ceramic vessels, over 75000 ceramic fragments and other materials.
Starting from the systematization of the investigated surfaces, within the Hansca settlement five basic sectors were delimited (North-West, South-West, South, North-East and South-East), these being investigated unevenly, from 4% up to 24% of their total area.
Within the researched sectors, 20 housing groups (No. I-XX) were delimited, two spaces with well-defined necropolises („Căprăria” and „Limbari”), to which is added a housing sector (No. XXI) from the nearby settlement Hansca–„La Matcă” (Figures 35-55).
The cultural layer of the settlement, depending on the researched area, contains archaeological remains from various historical periods, the predominant ones being the early medieval remains from the 5th-14th centuries and of the Getae culture from the 4th-3rd centuries BC. Within the settlement, no clear delimitation of the Getae layer from the medieval layer was found. At the same time, multiple crossings of Getae or prehistoric constructions with early medieval complexes were found. Also, were found multiple intersections or overlays of early medieval constructions from the 5th-7th, 8th-9th, 10th-11th, 12th-13th centuries.
From a cultural-chronological point of view, the medieval archaeological remains discovered in the Hansca settlement are classified into seven groups: 1) remains of the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca type (5th-7th centuries), 2) remains of the Lozna-Dodești type (8th-9th centuries), 3) vestiges of the Dridu type (10th-11th centuries), 4) vestiges of the Răducăneni type (11th-13th centuries, 5) vestiges of the Lozova-Vorniceni type (14th century), 6) vestiges of the Moldavian medieval type (15th-16th centuries) and 7) vestiges of the pre-modern type (17th-18th centuries).
The groups of dwellings delimited in the medieval settlement of Hansca represent compact areas, which gather archaeological complexes from different stages of the Middle Ages - from the 5th-7th centuries to the 12th-14th centuries, and in some cases also from the 15th-16th or 17th-18th centuries. The delimited housing groups are located on both banks of the Botnișoara stream, on the south-west slope 15 groups are documented (no. I-XIII and XXI) and on the north-east – six groups (no. XIV-XX).
The chronology of the medieval settlement at Hansca is established on the basis of the artifacts with an absolute or relative chronological range, evaluated on the basis of analogies within the archaeological sites of the same time period in the area, the neighboring regions of the Carpathian-Dniester space, or more distant, in the Central-Eastern European area.
Artifacts with absolute chronological potential, which historically persisted for a limited time, calculated from a few decades to a century, are represented by coins, various types of fibulae, arrowheads, appliques, pendants or other objects, whose moment of manufacture can be expressed by an absolute date, or whose duration can be expressed in limited chronological intervals.
On the other hand, artifacts with relative chronological potential are represented by various objects with a wide distribution in time, in particular, ceramic fragments, but also inventory pieces with extended chronological intervals, which can include from two to three centuries to six - seven consecutive centuries.
Most of the artifacts discovered in the Hansca settlement, as well as in other sites of the same period, usually have a relative chronological potential, those with absolute chronological potential rather representing exceptions.
However, absolute or quasi-absolute chronological data is also obtained by the method of correlating objects from archaeological contexts, as in the case of closed complexes, which in certain cases contain artifacts with different chronological potential.
The early medieval settlement at Hansca occupies the lower part of the slopes and partly the meadow on both banks of the Botnișoara stream northwest of the current village, at an altitude of 130-150 m, on a stretch of about 1.0 km from northwest to southeast. From the northwest, the medieval settlement was bounded by the „Limbari” plateau, and from the south by the northern slope of the „Căprăria” hill. The sector of the settlement to the left of Botnișoara located at the foot of the „Pidașca” hill and partly in the meadow with a south-west orientation, unlike the sector on the opposite bank of the stream, has a regular smooth valley aspect.
The place of the medieval habitation in Hansca evolved over the centuries from a territorial point of view, in some periods being more extensive, in others more restricted, sometimes quite compact, in other periods relatively rarefied, these realities being ascertained on the basis of the mapping of the archaeological complexes in the 5th-7th, 8th-9th, 10th-11th, 12th-13th, 14th and 15th-16th centuries. At all historical stages, the Hansca settlement was structured in territorial units (nests) composed of dwellings and household annexes, most of which kept the evolutionary thread throughout the Middle Ages.
Starting from the spread area of the archaeological complexes (Figure 56), the surface of the Hansca settlement in the 5th-7th centuries is...
in Codrii Orheiului
The settlement from Păhărniceni–„Petruca” is located in the central part of the Prut-Dniester area, in the point „Petruca” near Păhărniceni village, Orhei district, Republic of Moldova, at a distance of 40 km North of Chișinău, in the historical-geographical area Codrii Orhei (=The Orhei Forest) (Fig. 1, 2). It has a length of about 800 m on the East-West axis and about 500 m on the South-North axis (Fig. 5-6). It is located on a smooth plateau with northern orientation, at an altitude of 185-190 m, exceeding by about 158-160 m the water level of the river Răut, located 4 km north (Fig. 4-6).
The early medieval settlement from Păhărniceni–„Petruca” is a remarkable example of continuity of an agricultural community for over a thousand years in a small geographical area at the eastern extremity of the Romanian world. Located in the heart of the Orhei Codri, this settlement went through all the known historical stages of the Middle Ages in the Romanian space (Fig. 1, 2). The settlement is one of the few multilayered archeological sites which also has representative houses from most of the known historical epochs in the Carpathian-Dniester area. As a multi-layered archaeological site, the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement has 12 phases, which belong to five major historical periods, including: I. The prehistoric period: a) the Cucuteni-Tripillia culture phase – 5th – 4th millennia BC, b) Multi-cordoned ware culture (Mnogovalikovaya) phase – 22th – 18th centuries BC, c) the phase of the Noua culture – 15th –13th centuries BC; II. Early Bronze Age: a) Chișinău-Corlăteni culture phase – 12th – 10th centuries BC, b) the phase of the Poienești-Lucașeuca culture – end of the 3rd – 1st centuries BC; III. Late Ancient period: the phase of the Sântana de Mureș-Cerneahov culture – 3rd – 4th centuries; IV. Early Medieval Age – a) the phase of the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca culture (5th – 7th centuries), b) the Lozna-Dodești type culture phase (8th – 9th centuries), c) the Dridu culture phase (10th – 11th centuries), d) the Brănești type culture phase (12th – 13th centuries) and e) Lozova-Vorniceni type culture phase (first half of the 14th century) and V. Late Middle Ages: the phase of the Moldavian medieval culture (15th – 16th centuries). The medieval habitat within the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement compared to other historical periods is the most representative, summing up over 78.0% of the total identified archaeological materials.
The Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement was discovered in 1957. After a control survey from 1958 (P. Bârnea), the settlement had been studied through systematic archaeological excavations in 1961-1963 – on an area of 376 m2 (I. Hîncu) and in 1988 – on a surface of 860 m2 (Gh. Postică and V. Kavruk). The cultural layer of the settlement has a thickness varying from 0.80-1.10 m to 1.20-1.40 m. Compared to other sites of the same period in the eastern Carpathian area, the early medieval settlement from Păhărniceni is notable for the intensity of the archaeological material. Within the site, on an area of 1236 m2 were discovered: 28 constructions (dwellings, outbuildings, autonomous fire constructions, metallurgical installations, ditches from fencing, household pits) (Tab. 2), 27351 fragments of medieval pottery (Tab. 3-23), 242 pieces of inventory (Tab. 25), 636 pieces of iron ore (= 51.1 kg), 1331 pieces of iron slag (= 149.2 kg), 1427 pieces of burnt clay, 359 fragments of burnt clay trays, 92 fragments of burnt clay nozzles from metallurgical furnaces (Tab. 24) and 5506 animal bones (Tab. 26).
The analysis of the archeological material, denotes a predominance of the vestiges from the 10th – 14th centuries – 21760 ceramic fragments (79.6% of the total number of medieval ceramics), followed by the period of the 5th – 9th centuries – 3519 fragments (12.9%) and the 15th – 16th centuries – 2072 fragments (7.5%).
Within the medieval settlement from Păhărniceni, there are six phases of inhabitation, which correspond to the cultural aspects of the Prut-Dniester area: a) the Costișa-Botoșana-Hansca type phase (5th – 7th centuries), b) the Lozna-Dodești type (8th – 9th centuries), c) the Dridu type (9th – 11th centuries), d) the Brănești type (12th – 13th centuries), e) the Lozova-Vorniceni type (14th century) and f) the Moldavian medieval type (15th – 16th centuries).
In the settlement were discovered 13 medieval houses, including 3 – from the 5th – 7th centuries, 5 – from the 8th – 9th centuries and another 5 – from the 10th – 13th centuries. Among them, there are two categories of dwellings: a) terrestrial, represented by a construction from the 5th – 7th centuries (no. 26) and b) deep, represented by 12 constructions (Fig. 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 24, 28, 36), including, 2 from the 5th – 7th centuries (no. 32, no. 44), 5 from the 8th – 9th centuries (no. 1-B, no. 1-C, no. 4, no. 25, no. 33) and another 5 from the 10 – 13th centuries (no. 1-A, no. 2, no. 3, no. 30, no. 31). The houses are divided into two types by their building method: a) houses with overlapping beam structure (“Blockbautechnik” type) - documented in 7 cases: no. 44 (5th – 7th centuries), no. 1-B, no. 1-C, no. 25, no. 33 (8th – 9th centuries) and no. 1-A, no. 2 (10th – 13th centuries) and b) dwellings with a structure built on pillars – documented in 5 cases: no. 32 (5th – 7th centuries), no. 4 (8th – 9th centuries) and no. 3, no. 30 and no. 31 (11th – 14th centuries). The fire constructions in the houses include 18 installations, represented by stone ovens (11 constructions), clay ovens (one construction) and open hearths (6 constructions).
The discovered auxiliary and production constructions are represented by 13 complexes, including an outbuilding from the 8th – 9th centuries (no. 39-A), 5 household pits – from the 8th –9th centuries (no. 1, no. 43) and the 10th – 14th centuries (no. 4, no. 38, no. 35), a stone oven from the 10th – 12th centuries (no. 1), 3 hearths of fruit drying from the 10th – 13th centuries (no. 1, no. 27, no. 34), 3 furnaces for reducing iron ore from the 10th – 12th centuries (no. 1, no. 2, no. 29) and an ore enrichment furnace from the 10th – 12th centuries (no. 1).
Paleobotanic analyzes showed that in the early medieval period in the settlement of Păhărniceni, soft wheat, rye, barley, oats and millet corn were grown. At the same time, archaeozoological analyzes showed the following composition of the herd of domestic animals in the early medieval period: cattle – 41.5%, ovicaprine – 19.1%, pig – 24.5% and horse – 14.9%.
Out of a total of 242 pieces of inventory, 212 pieces represent household tools (household tools – 68 pieces, textile tools – 87 pieces, leather tools - one piece, agricultural tools – 4 pieces, metallurgy and blacksmith tools – 28 pieces, tools for construction works – 6 pieces), 1 piece of clothing, 20 ornaments, 6 pieces of worship and 3 pieces of armament. Among them are 2 pieces made of silver, 5 of bronze, 6 of copper, 78 of iron, 1 of lead, 5 of glass, 14 of shale, 3 of sandstone, 93 of burnt clay, 30 of bone and 5 of ceramics. Most of the listed objects date from the 10th – 14th centuries – 223 units, followed by the 8th – 9th centuries – 15 pieces and the 5th – 7th centuries – 4 pieces. Among the most common are the following pieces: 49 iron knives, 80 clay / shale / ceramic spindles, 19 bone awls, clay nozzles from metallurgical furnaces, 6 beads of bass or burnt clay, 4 bronze / glass bracelets, 3 bone amulets, 3 iron arrows and 2 bronze pendants.
The Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement is organically part of the territorial group of early medieval settlements in the historical-geographical region of Codrii Orheiului. This territorial group includes 41 archeological sites, which in proportion of 80% have structures made up of 2-4 levels of early medieval habitation, the settlements with a single cultural horizon being rare (Fig. 2, Tab. 27). This group of settlements are located in the lower part of the Răut river basin, occupying an area of about 40x40 km. Within this group of settlements, the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” location occupies the central place. Through a complex multi-layered structure, the Păhărniceni–„Petruca” settlement presents itself as a unique archaeological phenomenon, a model of early medieval habitation in the Codrii Orheiului area, which at the same time has a special historical and cultural significance for the entire Romanian space.
This monograph represents a synthesis focused on the early medieval civilization from the Prut-Nistru region, elaborated with the aim to determine the ethno-cultural fond of this civilization, to elucidate its main characteristics, to highlight the elements of continuity and discontinuity, to establish the form of social-political organization, the relations between this and alien civilizations.
The geographical framework analyzed in the book is the space between the rivers Nistru and Prut, stretching from the Black Sea and the delta of Danube up to the north of Bucovina. The choice of Prut-Nistru space is motivated by research considerations so as to restore the picture of social evolution at a certain historical stage.
From geographical viewpoint the Prut-Nistru space is divided in three main areas: north, center and south. The northern zone begins with the territories from the north of Bucovina and stretches down to the limit Făleşti-Bălţi-Soroca; the central zone – comprises the territories lying south of Bălţi until the limit Leova-Cimişlia-Căuşeni-Bender, and the southern zone includes the territories between the later limit and Lower Danube.
The chronological framework of the book corresponds to the early medieval period which, in the case of Prut-Nistru region, is dated traditionally with the 5th-13th centuries. In certain cases, the upper chronological limit of the monograph was extended to the middle of the 15th century hence taking into account the complexity of archaeological realities, especially those referring to the nomads from the last period of the early medieval period.
The work is structured in Introduction, I. Sources and historiography, II. Demographic framework, III. Habitat, IV. Economy, V. Spirituality, VI. Social-political and military organization of the autochthons, VII. Relations with migration peoples and the neighboring countries and Conclusion. Bibliography; Statistical tables (31); Diagrams (75); Maps (48), as well as Repertory of settlements, necropolises, barrows complexes and monetary discoveries are annexed to the main text.
We conclude at the end of the study that in the Prut-Nistru space in the early medieval period developed a complex civilization which generally corresponds to the level of development characteristic to the central and eastern European regions. This civilization had a strong ethno-cultural autochthonous fond at its basis, infused to a certain degree with alien influences.
The complexity of the early medieval civilization from Prut-Nistru region was the product of ethno-cultural interactions: autochthons-aliens, Christians-pagans and sedentary-nomads, who bear the diverse characteristics of the populations which settled down permanently or temporarily in the region. These relations are observed in the Prut-Nistru space during the entire early medieval period – at the level of demographic evolutions, habitat, economic development, spirituality and socio-political relations. The sedentary population from Prut-Nistru space is incorporated perfectly in the circle of the old Romanian civilization from the northern Danubian region and it was part of it during the entire early medieval period.
Die Analyse des archäologischen Materials aus dem Siedlungsstätte Hanska und anderen Stätten hat auch gezeigt, daß in der ethnokulturellen Hinsicht im Gebiet der moldauischen Kodry im 5.–14. Jh. die Nachfolge der Haupttraditionen beobachtet wird, obwohl sie verstärktem Einfluß und der Veränderung ausgesetzt worden waren. Während des genannten Zeitraums veränderte die materielle Kultur der autochthonen Bevölkerung in diesem Gebiet ihren Charakter einige Male. Dieser Vorgang findet seinen Niederschlag in der konsequenten Abwechslung von vier archäologischen Kulturen, die am beispiel der Siedlung Hanska deutlich zuruckverfolgt und in acht chronologische stufen gegliedert sind.
Die im 5.–7. Jh. datierte erste Stufe kennzeichnet sich durch die archäologischen Materialen der Costischa-Botoschana-Hanska-Kultur, die für die romanische Bevölkerung des Karpaten-Nistrugebiets typisch ist und wo die für die alte Slawen kennzeichnenden Elemente der Prag- und Penkowo-Kulturen vorhanden sind. In der Siedlung Hanska sind 31 die Wohnungen diser Zeit aufgefundet die sich in 13 Territorialeinheiten befinden.
Die im 8. Jh. datierte Stufe kennzeichnet sich durch die archäologischen Materialen der ersten Phase der Dridu-Kultur, die für die altrumänische Bevölkerung typisch ist. Im der Siedlung Hanska sind 24 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefungen, die sich in 11 Territorialeinheiten befinden, 9 von denen sind die Fortzetzung der zu der vorigen Stufe gehörten Sitzen.
Die im 9. Jh. datierte Stuffe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der zweiten Phase der Dridu-Kultur kennzeichnet. In der zu der genannten Zeit gehörende Siedlung Hanska sind 17 Wohnungen aufgefunden, die sich in 8 Territorialsitzen befinden, sieben von denen schon in der vorigen Stufe bekannt waren.
Die im 10. – die erste Hälfte des 11. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der dritten Phase der Dridu-Kultur kennzeichnet unter denen sich die für die Türkobulgarische Bevölkerung typischen einzelne elemente sondern. In der Siedlung Hanska sind 18 Wohnungen dieser Stufe aufgefunden, die sich auf 8 Territorialeinbeiten befinden, sechs davon sind schon in der vorigen Stufe bemerkt.
Die im 11. – Anfang des 12. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der letzten vierten Phase der Dridu-Kultur kennzeichnet, darunter sind die für die Steppenbevölkerung typischen einzelnen Elemente vorhanden. In der Siedlung Hanska sind 25 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefunden, die sich in 8 auf Grundlage der Sitze der vorigen Stufe entstanden Territorialeinheiten befinden.
Die im 12. – Anfang des 13. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der frühen Phase der Räducäneni-Kultur kennzeichnet, die genetisch aus den Stätten des Dridu-Typs herausgewachsen sind. Neben den vorwiegenden autochthonen Kulturellementen kommen auch unter den Materialen dieser Stufe die kulturfremden Traditionen vor, die nur unter dem Einfluß der Steppenvölker-Petschenegen und Kumaner entstehen konnten. In Hanska sind 14 Wohnungen dieser Zeit erforscht, die sich in 8 Territorialeinheiten befinden, sieben von denen schon in den früheren Stufen der Siedlungsexistenz bekannt waren.
Die im 13. Ih. datierte siebente Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der spaten Phase der Räducäneni-Kultur kennzeichnet. In Hanska sind 15 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefunden, die sich in 8 Territorialeinheiten befinden, fünf von denen auch in der vorigen Stufe bekannt waren.
Die in der ersten Hälfte des 14. Jh. datierte Stufe wird durch die archäologischen Materialen der Kultur der autochthonen Bevölkerung in Verbindung mit den Elementen der Goldene-Horde-Stadtzivilisation kennzeichnet. In Hanska sind 9 Wohnungen dieser Zeit aufgefunden, die auf der Stelle der früheren Territorialeinheiten liegen.
Резюме: РУМЫНЫ МОЛДАВСКИХ КОДР В РАННЕМ СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЬЕ (археологическое исследование на основе керамики поселения Ханска).
На основе керамического материала с селища Ханска выделены восемь хронологических этапов поселения, датируемых в пределах V-XIV вв.
Первый этап датируемый V-VII вв. характеризуется археологическими материалами культуры Костиша-Ботошана-Ханска, типичной для романского населения Карпато-Днестровского региона, в которой присутствуют элементы пражской и пеньковской культур, характерных для древних славян. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 31 жилище этого времени которые размещены в 13 территориальных единицах.
Второй этап, датируемый VIII веком, характеризуется археологическими материалами первой фазы культуры Дриду, типичной для древнерумынского населения. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 24 жилища этого времени, которые размещены в 11 территориальных единицах, 9 из которых являются продолжением гнёзд предшествующего этапа.
Третий этап датируемый IX веком характеризуется археологическими материалами второй фазы культуры Дриду. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 17 жилищ указанного времени, которые размещены в 8 территориальных гнёздах, семь из которых были известны на предшествующем этапе.
Четвёртый этап, датирующийся Х - первой четвертью XI в. характеризуется археологическими материалами третьей фазы культуры Дриду, среди которых выдляются отдельные элементы типичные для группы тюрко-болгарского населения. На поселении Ханска обнаружено 18 жилищ данного этапа, размещённые в 8 территориальных единицах, шесть из которых отмечены на предшествующем этапе.
Пятый этап, датирующийся XI - началом XII вв. характеризуется археологическими материалами последней, четвертой фазы культуры Дриду, среди которых присутствуют отдельные элементы типичные для степного населения. На поселении Ханска обнаружены 25 жилищ этого времени, размещённых в восьми территориальных единицах, возникших на основе гнёзд предшествующего этапа.
Шестой этап, датирующийся XII - началом XIII вв. характеризуется археологическими материалами ранней фазы культуры Рэдукэнень, генетически вырастившей из памятников типа Дриду. Наряду с преобладающими автохтонными культурными элементами среди материалов данного этапа встречаются также и инокультурные традиции, которые могли появится под воздействием степных народов печенегов и половцев. В Ханске исследованы 14 жилищ этого времени, размещённых в 8 территориальных единицах, семь из которых были известны на более ранних этапах поселения.
Седьмой этап, датирующийся XIII веком характеризуется археологическими материалами поздней фазы культуры Рэдукэнень. В Ханске обнаружены 15 жилищ этого времени размещённых в 8 территориальных единицах, пять из которых были известны и на прошлом этапе.
Восьмой этап, датирующийся первой половины XIV в. характеризуется археологическими материалами культуры автохтонного населения типа Лозово в сочетании с элементами городской цивилизации Золотой Орды. В Ханске обнаружены 9 жилищ этого времени, размещённых на месте более ранних территориальных единиц.
The monograph presents the results of the archaeological research carried out in 1986-1987 at the Mereni “Chirca” site near the village of Mereni, Anenii Noi District of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the results of the 1974-2014 archaeological explorations conducted in this area.
At the current stage, 23 archaeological sites have been discovered on the lands of the village of Mereni and in the adjacent areas, of which five are prehistoric and ancient settlements, and 18 ones are burial mounds with graves of different eras.
The oldest human settlement on the land of the village of Mereni in the Petroșița Valley, dating back to the Copper Age (Cucuteni-Trypillian culture, the 5th-4th millennia BC), is superimposed by the Late Antique settlement of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture (the 3rd-4th centuries).
Another ancient settlement in the area, at the “Chirca” point, dating back to the Bronze Age (Sabatinovka culture, the 16th-11th centuries BC), is also superimposed by a settlement of the Late Antiquity period (Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture, the 3rd-4th centuries).
In the farmlands of the village of Mereni there are two more settlements of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture dating back to the Late Antiquity period: one in the “Școala Berjan” sector located in the residential part of the present village, and the other at the “Costișa Maximului” point to the north-west of the village.
Another settlement, located in the center of the village of Mereni, in the “Vatra satului” sector, belongs to the medieval and modern period.
The burial mounds in the historical grounds of the Mereni village are located in nine places on the tops of the hills in the Mereni valley, in groups of 2, 3 or 5 mounds.
The Mereni “Chirca” site is located in the valley of the Mereni stream, at a distance of 0.7 km southeast of the village, spread over a space 1000 m long and 200-300 m wide. An area of 1560 square meters was explored. Cultural horizons of the Bronze Age (a settlement attributed to the Noua-Sabatinovka-Coslogeni cultural complex, the 16th-11th centuries BC) and the Late Antiquity (a settlement with necropolis attributed to the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture, the 3rd-4th centuries) have been well documented in this site. Also, within this site sporadic remains of the Early Iron Age were found: from the 7th-3rd centuries BC (a temporary settlement, possibly of Scythian nomads) and of the Middle Ages: the 6th-9th, 10th-11th and 16th-17th centuries.
The 15 structures, 26 objects and 1185 pottery fragments represent the archaeological remains attributed to the Sabatinovka culture. Among the structures, there are three dwellings recessed into the ground with hearths made of fired clay and stones, a stone surface structure, a recessed auxiliary structure and 10 trash pits. The finds include two bronze objects (dagger, piercing tool), 14 flint objects (blades and scrapers), three sandstone objects (an axe, a grinding stone and a figurine), one made of granite (a pestle), four made of fired clay (zoomorphic figurines) and two made of bone. The pottery includes the following five groups: a. burnished black color fine ware – 14 fragments (1.2%): b. burnished fine ware of light colors – 295 fragments (24.9%); c. coarse cooking ware – 369 fragments (31.1%); d. cooking ware with a smooth surface – 249 fragments (21.0%); e. coarse containers for food storage – 358 fragments (21.8%).
No traces of “ash lenses” were found at the Mereni site, as is the case in most Sabatinovka-type settlements. This situation probably indicates a short-term habitation in this space. This is also shown by the relatively poor cultural layer and the small amount of pottery, with a clear predominance of coarse ware, which are characteristic of the early phase of the Sabatinovka culture. The unearthed bronze dagger characteristic of the pre-Sabatinovka phase also evidences the relation of the archaeological material from the Mereni settlement to the early stage.
The 85 archaeological complexes, 138 objects and 11842 pottery fragments belonging to the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture represent the archaeological remains attributed to the Late Antique period.
Among the structures, there are eight dwellings (three surface ones and five recessed into the ground), 73 trash pits, an annex, a fireplace feature and two inhumation graves. At the same time, among the discovered objects, three were made of bronze (a fibula, bracelets), one of brass (a small bell), 11 of iron (buckle, horseshoes, spear, wedge, clamps), nine of glass (beads, fragments of cups), one made of carnelian (a small bead), one of shale and nine of sandstone (whetstones), six of limestone (circular grinding stones), one of pebble (a weight), 90 made of burnt clay (spindle whorls, discs, balls, loom weights), three made of ancient amphorae (discs, polishers), one made of local pottery (a disc), and three made of bone (a skate, dice, piercing tools).
Pottery includes eight groups: coarse hand-shaped cooking ware – 3068 fragments (25.9%), fine gray ware – 3582 fragments (30.2%), gray rough ware – 2635 fragments (22.3%), black burnished ware – 536 fragments (4.5%), fine red ware – 482 fragments (4.1%), red rough ware – 322 fragments (2.7%), red-glazed Roman pottery – 13 fragments (0.1%) and Roman amphorae – 1204 fragments (10.2%).
The ancient settlement at Mereni is part of a microzone located between the courses of the Bâc, Ichel and Dniester rivers (about 35×35 km) where 75 settlements belonging to the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture are mapped. Thus, this settlement is near the well-known ancient sites from Budești and Bălțata, and together they form the group of the most archaeologically investigated Late Antique settlements in the Republic of Moldova.
Lucrarea este structurată în cinci părți, cu compartimente și subcompartimente ce țin de istoria multiseculară a mănăstirii, de cele mai recente descoperiri arheologice, cuprinde un bogat set de peste 300 de documente, numeroase descrieri de cărți manuscrise și de vechi tipărituri din biblioteca lăcașului, inscripții, legende și materiale descriptive, precum și o bogată bibliografie.
O deosebită atenție în lucrare este acordată „urmelor” lăsate de marii voievozi Ștefan cel Mare și Petru Rareș la mănăstire, relațiilor Mănăstirii Căpriana cu Muntele Athos, activității mitropolitului Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni la acest sfânt lăcaș și canonizării sale, procesului de renaștere și activităților de restaurare a mănăstirii ș.a. Un compartiment aparte este dedicat metocului Căprianei – Schitul Condrița.
Ediția este adresată oamenilor de știință, studenților, clerului și tuturor celor care se interesează de istoria și cultura românească.
The volume Textile archaeological heritage. From discovery to museum valorization is intended as a tribute to those who created these cultural goods, to those who discovered them and to those who, by conservation-restoration works, enabled them to transmit their contained message
- historical, technical, artistic - throughout centuries. At the same time, the volume addresses to the specialists in the field, with a view to share impressions related to the voyage made together with the archaeological textile artefacts, from discovery to museum valorization.
It is necessary to mention, from the very beginning, the fruitful collaboration in the field of preserving the cultural heritage, equally on the institutional level, between “Moldova” National Museum Complexof Iașiandreligious/academic assemblies from the Republic of Moldova, and between the museum specialists and specialists in archaeology and the related fields from the Republic of Moldova and Iași.
The archaeological artefacts have a special status within the type of textile artefacts, mostly due to the excessive brittleness, and their conservation-restoration require a synergy of actions coming from specialists in different fields, such as archaeology, history, art history, physics, chemistry, textile technology. The collaboration between the persons responsible for the conservation and restoration of the textile cultural heritage is essential for sustainable conservation and restoration, by means of adopting appropriate methodologies which respect its originality, history and integrity. The close collaboration between restorers and specialists in adjacent fields gives access to diverse information which comes to extend the overall picture of former epochs.
The study of the archaeological textiles reveals a large amount of information. It can specify, refine or verify the context of the discovery and even provide a date. The information brought to light gives clues about the social status of the owner as well as about the manufacture, local or imported from more or less remote areas, about taste, fashion, price, trade, etc. In this respect, the analysis of textiles enables the documentation of the history of techniques and garments; even the smallest fragment of textile material could be a rich source of data for archaeology and history.
Theconservation-restorationprocessofthearchaeological textiles is, for specialists, a true challenge. Dependent on the discovery contexts, the textile fragments have very different states of conservation/alteration: charred, mineralized, impressions, conserved in the regions with an extremely dry, cold or hot environment. The quality of their conservation significantly influences the quality of the collected information.
The volume presents the case studies of the archaeological textiles dated the 16th-19th centuries and discovered in three archaeological sites in the Republic of Moldova (Căpriana Monastery) and Romania (“St. Nicholas” Church of Aroneanu, Iași; “St. John the New” Nicoriță, Iași). Within these case studies, reference is made to the research, respectively, the implementation of several analytical strategies, specific to the composing materials, for providing information related to the morphology, composition, structure, types of degradation, conservation-restoration and museum valorization of these textile artefacts.
We would like to mention the fact that the idea of this publishing project came up during the research and conservation-restoration of the archaeological artefacts originating from the crypt of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni within Căpriana Monastery (2016- 2020).
The museum valorization of this movable religious heritage of exceptional value was carried out through a cross-border project, financed through the Joint Operational Programme Romania - Republic of Moldova 2014-2020. Thus, “Moldova” National Museum Complex of Iași, Romania, as coordinator, and Căpriana Monastery, Republic of Moldova, as partner, implemented the project Revitalizarea Mănăstirii Căpriana pentru promovarea patrimoniului ecleziastic unic prin cooperare transfrontalieră și digitalizare/ Enhancement of Căpriana Monastery for the Promotion of the Unique Ecclesiastic Heritage by Cross-border Cooperation and Digitization, in the period March 2020 - November 2021.
The opening of the museum with archaeological ecclesiastical artefacts “Holy Hierarch St. Gabriel”, the first museum of its kind in the Republic of Moldova, a major objective of the project, took place on the 6th of May 2021.
Another major objective was to present, in digital form, the archaeological heritage originating from the crypt of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni from Căpriana Monastery, Republic of Moldova, by making a permanent exhibition at Moldavia’s History Museum in Iași, using a new technique of immersive and interactive projection and providing the visitors an innovative virtual experience.
The idea of organising a museum within Căpriana Monastic Complex, for the safeguarding and valorisation of the archaeological artefacts that belonged to Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni, came up during the years in which these artefacts had been part of the conservation-restoration process carried out at the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration of the Cultural Heritage within "Moldova" National Museum Complex.
The uniqueness of the newly-created museum consists in the valorisation of the unparalleled ecclesiastical artefacts (textile items for clothing, fragments of leather footwear, religious objects made of metal) discovered at the Căpriana Monastery in 2016, when the relics of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni were exhumed, as part of the sanctification procedure. The ecclesiastical artefacts were saved through conservation-restoration works carried out by the specialists of the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania. The contract for the restoration of these ecclesiastical artefacts was financed through Căpriana Monastery's own funds only, courtesy of Archimandrite FILARET Cuzmin, the abbot of Căpriana Monastery.
The collaboration between "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania, and Căpriana Monastery started in 2002 and consisted in undertaking conservation-restoration works for the archaeological material derived from the necropolis of the monastery (“The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Church, the oldest church within the monachal complex), as a result of the archaeological research (1993-2016) coordinated by Prof. PhD. Hab. Gheorghe Postică. The guidebook of the Căpriana Monastery's Museum intends to provide useful information to the public uninformed in the field of heritage preservation, so that when visiting the museum and admiring a specific exhibit people would know the story behind it, its background information. Apart from the hard work needed for determining the manufacturing date or the specific time frame, sustained effort has also been put into saving these artefacts and making them properly prepared for museum display. The authors of the Guidebook wish not only to promote the artistic or documentary value of these unique artefacts, but to primarily present the diligence of those who, by their p r o f e s s i o n a l i sm, c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e restoration, reconstitution and conservation of these heritage items, representative for both the personality of metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni, and the world cultural heritage's culture, art and history.
The guidebook illustrates the richness of the archaeological items discovered in the crypt of metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni and restored by the specialists of the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iaşi, Romania.
Moreover, in various historical stages, Căpriana Monastery represented a Christianity symbol in the Pruto-Dniester area, and in the late 20th century it was a symbol for the national liberation movement of the Bessarabian Romanians who were under the domination of the totalitarian Soviet empire.
In this context Căpriana Monastery has received increased attention from researchers, resulting in important studies on the history of the settlement, including the systematic archaeological investigations carried out during the last decades which brought to light important artefacts related to the past of this place.
As is the case for other period sites in the Romanian area, the archaeological vestiges found at Căpriana Monastery are mainly represented by inorganic materials (stone, mortar, ceramics, metal, etc.), the organic ones being relatively rare; within the last category, note should be made on samples of clothing textiles dated 16th-19th centuries.
The samples of archaeological textiles discovered within the funeral complexes of “The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Church and restored at the Centre for Research and Conservation-Restoration of the Cultural Heritage within "Moldova" National Museum Complex of Iași proved to be particularly valuable from the cultural-scientific point of view, as they provided unprecedented data regarding several types of historical clothing and techniques used in old textile processing and clothing making.
The monograph of Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D., focuses on the theoretical, methodological and applicative aspects implied by the process of safeguarding the early 19th century Christian- Orthodox liturgical costume, having as case study the liturgical vestment of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni. The present work is elaborated based on the archaeological textiles discovered within the High Hierarch’s crypt located at Căpriana Monastery and is a pioneering experience in the Central and Southeastern European area. At the same time, the monograph is a unique study, situated at the crossroads of archaeology and conservation-restoration.
The present work analyses the research history, the process of identifying the archaeological textiles found at Căpriana Monastery, the archaeological environment of the discovered liturgical textiles, the historical significance of the liturgical vestments, the methodology of research, conservation and restoration of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu- Bodoni’s liturgical vestments, the structure of the early 19th century liturgical costume, a special place being given to the process of conservation-restoration carried out in the case of the
liturgical archaeological textiles, and ends with a project designed for the museum valorisation of the restored liturgical vestments.
The work represents an original research which uses modern scientific principles and methodologies and is based on applied data resulted from the conservation-restoration of Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni’s liturgical archaeological textiles, carried out by the author of the monograph - Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D.
The conservation-restoration of the archaeological textiles proved to be a very difficult and long-lasting process, due to the advanced state of degradation of the discovered artefacts. However, Mariana Gugeanu managed to find and implement the most effective scientific methods and solutions of conservation-restoration, safeguarding for humanity a cultural heritage treasure: an entire set of liturgical clothing dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. The significance of the clothing treasure recovered by means of the conservation- restoration project is all the greater as these cultural heritage assets belong to Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni, a remarkable historical personality, canonized among Christian Saints by the Orthodox Church in 2016.
A special part of the monographic work deals with the archaeological textiles originated from the necropolis of “The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Church, dated 16th-17th centuries, which are of great interest in establishing the techniques used in old textiles processing and clothing making.
The project carried out by Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D., had a strictly applicative final result: the inauguration of Căpriana Monastery Museum, in which the restored archaeological textiles took centre stage.
Therefore, the work signed by Mariana Gugeanu, Ph.D., may be regarded as a genuine model for the research, conservation-restoration, safeguarding and cultural-scientific valorization of inestimable-value cultural heritage objects, such as the archaeological textiles.
Le site archéologique Orheiul Vechi (=L’Anciene Orhei) représente un système de monuments historiques et de paysages naturels situés sur les promontoires de la rivière Răut entre les villages Trebujeni et Butuceni, district Orhei, République de Moldova.
Les fouilles de Orheiul Vechi des années 1996-2001 nous ont offert des matériaux précieux qui permetent de resoudre une série de problèmes liés à l’histoire de ce site dans la période médievale.
Les investigations archéologiques ont prouvé que près de la citadelle de pierre, le peuplement actif date du Moyen Age tardif, plus exactement du XIIIe/XIVe-XVIIe siècles. Conformément aux données archéologiques obtenues, dans la région de la citadelle de Orheiul Vechi on distingue huit horizons cronologiques.
Le premier horizon cronologique, datant du XIIIe siècle - la première moitié du XIVe siècle, relève de l’évolution du site local, qui avait le centre dans la partie inférieure du promontoire, vers sud-ouest. Dans la partie supérieure de la terrasse, cet horizon culturel est représenté par le matériel céramique sporadique.
Le deuxième horizon cronologique, datant de la première moitié du XIVe siècle - 1369, vise la période de la Ville Sehr al-Cedid / Yanghi-Sehr (la Nouvelle Ville) de la Horde d’Or, construite sur le promontoire auprès de l’habitation autochtone. De la même période datent une tombe decouverte auprès de la muraille, deux fosses à bruler la chaux et deux fosses ménagères. Les fouilles archéologiques ont prouvé que la citadelle de pierre a été construite dans les années 1366-1369. Ainsi, on abouti à la conclusion que cette construction est cent ans encore plus ancienne qu’on la croyait. A l’appui du matériel archéologique obtenu, on peut affirmer qu’à l’étape initiale, la citadelle représentait la clôture autour du palais de l’enceinte connu dans la littérature comme “le palais du chef de la citadelle” qui formait ensemble un complexe intègre, nomé par les chercheurs la maison féudale (manoir) du chef politique de la région.
Les découvertes monétaires de Orheiul Vechi prouvent la présence d’une authorité politique d’importance régionale dans la ville située sur le Răut. Dans les années 1363-1365 la Nouvelle Ville située sur le Răut était la résidence de khan Abdallah, qui a initié la mise en circulation des monnaies de type Yanghi-Sehr / Seh al-Cedid. Le fait que les émissions monétaires locales ont continué à Orheiul Vechi même après le départ du khan Abdallah prouvent que la ville Sehr al-Cedid dans la période suivante a gardé le rôle de centre régional. Compte tenu des documents historiques on peut affirmer que dans les années 1366-1369 Orheiul Vechi, devient un centre résidentiel de certains chefs locaux qui promovaient une politique séparatiste vis à vis la Horde d’Or. Les recherches disciplinaires de la dernière décennie ont consolidé la conviction selon laquelle dans les années 1368-1369 Orheiul Vechi était la résidence de l’émir Dimitrie.
L’identification de Dimitrie avec l’émir des monnaies de Orheiul Vechi est très plausible, vu l’activité de ce prince, déployée dans les années 60 du XIVe siècle qui correspond en totalité avec la cronologie archéologique de la citadelle de pierre de ce site. Or, dans ce cas il s’agit d’une étrange coincidence des données archéologiques avec celles numismatiques et des documents écrits de même que les données d’architecture selon lesquelles “la citadelle” et “le palais” font partie des constructions de type oriental de la période de la Horde d’Or.
Donc, on peut considerer la construction de pierre autour du palais, connue en littérature comme “la citadelle de pierre de Orheiul Vechi avec le palais du chef politique”, la résidence de l’émir Dimitrie, qui la édifiée dans les années 1366/68-1369, et qui a probablement fonctionné à l’étape suivante du site dans le dernier quart du XIVe siècle.
Le troisième horizon cronologique, datant du dernier quart du XIVe siècle vise la première étape du habitat Orheiul Vechi, de la transformation de la ville orientalle en ville moldave. Dans le cadre de la construction du palais de Orheiul Vechi on a découvert une habitation avec un four de brique, préservé en bon état qui comprenait en préponderance des matériaux de céramique moldave en alternance avec des matériaux de type oriental.
Le quatrième horizon cronologique, datant de la première moitié du XVe siècle, couvre la période des prices Alexandru cel Bun (1400-1432) Iliaş (1432-1433, 1435-1442), Ştefan II (1433-1435, 1436-1447). De cette époque datent 4 habitations, decouvertes dans la partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle, dont deux étaient creusées et deux situées à la surface. Un intérêt à part présente l’habitation de muraille, située dans la partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle, qui représentait une construction ayant une architecture particulière, peut-être d’origine orientale et qui a souffert plusieurs modifications au cours de quelques étapes.
Le cinquième horizon cronologique, datant de la deuxième moitié du XVe siècle- début du XVIe siècle relève de la période du prince Ştefan cel Mare. Cette époque est représenteé par trois habitations, y compris une habitation reconstruite à la base de l’habitation de muraille de la partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle. A cette étape, dans le contexte des travaux de fortification de la citadelle de Orhei sur l’ordre du prince Ştefan cel Mare, on a remis a neuf les murs de la citadelle qui était transformée en résidence des chefs de la citadelle de Orhei. Dans la période de gouvernance de Ştefan cel Mare la citadelle de Orheiul Vechi a disposé d’artilerie de feu, fait prouvé par la découverte des deux canons de bronze, fabriqués dans le dernier quart du XVe siècle dans la remblai de l’habitation de muraille située dans partie de sud-ouest de la citadelle. Ces canons étaient cachés dans les décombres d’une habitation du XVIe siècle peut être au cours de l’invasion des tatars de Crimée de 1510. L’église en bois et la nécropole située auprès de la muraille d’est de la citadelle où on a découvert quelques dizaines de tombes datent du XVe siècle - début du XVIe siècle.
Le sixième horizon cronologique, datant de la première moitié du XVIe siècle, vise la période de déclin de la citadelle, de la ville Orheiul Vechi et le déplacement de la ville Orhei dans un autre lieu, à 15 km vers nord-ouest. De cette période datent deux constructions à caractère locatif.
Le septième horizon cronologique, datant du milieu du XVIe siècle, relève de la démolition de la citadelle de pierre, opération effectuée probablement lors du règne de Alexandru Lăpuşneanu qui a supprimé à la demande des turques plusieurs citadelles parmis lesquelles pourrait figurer celle de Orhei. Cette affirmation s’appuie sur des données archéologiques, qui placent les décombres de la citadelle de pierre dans la période du XVIe siècle.
Le huitième horizon cronologique, datant de la deuxième moitié du XVIe siècle - première moitié du XVIIe siècle, vise la tentative du prince Eremia Movilă de refaire en 1600 la citadelle Orheiul Vechi et l’étape du bourg (village) Peştere - Movilău. À la période respective se rapporte le repli de terre situé à l’est de la citadelle et une habitation de surface avec un four de brique, identifiée dans la partie de sud-ouest de l’ enceinte fortifiée.
Ainsi, les fouilles archéologiques des années 1996-2001 de Orheiul Vechi ont offert des données qui contestent les affirmations préconçues de certains auteurs anciens concernant l’absence dans le cadre de ce site de l’horizon culturel autochton dans la période prémongole ; le manque d’une liaison entre la ville de la période de la Horde d’Or et la ville moldave ; l’attribution de ces deux citadelles médievales au XVe siècle.
Les données archéologiques obtenues prouvent l’existence d’un habitat autochtone rural dans la période prémongole dans le site Orheiul Vechi avec le centre dans la partie inférieure du promontoire.
Dans la période de la domination de la Horde d’Or, dans l’espace de Orheiul Vechi, les mongoles ont bati une ville de type oriental, nommée la Nouvelle Ville - Yanghi-Sehr- Sehr al-Cedid, ayant une monnaie propre de cuivre et d’argent. Dans les années 1366-1369 au lieu de la citadelle on a aménagé une construction quadrilatère de pierre, qui clôturait le palais du chef politique, identifié avec l’émir Dimitrie.
Dans le dernier quart du XIV-e siècle, après le départ de la Horde d’Or le site continue sa vie d’une manière plus restreinte à la base de la population autochtone afin de dévenir vers le début du XVe siècle une véritable ville moldave, connue sous le nom de Orhei.
Dans le XVe siècle au cours du règne de Alexandru cel Bun et de Ştefan cel Mare la ville Orhei connait une progression ascendente, le nombre de la population augmente, le commerce se développe, la circulation monétaire prospère, de nouvelles constructions apparaissent, les fortifications du site sont consolidées, la citadelle de pierre avec le complexe palatin construits dans le XIVe siècle deviennent la résidence administrative et militaire des chefs politiques de Orhei.
(Archaeological contributions)
The archaeological and numismatic finds highlight to a considerable extent the level of development of the Romanian medieval communities of the end of the 1st millennium - the beginning of the 2nd millennium. Of special importance for assessing the economic condition of the region are hoards of tools and weapons, as well as monetary or mixed hoards. Their composition offers special possibilities for the reconstruction of the socioeconomic, political and cultural realities of the period when they were hidden.
One of the features of the European economy of the 9th-11th centuries was the use of money made from precious metals as a means of exchange. Coins, ingots, grivnas or silver jewelry served as money. The main factor was the weight of the objects, which was tested on small scales. This is confirmed by the discovery of segmented artifacts in the so-called cut silver hoards (silver objects divided into pieces of a certain weight) (Hacksilver). An economic system in which the function of money as an equivalent in trade transactions was performed by coins, ingots, grivnas, and jewelry made of precious metals, which were weighed during the exchange process, researchers call a metal-weight economy (Gewichtsgeldwirtschaft).
Archaeological sources allow us to trace the transition of Romanian communities from a natural economy of the autarkic household to the monetary economy of commodity-money relations, when silver acted as a medium of exchange. To the south and east of the Carpathians, artifacts related to commodity-money exchange (Islamic and/ or Byzantine coins, ingots, silver grivnas, some of which were cut into pieces, weights and scales) were discovered in settlements, in hoards or as isolated finds at the sites of Bucov, Slon, Alcedar, Cunicea, Cureșnița, Echimăuți.
In the medieval settlement of Hansca (Ialoveni district, Republic of Moldova), 163 dwellings were discovered, belonging to 5 chronological stages: V-VII centuries - 36, VIII-IX centuries - 46, X-XI centuries - 44, XII-XIII centuries - 27, XIV century - 9 and the XV-XVI centuries – 1. The absolute majority of dwellings are buried in the ground - 158 buildings (97 %), the surface ones constituting only 5 units (3 %). According to the shape of the plan, square houses are distinguished - 101 (66.4%), rectangular - 41 (27.0%), trapezoidal - 6 (4.0%) and circular - 4 (2.6%). From a constructive point of view, two types are distinguished among the deep dwellings: constructions with a structure of overlapping beams - 84 units (55.9 %) and constructions with a structure supported on pillars - 69 units (45.1 %). The deepened dwellings of type I belong to the V-VII centuries – 24 units (28.6 %), VIII-IX – 25 units (29.8 %), X-XI – 16 units (19.1 %), XII-XIII – 15 units (17.9 %) and 14th century – 3 units (3.6 %). The deepened dwellings of type II belong to the V-VII centuries – 8 units (11.6%), VIII-IX – 17 units (24.6%), X-XI – 23 units (33.3%), XII-XIII – 15 units (21.8 %) and from the 14th century – 6 units (8.7 %). 190 fire installations were certified inside the homes. The most common is the open hearth - 89 units (46.8%), followed by the stone oven - 55 units (28.9%), the clay oven - 43 units (22.7%) and, as an exception, the burning oven ceramics – 3 units (1.6 %). Stone ovens, present in 26 complexes (74%) and relatively rare open hearths – present in 8 constructions (26%) are characteristic of the houses from the V-VII centuries. In the 8th-9th centuries, the share of stone ovens in homes decreases, they being reported in 21 cases (48.8%), of which in 7 cases they were in association with open hearths. In the same period, the number of houses with open hearths increases - 27 complexes. At the same time, a new type of fire construction is reported – ovens dug in sterile clay, in 2 dwellings. In the 10th-11th centuries, the share of stone ovens decreases, being reported in 5 homes. At the same time, the share of open hearths was at a high level – 22 complexes, and the share of ovens dug into clay increased sharply – being discovered in 17 complexes. In the 12th-13th centuries, the tendency to consolidate the presence of clay ovens, reported in 14 complexes, and of open hearths, documented in 17 constructions, is maintained, while stone ovens are present in only 2 dwellings. In the 14th century, stone ovens are missing, and clay ovens and open hearths are documented in 6 and 4 dwellings, respectively.
The authors present the coins discovered during the archaeological excavations carried out in 1993, 2001-2003, 2005-2008 and 2016. During the archaeological excavations at the Căpriana Monastery, 132 coins were discovered in the necropolis of the founders inside the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, within the filling soil under the floor of the church, in the necropolis around the church, in the wall of a building located to the west of the church, as well as in the cultural layer around the church. A total of 36 coins discovered inside the church come from 10 graves and its cultural layer, while the coins discovered in the necropolis around the church come from 7 graves. From the total number of 88 investigated graves, coins were discovered in 17 burial complexes (19%). Most of the graves contain a single coin, in grave 39 2 coins were found, in grave 56 24 pieces were deposited, representing a small treasure, and in another case (grave 18) a monetary deposit consisting of 83 coins was found. The coins deposited in graves represent several monetary areas. The European ones are issues of the Kingdom of Poland and the Holy German Empire issued starting from the third decade of the 16th century and up to 1627. Most of the coins from Căpriana come from the Ottoman Empire, representing coins issued in the 18th century, but also two copies with a large denomination - ikilik, issued by Selim III, being the most recent coins from the tombs.
Romania and the Republic of Moldova are the only countries that follow the historical route of Eastern Romanity, preserving the spirit of ancient Rome - of Latinity, culture and civilization that determined the universal historical course in the modern and contemporary period. In the difficult conditions of the Middle Ages, the Romanians maintained their identity, individuality, the Romanian language and the Christian religion, inherited from the Roman empire, they preserved their traditions, protected their customs, the special musical art, the unmistakable dance, the rituals and other elements of intangible cultural heritage, inherited from the ancient substrate. At the same time, throughout history, the Romanians managed to find the necessary solutions to ensure their existence as a nation of Latin origin and to assert themselves politically in their space of genesis.
mid of the 90ies of the 20th century to the period ruled by voyevod Ştefan cel
Mare, the fortification being dated with 1470-1471.
The archaeological investigations conducted in 1996-2001 infirmed the
traditional opinion and demonstrated with clear evidence the building of the stone
citadel from Orheiul Vechi during the final Golden Hoard period of domination
from the second half of the 60ies of the 14th century.
Archaeological data were obtained in the same context and show that after
the retreat of the Mongols from the region, in the Moldovan period, this fortification
served as residence for the local governors, including the parcalab of Orhei, starting
with the last quarter of the 14th century until the middle of the 16th century.
The correlation of the citadel’s archaeological chronology (end of the
60ies of the 14th century) with the numismatic data (the presence at Orheiul
Vechi of local Shehr al-Cedid type coins with the inscription „amir” (=emir) dated
with 1368-1369) and with the written sources of that period („domini Demetrii,
principis Tartarorum”, mentioned in the diploma of the Hungarian king Ludovic
1st of Anjou from 22nd April 1368) puts forward the assumption according to
which the stone fortification from Orheiul Vechi would be the creation of the
„Tatar” prince Dimitrie who embraced the Christian confession
The general analysis of public policies aimed at the heritage complex Orheiul Vechi attests the absence of some
consequent actions in the promotion of strategies and objectives proposed in various periods. The creation of the
Reserve in 1968 and the subsequent cultural-museographic policies promoted by public institution demonstrated
promising results until 1983. Nevertheless, in the activity of Orheiul Vechi complex is observed a crisis beginning
with 1985, initially at the managerial level and later at the level of cultural-museum policies, situation largely due to
some inconsistent actions, even defi cient, promoted by the Ministry of Culture. The adoption of the concept of Museum complex „Orhei medieval town” in 1991 didn’t prove to be the best solution. Therefore, following a series of
investigations undertaken on occasion of elaborating the Nomination File Orheiul Vechi Cultural Landscape and
with the consideration of UNESCO international experts’ recommendations, was realized the need to redefi ne and
create a new vision of Orheiul Vechi. The new vision had to consider both the elements of the natural and cultural
heritage, and had to organically refl ect the formation and development of this space from prehistory until present
– that was the adoption in 2008 of the concept of „Cultural-natural reserve Orheiul Vechi.
Во время археологических раскопок 1999-2001 гг. в юго-западном углу средневековой цитадели Старого Орхея был открыт монументальный каменный жилой комплекс, в развитии которого выделяются два этапа, соответствующие в общих чертах периодам правления воевод Земли Молдавской Александра чел Бун и Штефана чел Маре: ок. 1400-1448 гг. и ок. 1448-1510 гг. Данный комплекс представляет значительный научный интерес, так как, предоставляет важную информацию касающееся каменной архитектуры средневекового Орхея, его фортификационной системы, а также социально-экономического и культурного развития данного города на протяжении XV – начала XVI вв.
Кишиневский Органный зал. Реставрация здания в период 2015-2017 гг.