Preliminary considerations on the Scythian stone statue of 4th Century BC from the tumular necropolis from Peceneaga-Cerna, Tulcea County
-
Emilian Teleaga
,
Dorel Paraschiv
Abstract
During a survey in Peceneaga, Tulcea county in Dobruja, several settlements and mounds (necropolises) from the 4th century were discovered. Topographic and geophysical surveys of the “Breazu tumulus” and its surroundings have revealed a partially destroyed tumular necropolis, where the barrow with the statue had a stone ring. The presence of a burial chamber below the embankment could not be proven; another burial structure was probably present. On the largest tumulus lay a Scythian stone statue from the 4th century BC. The bearded left-handed warrior was represented with a belt, a gorythos and protective armor on his right thigh. In this time the North Pontic Scythians under Ataias, migrating westward, became increasingly sedentary. A Scythian center of power may have emerged there.
Zusammenfassung
Bei einem Survey in Peceneaga, Kreis Tulcea in der Dobrudscha, wurden mehrere Siedlungen und Hügel(nekropolen) des 4. Jhs. v. Chr. gefunden. Topographische und geophysikalische Aufnahmen des „Breazu-Tumulus“ und seiner Umgebung belegen eine teilweise zerstörte Hügelnekropole, wobei der Hügel mit der Statue einen Steinring aufweist. Eine Grabkammer unterhalb des Hügels konnte nicht nachgewiesen werden, vermutlich war ein anderer Grabbau vorhanden. Auf dem größten Tumulus fand sich eine skythische Steinstatue des 4. Jhs. v. Chr., die einen bärtigen linkshändigen Krieger zeigt, der einen Gürtel, einen Gorythos und eine Schutzpanzerung auf dem rechten Schenkel aufweist. In der Zeit der Errichtung des Tumulus nahmen die nach Westen migrierenden nordpontischen Skythen unter Ataias eine zunehmend sesshafte Lebensweise an. Möglicherweise entstand dort ein skythisches Machtzentrum.
Rezumat
În cadrul unei periegheze la Peceneaga, județul Tulcea în Dobrogea, au fost descoperite mai multe așezări și movile sau necropole tumulare din secolul al IV-lea a. Chr. Studiile topografice și geofizice ale “Movilei lui Breazu” și împrejurimilor ei relevă o necropolă tumulară parțial distrusă, tumulul care conține statuia având un inel de piatră. O cameră funerară sub tumul nu a putut fi dovedită, exista probabil o altă structură funerară. Pe cel mai mare tumul se afla o statuie scitică din piatră din secolul al IV-lea a. Chr. Războinicul stângaci cu barbă era înfățișat cu o curea, un gorythos și armură de protecție pe coapsa dreaptă. În această perioadă sciții nord-pontici sub Ataias, migrând spre vest, deveneau tot mai sedentari. Un centru scitic de putere poate să fi apărut acolo.
Article Note
This study was possible thanks to the institutional partnership between the “Vasile Pârvan” Institute of Archaeology in Bucharest and the Institute of Prehistoric Archeology, Free University Berlin, supported by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, with the project Continuity and Change in the Use of Burial Places on the Lower Danube (End of the 7th Century BC – 1st century AD). We thank to Dr. Robin Symonds for the proofreading of the text.
© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
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