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Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka Culture Settlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova

Authors:
  • 'Ion Creanga' State Pedagogical University, Chisinau

Abstract and Figures

The subject of the present study aims at one of the aspects that characterize populations at the end of the 1 st millennium BC. It is already a certitude that the last centuries of the pre-Christian Era were characterized by a large mobility of populations, fact that determined the resemblances between a number of cultures of the III-rd Century BC. The Poieneşti-Lukaševka and Zarubineck cultures from SouthEastern Europe are part of this area and they offer, therefore, a good opportunity to analyze and understand the obvious connections that our region has with the Northern cultures. In fact, the questions in discussion were noted at the very beginning of discovering the phenomenon that already has a tradition of more than half a century 1 , gaining attention from an important number of researchers. Though the range of issues addressed over time was quite large, many of whom have already found solutions , still, there are enough problems that need further clarification. Hence, one of the problems derives from the fact the data available today show a certain numeric discrepancy between the funerary sites and those of habitat. But there is also a clear discrepancy between the level and breadth of studies of the necropolis and on that of the settlements. Despite the low number of known necropolises, the archaeologists have clearly preferred them for deepening the investigations of this culture, fact that made the settlements less known today. 1 Munteanu 2013, with appropriate references. Beyond this numerical discrepancy, there is a pronounced difference between the materials discovered in settlements and those discovered in necropolises. Of particular interest is the set of ceramic artifacts, uncovered at the settlements that have been researched, which differs from that found in the necropolises by the presence of two elements that can be qualified as defining. First, there is a constant presence in the settlements of the culture of elements that come from rural Greek civilization, in particular the presence of amphorae. Secondly, the coarse ceramics which has common features with the cultural environments from both Northern Europe (as it is the exclusive case of ceramics found in the necropolises) and also in the cultures of the Carpathian-Dniester forest steppe region from the same chronological period and from previous periods (for the synchronous period there should be noted the analogies in rural Dacian culture in Transylvania). These differences have been addressed many times by the specialists, but, unfortunately, there is no thorough study on pottery found in the settlements yet. Moreover, the very presentation of pottery materials on the pages of existing publications is very ambiguous and incomplete. Therefore, the authors of this study considered absolutely necessary insisting on developing a typology of pottery found in settlements to provide a benchmark for subsequent analysis that would enable a clearer understanding of migration and how newcomers have established relationships with local populations. What we consider appropriate and feasible at the moment is to focus attention on the ceramic set
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POTTERY FROM THE POIENEŞTILUKAŠEVKA CULTURE SETTLEMENT
OF ORHEIUL VECHI, REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Preliminaries
The subject of the present study aims at one of the
aspects that characterize populations at the end
of the 1st millennium BC. It is already a certitude

characterized by a large mobility of populations,

a number of cultures of the III-rd Century BC. The




-
-

1, gaining


-
tions, still, there are enough problems that need


-

those of habitat. But there is also a clear discrepan-


-



1
Beyond this numerical discrepancy, there is












-
ramics found in the necropolises) and also in the

region from the same chronological period and




unfortunately, there is no thorough study on pot-


-
complete. Therefore, the authors of this study con-
-







66 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
-



culture sites that has recently been researched. We


made and that, therefore, grants broader possibili-

.
Orheiul Vechi
General characteristics
-

-




-
-
-









-


-


-




2
 

-


-


We are particularly interested in one of the

-

-

-
-




The aim of research and
approach


-


interdisciplinary research. Our approach is based

-


indicators, both morphological and dimensional,

-

-

-



shoulder, and especially shapes, size and their posi-



Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 67
Fig. 1.1 distribution of settlements within Poieneşti – Lukaševka culture; 2: Poieneşti – Lukaševka distribution – type settle-
ments and Getic fortications in the lower Raut. Numbering site on map 1,2: 9 – Brănești II; 36 – Măşcăuţi; 41 – Orheiul Vechi–
East Side; 44 – Pohărniceni – Petruha; 46 – Trebujeni – Potârca; 58 – Brănești – West Side; 59 – Ivancea II; 60 – Ivancea – Near the
Forest; 61 – Ivancea IV; 62 – Mășcăuți – East Side; 63 – Orheiul Vechi – East Side; 64 – Trebujeni – Fântâna Joaiei; 65 – Butuceni–
Vest Side; 66 – Butuceni; 67 – Butuceni – East Side; 68 – Mășcăuți – Poiana Ciucului.
68 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Fig. 2. Orheiul Vechi settlement.
1: General view of the site from the
Northwest (orthophoto Google
Maps); 2: General view of the site
from the Southwest.
-

and for necropolises) and in the related cultures

-



-





Pottery from Poieneşti-
Lukaševka culture site of Orheiul
Vechi. General characteristics
Pottery is the most common archaeological






-
-

Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 69


-












the middle part of the recipients, the upper and the




-


-

Coarse pottery







and asymmetries in shape. There is one thing that





-
toire of ceramics from this category includes pots,






-

-
in each morphologic category. As to the latin let-


Typ e GR I. Pots




Typ e
-




-


Sub-variant -




-


Sub-variant -

-




-





3
4
5
6
70 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Fig. 3. Ceramic statistics: 1 – pits;
2 – habitations; 3 – stratum.
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 71
Fig. 4. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Coarse pottery. 1-5: GR I.1.A.a; 6-10: GR I.1.A.b; 11-14: GR I.1.B.
72 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi

-

culture ).
Typ e 


depending on the presence or absence of some pot







-
-

Sub-variant -



Sub-variant -







Sub-variant 

Sub-variant 







-
-
7
8
9

11,
, Ulmu-
-


region.
Type GR I.3

-

Variant 





Variant




Sub-variant 


Sub-variant 





-

Sub-variant 


Sub-variant 



10
11
12
13
14 
15
16  
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 73
Fig. 5. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Coarse pottery. 1-3: GR I.2.A; 4-6: GR I.2.B.a.; 7, 8: GR I.2.B.b; 9-11: GR I.2.D: 12-15: discs.
74 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Fig. 6. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Coarse pottery. 1-5: GR I.2.C.a; 6-9: GR I.2.C.b; 10-12: GR I.3.A; 13: GR I.3.B.a; GR I.3.B.b: 14-15.
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 75
Sub-variant 



these pots are fairly common occurrences, among
,

-
. Similar pots

Type GR II. Bowls



Type GR II.1




-




-
, Ulmu


sites from West Poland

Type GR II.2-

the upper part of the body is defined by a sharp




17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25


culture 
West Poland
Type GR II.3



Type GR III. Plates

-

Type GR III.1






-
-

-
torf culture at Brandenburg

Type GR III.2 These are frustoconical shaped



-






26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34 
76 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Fig. 7. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Coarse pottery. 1-5: GR I.3.C.a; 6-8: GR I.3.C.b; 9: GR I.3.C.c.
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 77
Fig. 8. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Coarse pottery. 1-5: GR II.1; 6: GR II.2; 7: GR II.3; 8-9: GR III.1; 10-11: GR III.2.A; 12: GR III.2.B.
78 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi


-
na

GC
culture in Brandenburg region.
Type GR IV. Mugs






Typ e GR IV.1 

-





-

Sub-variant 


Sub-variant GR IV.1.A.b





Sub-variant


Sub-variant 




35
36
37
38ț
39 
-

.
Type GR IV.2

-


.
Type GR IV.3 includes  




-

.
Type GR V. Cups
In this category are included frustoconical shaped



to the mouth line. The rim is rounded or cut slant


-
.
Type GR VI. ”Goblet







-
40ș 
41
42
43ș 
44
45
46
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 79
Fig. 9. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Coarse pottery. 1-3: GR IV.1.B.a; 4-7: GR IV.1.B.b; 8-11: GR IV.1.A.a; 12: GR IV.1.A.b; 13-14: GR
IV.2; 15: GR IV.3.
80 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Fig. 10. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Coarse pottery. 1-4: GR V; 5: GR VI; 6: GR VII; 7: GR XI; 8: GR X; 9: GR(B) I.1; 10: GR I.2.A; 11:
GR(B) I.3; 12: GR I.2.B.
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 81

Hlibicioc-
ronment of the GC-
.
Type GR VII. Saltcellar



-


Typ e GR VIII. Discs



edges are usually rounded, the horizontal surface is





).
Type GR X. Tray






-
47ș 
48
49
50
51
52   
53
54
55 
56
 and
 etc.
Type GR XI. Lids



analogies for such type.
Barbotine
coarse ceramics GR(B)


-

on the middle part of the recipients, the upper and

-






Type GR(B) I.1


Type GR(B) I.2
shaped body profile and is represented by most



-








57
58
82 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Type GR(B) I.3


Fine Ceramics F
-


-





-
-
-


Type F I. Pots


-






Type F I.1
almost straight body. The rim is not too big, bold

-
-
,


necropolises such as the one from Borosesti and
59
60
61
62

.
Type F I.2


-

-
-



Sub-variant 



Sub-variant -



-



-
-


high rim, strongly splayed, forming something sim-



-
-


-







63
64
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 83
,

, Gubin
-
,
-
sents the type nr. III. A .
Type F II. Bowls
Bowls 





Type F II.1 






,
Ulmu
Marginea de Vest are found also in Gu-


.
Type F II.2





65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
.

.B. With thin rim, sharp to the


.C. With short rim, slightly splayed,

There are numerous analogies for such earth-

-
-

,

necropolises such as the one from Borosesti and
-
ogy, represents the type nr. I.
F III. Plates

-
-





Type F III.1 This type of plates is characterized



-
-

.
F III.1 A 
F III.1. B

77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
84 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Fig. 11. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Fine pottery. 1: F I.1; 2-4: F I.2.A.a; 5: F I.2.A.b; 6-7: F I.2.B.a; 8-9: F I.2.B.b; 10: F I.2.B.c; 11-12:
F II.1; 13-14: F II.2.A; 15-16: F II.2.B; 17-18: F II.2.C.
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 85

-
-








-


-
-
na, and in the set-


culture
,
-
sents the type nr. II A1.
Type F III.2-







-

-
amples from Cucorani
Hlibicioc
, in Gu-
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
 etc, and in the area of


-
.
Type F III.3

diameter at the aperture, but in the upper part of



F III.3.A F III.3.B).

.
 




-

-






-
,


type sites




96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
86 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Fig. 12. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Fine pottery. 1-4: F III.1.A.a; 5-7: F III.1.A.b; 8-9: F III.1.B; 10-11: F III.2.
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 87






 and the set-
-

.
Type F III.4





-

. To date,


Type F III.5-






111. To our
 

F IV. Mugs
-

-

). The mouth diam-
106
107
108
109
110
111
112


Type F IV.1


Type F IV.2
almost straight body, small rim, slightly splayed or


F IV 1
-
.


. An-




Bucharest-

. There
-

F V. Cups





Conclusions
-

-
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
88 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Fig. 13. Orheiul Vechi settlement. Fine pottery.1-2: F III.3.C;3: F III.3.A; 4: F III.3.B; 5-6: F III.4; 7-8: F III.5; 9-14: F IV 1; 15-17: F V;
18: F IV 2.
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 89


-
-


findings of synchronous cultures in the area of







-




-
tures.


-
ment.







the necropolises of the same culture.
-



-






The picture that resulted from the outcome

some trends. To understand more deeply the phe-
nomena that lie behind these trends and discern






-



-


-


for understanding the phenomenon in research, but

90 Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi
Bibliography


Memoria Anquitas

Vesgii ale sec. VII-III a.Chr. în spaţiul de la răsărit de
Carpaţi

-

Saarbrücker Beiträge
zur Altertumskunde

Brish
Archaeology Reports 

Ar-
chäologische Beitrage zur Geschichte Wesalens
 

-
Śląskie Sprawozdania Archeologiczne
 



Internaonale Archäologie


-

Prähistorische Zeitschri
B

Internaonale Archäologie 101,


Oblin. Ein Graberfeld der Przeworsk Kultur in Südmaso-
vien

Wczesne fazy kultury Przeworskiej


Ausgrabungen in Berlin

Studia z dziejów środkowego Nadodrza w III-I po n.e.,


Das
Jastorf-Konzept und die vorrömische Eisenzeit im nördli-
chen Mieleuropa. Beiträge der Internaonale Tagung
zum einhundertjährigen Jubiläum der Veröentlichung
der „Ältesten Urnenfriedhöfe bei Uelzen und Lüneburg“
durch Gustav Schwantes, 18.-22. 05.2011 in Bad Beven-
sen



Studii și Cercetări de Istorie Veche


Arheologia
Moldovei


II-I a.Chr.), Revista Arheologică


Vero. der Branderburgische Landesmuse-
um für Ur- und Frühegeschichte

 
-
Das Jastorf-Konzept und die vorrömische Ei-
senzeit im nördlichen Mieleuropa. Beiträge der Inter-
naonale Tagung zum einhundertjährigen Jubiläum der
Veröentlichung der „Ältesten Urnenfriedhöfe bei Uelzen
und Lüneburg“ durch Gustav Schwantes, 18.-22. 05.2011
in Bad Bevensen


Fontes
Archaeologici Posnanienses



Poznań-Nowe Miasto. Źródła archeolo-
giczne do studiów nad pradziejami i wczesnym średnio-
wieczem dorzecza środkowej Warty. Archeostrada. Stu-



Среднее Поднепровье на рубеже эр

-
-
Pottery from the Poieneşti-Lukaševka culture cettlement of Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova 91

Kultura jastorfska na Nizinie Wielkopolsko-Kujaw-
skiej

-

Studia in Honorem I. Niculiță
-
-
Studii de istorie anca. Omagiu profesoru-
lui I. Glodariu
-

Tracians and circumponc world
-
Tyragea


History. Culture. Society

Tyra-
gea

Tyra-
gea

Геты в IV-III вв. до н.е. в Дневстровско-Карпатских
землях

Untersuchungen zur Besiedlung des Hannoverschen
Wendlands von der jüngeren vorrömischen Eisen- bis zur
Völkerwanderungszeit.-


Аре-
ологiя 
-

Археологические памятники
Среднего Поднестровья


Cercetări Istorice


Cercetări în aria Nord-Thracă

Börnicke. Ein ältereneisenzeitlicher Urnenfriedhof im Ha-
velland, Berlin.
 
Советская Археология
Arheologia Moldovei

Eine mehrphasige Siedlung der vorrömischen Eisenzeit in
Phoben, Landkreis Potsdam-Mielmark

Arheolo-
gia Moldovei
Arheologia Moldovei
Studii și Cer-
cetări de Istorie Veche
-
Arheologia Moldovei

Săpaturile de la Poieneș din 1949, Materiale
... l. 2017, 32-74). The results obtained seem to be quite interesting and forward-looking. For this reason, ceramics of the two cultures of two neighboring settlements -Orheiul Vechi, Orhei District, Republic of Moldova (PL culture: Munteanu and Iarmulschi 2017;Postică and Munteanu 1999) and Butuceni, Orhei District, Republic of Moldva (Getic culture : Munteanu et. al. 2014;Munteanu et al. 2015;Munteanu 2015;) -were examined for these parameters (Fig. 2, points marked with yellow). The choice was determined by several reasons, the same, in fact, which determine us now to prioritize the examination of namely these settlements (Branesti and Ivancea, Fig. 2, points 1 and 2). First, because it is a microregion ...
... For this reason, ceramics of the two cultures of two neighboring settlements -Orheiul Vechi, Orhei District, Republic of Moldova (PL culture: Munteanu and Iarmulschi 2017;Postică and Munteanu 1999) and Butuceni, Orhei District, Republic of Moldva (Getic culture : Munteanu et. al. 2014;Munteanu et al. 2015;Munteanu 2015;) -were examined for these parameters (Fig. 2, points marked with yellow). The choice was determined by several reasons, the same, in fact, which determine us now to prioritize the examination of namely these settlements (Branesti and Ivancea, Fig. 2, points 1 and 2). ...
Article
Full-text available
The aim of laboratory analysis carried out on pottery fragments recovered from the Poienești-Lucaşeuca (PL) site of Orheiul Vechi and the Getic site of Butuceni was to verify the hypothesis that there was a continuity in pottery technology traditions and the hypothesis that there was continuity in raw material use. In order to verify these hypotheses, i.e. to determine whether we are dealing with continuity or with changes in pottery manufacturing, two factors must be taken into account: know-how and raw material. This means that it is necessary to perform both technological and raw material analyses. For the purposes of this study the following methods were used: MGR-analysis, chemical analysis by WD-XRF, thin-section studies and estimation of physical ceramic properties. The results of archaeometric analysis of pottery from the PL site of Orheiul Vechi and the Getic site of Butuceni did not substantiate the hypothesis that there had been continuity in pottery technology traditions. The results of archaeometric analysis of pottery from the PL site of Orheiul Vechi and the Getic site of Butuceni did, conversely, confirm the hypothesis that there was a continuity in raw material use. At both sites and in both phases there is a marked emphasis on local production of ceramics using locally sourced raw materials. The analyses performed show how vital technological analyses are in the study of ancient pottery. If the only chemical composition and/or thin-sections are analysed (which is the most common practice) and a report is then written up based on even the precise findings of a technique such as WD-XRF and on sophisticated statistical methods, there is a chance that the resultant cultural and historical conclusions may be erroneous. Without technological analyses, the conclusions drawn solely from the results of chemical analysis/thin-section studies would be that from an archaeometric point of view, there is nothing to suggest a lack of continuity in ceramic production traditions between the Getic site and the PL site. In summary, the similarities in production between pottery from the Getic site and the PL site are clearly reflected in the raw materials used, both in terms of plastic ingredients and intentional temper. However, the results of preliminary technological analyses suggest that there is a lack of continuity in pottery technology traditions. In this way, given the differences observed in the physical ceramic property values, a broader range of analyses is required that will enable us to more accurately reconstruct the ceramic technology.
Ein Beitrag zur Kulturgeschichte im Raum östlich der Karpaten in den letzten Jahrhunderten vor Christi Geburt, Saarbrücker Beiträge zur Altertumskunde 30
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