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The paper "Late Tripolye Culture Settlement Spatial Patterning: Case study from the Gordineşti II-Stînca goală site, Northern Moldova" deals with the archaeological excavations at the Gordineşti II-Stînca goală site in Northern Moldova. The authors present the results of investigations into the structural patterning of residential structures, ground-penetrating radar surveys, and desk-based kernel density estimation (KDE) analyses in order to gain a better understanding of the spatial organization of the settlement. The results indicate the high archaeological potential of the site, with likely multiple systematically and functionally arranged residential structures. The paper emphasizes the importance of studying the spatial organization of settlements for understanding prehistoric societies. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes a cultural and chronological analysis of artifacts from the late La Tène period, which were discovered in the Prosna and Warta rivers in Poland. Imported items such as brooches, painted ceramics, mirrors, and knot rings were found, while coins and blacksmithing products were locally produced. Gold coins were also found in the Janków II settlement, indicating the presence of a mint. In addition, rich graves of blacksmiths and armed individuals were discovered, indicating a flourishing power center of the Celtic Rix. The findings suggest that the area between the Prosna and Warta rivers was controlled by a Celtic faction within the Przeworsk culture at the end of the La Tène period. [Extracted from the article]

The paper examines the use of the term "shamanism" in archaeology and develops criteria for identifying shamanism in archaeological contexts. The focus is on the site of Göbekli Tepe, which offers rich iconographic finds and serves as a case study. It discusses whether Göbekli Tepe can be interpreted as shamanistic and whether it is a place of institutionalized religion. The description describes a shamanic healing ceremony among the Evenki. The shaman makes contact with the spirit world during an altered state of consciousness and is accompanied by helping spirits. Shamanism is seen as a practice that encompasses various tasks such as healing, divination, and the preservation of myths and traditions. Shamanism can be found in various cultures and social contexts and is based on animistic ontologies that emphasize a close relationship between humans and animals. The boundaries between humans and animals can be crossed, but this also carries dangers. Animistic ontologies determine the conception and representation of the world and can be recognizable in archaeological finds. The text describes the relief images and anthropomorphic sculptures at the early Neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. The relief images depict various animals such as snakes, birds, bears, and leopards, with the movements of the animals often aligned with the center of the buildings. The sculptures are more naturalistic and use stylization techniques, especially in the depiction of faces. The faces have a T-shaped forehead and nose and show different expressions through the depiction of eyes and mouth. The bodies of the sculptures follow certain principles of representation, such as unnaturally curved arms and oversized hands. Other anthropomorphic sculptures from Göbekli Tepe show similar features to the Urfa figure, such as leaning back of the head and looking upwards. There are also zoomorphic sculptures, of which 102 are currently known. The animal representations at Göbekli Tepe are mainly limited to felids (probably leopards: 30), wild boars (21), and birds (12). Other animals such as bears (4), turtles (3), aurochs (2), and rams (1) are less common. Larger sculptures are usually identifiable to the species, while smaller representations (10 cm and below) are often generic "quadrupeds." The animal representations exhibit certain features such as detailed heads of felids and wild boars with emphasized teeth and tusks. The bodies often have few details, while the ribs are strongly emphasized in some animals. The study deals with shamanism at the early Neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. Various depictions of shamans and shamanic practices are analyzed, including the use of masks, garments, and staffs. It is noted that shamanism played an important role in the early Neolithic period of Göbekli Tepe. The study examines various artifacts that indicate a connection to shamanism at the early Neolithic Göbekli Tepe. "Nemrik scepters" are mentioned, which may have been shamanic staffs. There are also indications of musical instruments such as bullroarers and flutes that had a ritual function. In addition, sculptures are discussed that may represent spiritual beings, as well as amulets, jewelry, and other objects associated with shamanic practices. [Extracted from the article]

The study examines changes in cattle farming between the Iron Age and the Roman period in the Netherlands. There are regional differences in the frequency, management, size, and shape of cattle. The western and northern regions had higher proportions of cattle, while the southern region had the lowest proportions. The size of cattle did not significantly increase until the Roman period, and only in the regions that were part of the Roman Empire. There are also differences in gender ratios and the size of cattle in different regions and time periods. The size of cattle generally increases during the early and middle Roman period. There are also regional differences, with the southern region having the largest cattle, possibly due to intensive agriculture. The use of cow's milk was limited and decreased during the Roman period. Overall, the study shows that Roman occupation had an influence on cattle farming, particularly on the size of the animals and their use as meat suppliers and draft animals. [Extracted from the article]

The paper examines animal burials in the Middle Bronze Age in the South Caucasus, particularly in Armenia. The authors analyze the burial of animals from a symbolic perspective and hypothesize about their role in human burial practices. It is noted that the burials are characterized by an exceptional quantity and diversity of animal remains. The authors attempt to reconstruct the significance and main aspects of animal burials. The study focuses on five major necropolises in the Armenian Highlands and emphasizes the presence or absence of different groups of animals in the graves. It is found that the burial of animals in the graves was a frequent and recurring practice. Both domesticated and wild animals were found in the graves, with sheep/goats and cattle being the most common animals. However, there is also a variety of wild animals in some graves. The study shows that there can be local peculiarities in ritual practices. No pigs were found in the examined graves in Lori Berd, while horses were present in all the examined sites. However, there is no exclusivity regarding the presence of horses, which are not associated with specific burial situations. Dogs were only found in the Great Kurgan of Karashamb, while they were systematically absent in all other burial contexts. The preservation of the zoological evidence regarding animal body parts is an important aspect, as usually only selected parts of the animals were buried. There is also a variety of wild animals, including foxes, martens, hares, and bears. Mollusk shells were also found and could indicate long-term contacts in protohistoric times. However, the presence of horses in the graves does not imply their widespread use or riding. There is no evidence of the use of horse harnesses or horseback fighting during this time. The iconography of animals during this period is also discussed to identify possible parallels with the archaeological findings. The Middle Bronze Age has provided some significant iconographic evidence for objects made of gold and silver, fine jewelry, and decorations on vases. These representations likely had diverse and complex symbolic meanings. It was found that the representations on exceptional objects such as the two silver cups found in the Great Kurgan of Karashamb and Kurgan V in Trialeti, Georgia, are particularly significant. Hunting wild boars likely had a ritual significance in MBA society. There are differences between the animals found as offerings in the graves and the iconographic representations on gold and silver artifacts. There are also differences between the animal depictions on ceramic vessels and the animal remains in the graves. The symbolic-ritual traditions of these protohistoric societies are complex and can only be partially reconstructed. The significance of hunting for these societies is emphasized, as the abundance and diversity of the animal world in some graves can be seen as an archaeological indication of outstanding and elite individuals. There is a clear proportionality between rich grave goods and abundant animal bones, as seen in the Great Kurgan of Karashamb. Hunting was therefore a sign of strength and power for the elite class of the 2nd millennium BC. [Extracted from the article]

The Eton-Myers collection contains 14 vessels and shards with black rims, which are characteristic of the early predynastic period in Egypt. In this study, five vessels from the collection were analyzed and their shapes and dates determined. The vessels were dated to different periods of Egyptian history, and it was found that the shapes of the vessels have changed over time. The study emphasizes the importance of archaeometric analysis in deepening the understanding of trade between Egypt and its neighbors in prehistory. [Extracted from the article]

The essay "A Gold Coin from Jastrzębniki, Kalisz District (PL). On Late Celtic Coinage in Central Europe" examines the continuation of gold coinage in Central Europe after the collapse of the Bohemian-Moravian oppida. The study focuses on three minting centers that imitated late Boii gold coins. These mints recycled popular shell staters with sun and moon motifs and also issued various small coins made of electrum alloys. The coins were circulated in the Oder and Vistula basins and likely had a regional prestige value. One reason for the disappearance of local coin traditions among the northern barbarian elites may have been the massive influx of Roman coins in the second century AD. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes the results of a materials science analysis of artifacts from Grave 89 at the cemetery of Karzec in central Poland. The findings suggest a possible specialization in the metallurgical craft of the Lusatian culture during the Late Bronze Age. Reference is also made to similar burials in the Lusatian culture. The analysis of the casting molds shows different stages of production and indicates increased mobility of the craftsman. The results of the investigations are presented in the form of spectra and tables. It is recommended to conduct further research using modern analytical methods to verify these hypotheses. [Extracted from the article]

Gebrauchsspuruntersuchungen sind eines der wichtigsten Forschungsthemen in der archäologischen Keramikforschung. Von besonderem Interesse sind in Gräbern beigegebene Gefäße, die nicht zur Verbrennungsprozess gehören, da sie normalerweise keiner detaillierten Funktionsanalyse unterzogen wurden. Ihre Funktion wird meist anhand der Form und Oberflächenbehandlung bestimmt. Daher wird im hier benannten chronologischen Kontext allgemein davon ausgegangen, dass Grabkeramik speziell für Bestattungszwecke hergestellt und nicht für andere Zwecke verwendet wurde. Dies gilt insbesondere für andere Keramikgegenstände als Behälter, wie z. B. zoomorphe Gefäße, Figuren und Rasseln, die bei Bestattungszeremonien eine bedeutende Rolle gespielt haben müssen. Der Artikel präsentiert die Ergebnisse morphologischer, stilistischer und chromatographischer Analysen von Gefäßen, die in Lausitzer Gräberfeldern in den Bestattungen deponiert wurden, und hier solche, die auf der Fundstelle 2 in Czernikowice, pow. Legnica, Polen, gefunden wurden. Die Keramikgegenstände stammen aus gut untersuchten Grabkontexten der Montelius-Periode IV und V. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die meisten der analysierten Gefäße Kontakt mit Substanzen pflanzlichen und tierischen Ursprungs hatten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Opening of graves and turtles. The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis L.) from the cemetery of the Wielbark culture in Czarnówko and the question of posthumous interventions in the past" reports on the discovery of turtle remains in a grave of the Wielbark culture in Czarnówko. It investigates how this finding can be connected to the opening of graves and the presence of turtle remains. It is determined that about 90% of the graves in Czarnówko were manipulated after burial. Similar findings have also been made in other burial grounds in Central Europe. The presence of turtles in the graves is related to the phenomenon of grave opening, which has been observed in areas where body burial was practiced. [Extracted from the article]

The essay "Early agricultural settlement of the periphery of the loess uplands and its paleoecological context - a case study of the Iłża Piedmont (southern Poland)" examines the relationship between the settlement of prehistoric agricultural societies and the occurrence of local loess deposits in Central Europe. The results show that there was already a close connection between the settlement of these areas and the fertile soils, favorable geomorphological, and hydrological conditions in the early Neolithic period. The research findings indicate the flexibility and adaptability of early farmers, which allowed them to settle even less fertile areas outside the loess uplands. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes the archaeological excavations in Brzoza, Poland, which took place from 2015 to 2018. During this time, 11,000 flint objects were discovered, which are attributed to the Late Paleolithic techno-complex with flint points. The excavations focused on exploring a dune barrier to find cultural objects in the primary deposition area. The findings show similarities with the Ahrensburg and Sviderian cultures, as well as the Bromme culture. The results of the investigations suggest that the findings date back to the Late Paleolithic period and are likely from the Younger Dryas period. The Brzoza complex plays an important role in the research of the Late Paleolithic in northern Poland. [Extracted from the article]

Vor mehr als sechzig Jahren veröffentlichte J. Kostrzewski einen Artikel Ze studiów nad wczesnym okresem żelaznym w Polsce (Studien über die ältere Eisenzeit in Polen). Es war das Ergebnis jahrelanger Recherchen, Lektüren und Rückfragen, die in einer Zeit turbulenten ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts durchgeführt wurden. Diese Arbeit ist nach wie vor eine der grundlegenden Studien zur Chronologie von Ha C und Ha D in Polen. Ein wichtiger Teil dieses Textes war die Analyse der „kuyavischen Bronzen", die in der Literatur auch als „Stanomin-Schmuckstücke" bezeichnet werden, benannt nach dem Hort von Stanomin. Neue Funde und die Ergebnisse von 14C- und dendrochronologischen Untersuchungen haben unser Bild von den kulturellen Prozessen im früheisenzeitlichen Polen erheblich verändert. Die Datierung der „kuyavischen Bronzen" und die Deutung der mit ihnen verbundenen Phänomene war bislang kein Gegenstand einer umfassenden Studie. Im vorliegenden Text konzentriert sich der Autor auf diese Fundgruppe, da er diese als eine der wichtigsten Kategorien von Metallartefakten für die Kenntnis der chronologischen Variabilität der frühen Eisenzeit in Polen betrachtet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Verifying the chronology of Ukrainian Neolithic" examines the chronology of the Ukrainian Neolithic. The authors present AMS data from four sites to verify the validity of the chronologies for the Neolithic in Ukraine. They also discuss the role of the Linear Pottery culture and the Azov-Dnieper culture in the spread of agriculture and animal husbandry in Ukraine. The study shows that there are conflicting chronological scales and proposes a comprehensive re-dating and validation. The results have implications for the regional chronology of the Neolithic and emphasize the importance of cross-border collaboration in dating findings. [Extracted from the article]

This paper presents an archaeological method for the detection of market exchange using pottery as an archaeologically well-visible representative of former everyday items. The assemblage from the 9th-century Moravian centre at Staré Město near Uherské Hradiště was evaluated by archaeometric methods (XRF, petrography, XRD) and resulted in the detection of a complex exchange network connecting the centre with multiple parts of its hinterland. Results thus support the previously defined hypothesis about integration of the centre into a regional market system, and helps to refine the knowledge about the degree of commercialization of the period’s regional economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines three sites of the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age Lausitz culture in northeastern Poland, as well as the interaction between humans and the environment. The circular structures of these sites have a uniform location and structure, consisting of a protective area with ditches and ramparts, as well as a central area with a flat space. It is believed that these structures were possibly used as enclosures for livestock grazing and indicate intensive agricultural use of the surrounding area. It is assumed that a stable socio-administrative-religious center for the population of the Lausitz culture developed here. The study was conducted in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The study examines the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age in the Podlasie region. Through the use of laser scanning, 27 settlement structures were discovered, mainly located in the valleys of the Biebrza and Narew rivers. These structures have similarities in terms of location, shape, and size. They consist of a protective and a central area and can be divided into three types with one, two, or three ditches. Archaeological and geoarchaeological investigations were carried out to analyze the environmental contexts, construction, and function of selected settlement sites. The results indicate a dating to the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. The article describes archaeological investigations at the sites of Jatwieź Duża, Kościuki, and Filipy in Podlasie, Poland. The sites show circular structures with diameters of up to 100 meters. The investigations revealed that the structures likely date from the 7th to late 5th century BC and belong to the local Lusatian culture. The sites are of great importance for the study of settlement patterns and interactions between humans and the environment in the region. Bronze Age settlements have also been discovered near the sites. The study examines the settlement patterns of the Lausitz culture in Podlasie and their interaction with the environment. Two zones with different characteristics are identified: the outer space, consisting of depressions and raised areas, and the flat center, where no settlement traces were found. The function of these sites is difficult to determine, but it is believed that they may have been used as grazing areas for livestock. Anthropogenic deforestation was limited, but locally it may have led to soil erosion and peat sedimentation. The study concludes that the Lausitz culture in Podlasie developed a stable settlement system and utilized the natural environment through the introduction of a production economy. The text contains a list of references to various scientific works and publications dealing with topics such as geomorphology, climate and environmental changes, and prehistoric settlement in Poland. The mentioned authors and works provide information on various aspects of geographical and geological development in the region. Archaeological excavations and geophysical investigations are also mentioned, contributing to the study of landscape history. [Extracted from the article]

The essay "Burying the Heroes: Identifying the Archaeological Background of the Homeric Burial" by Antonis Kourkoulakos discusses the historical and cultural significance of Homeric burial customs. The author argues that Homeric burial customs are the result of a mixture of traditions, contemporary customs, and collective memory. By examining archaeological findings and written sources, possible origins of Homeric burial customs are proposed. It is noted that burial practices in Anatolia show similarities to Homeric traditions, particularly regarding cremation and the use of urns. There are also similarities between the burial tradition in the Iliad and archaeological findings in Greece, the Aegean, and the Balkans. It is speculated that these similarities could indicate a connection between the Mediterranean and Central European regions. The western Balkan region appears to have been the area where the tumulus tradition originated and spread over a large area in the following centuries. Therefore, the epics are not only a marvel of early Greek poetry, but rather an example of the first truly "European" (and indeed Anatolian) literary work. [Extracted from the article]

A fragmentarily preserved Byzantine icon made of steatite was discovered in 2015 during regular excavations in Chełm, eastern Poland. Identified as the left wing of a diptych illustrating the Twelve Great Feasts and created at the close of the 12th century, the find is one of the most important and beautiful Byzantine artefacts to have been found in Poland. The icon was uncovered within the confines of the palace complex which was created by Daniel (Danylo) Romanovych († 1264) in Chełm in the second quarter of 13th century. The icon, even though it was found within the borders of what is now Poland, is material evidence of contact between Byzantium and the social elite of the Galicia-Volhynia lands, rather than with the Polish Piasts.In this paper we concentrated on the presentation of the archaeological context of the find, which made it possible to establish that the icon arrived Chełm before the middle of the 13th century (terminus ante quem 1253), and especially on petrographic and traceological analyses of the icon.Assuming that greenish plaques were indeed the most characteristic steatite icon type, a decision was made to examine, apart from the Chełm artefact made from white rock, a greenish icon from the National Museum in Krakow as well.Petrographic analyses were based on optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). Both icons were carved in steatite i. e. talc rich rock but their chemical compositions indicate the presence of other components. Artifact from Chełm is white. Porous, enriched in potassium (K) and locally blistering outer rim of the icon from Chełm was formed probably during the fire event. Presence of forsterite and subordinate amount of leucite also indicate high temperature influence. Local enrichment in calcium (Ca) is related to exchange reactions with ground compounds. Accumulation of different components on the surface of the icon's surface was noted. The icon from the National Museum in Krakow is greenish probably because of the presence of chlorite.The results of the traceological analysis (icon from National Museum in Krakow was not analysed) indicate that the icon found in Chełm was created most likely by a skilled and experienced carver with access to the high-quality magnifying glass and specialist tools required for rendering minuscule objects and their details. The production of the icon also involved the use of a "mechanical" tool, probably a kind of a miller with a rotating polishing head, which also seems to point to a specialist workshop. The use-wear traces observed on artefact are limited to polish resulting from prolonged contact with human hands or storing the icon in a leather case.Most of the extant Byzantine icons are unprovenanced objects held in museum collections or church treasuries. Therefore, as the icon presented in this paper was discovered during archaeological excavations, it ranks among the few Byzantine artefacts to have been found outside of this realm. The petrographic and traceological analyses conducted are the first published natural science contributions to the study of Byzantine steatite icons and we hope they will provide the impetus for undertaking such research on other Byzantine finds, helping to develop Byzantine archaeology further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the glass vessels and mosaic beads with face masks from sites of the Sântana de Mureş-Chernyakhov culture in Eastern Romania, i. e. Vaslui County. 84 glass vessels of different types are listed in the database (developed according to the project Corpus der römischen Funde im europäischen Barbaricum), dating from the end of the 3rd to the beginning of the 5th century AD (especially the Kowalk and conical faceted beakers). In the cemetery of Bârlad-Valea Seacă was found the largest number of glass vessels (50 %). Only by continuing with such complete catalogues for all the neighbouring regions we can get an overview of the socio-economic relations, the technologies and the area's trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper "New Perspective on Neolithic Rectangular Features Using Artefact Analysis, Soil Micromorphology and Ethnohistorical Analogies. A Case study from Střelice u Brna, South Moravia, Czech Republic" examines rectangular Neolithic features in Střelice u Brna, South Moravia, Czech Republic. The study uses artifact analysis, soil micromorphology, and ethnohistorical analogies to investigate the function of these structures. The research findings suggest that they are pits that may have been used as cellars or residential buildings. The study also includes the analysis of artifacts such as stone industries, ceramics, and animal body parts found in the features. The results provide new insights into the use of these rectangular structures in the Late Neolithic period. [Extracted from the article]

The paper offers a brief overview of diverse burial rites in cultures at the end of the Eneolithic period in Moravia, which reflect the emergent stratification of society. These social changes are mirrored in archaeological record through the funerary customs as a ritualised reflection of prehistoric reality with a symbolical role of grave goods and their affiliations or rather demonstrations of identity. Funerary equipment can at the same time also reflect social and working (craft) position of the deceased individual. Social differences in the studied entities (least of all in the Proto-Únětice Culture) become evident through their allocation in isolated positions or within small burial groups, their conspicuous grave architecture (inner construction, ring ditches surrounding the graves, houses of the dead), and the rich and variegated grave goods (including the prestige packages) with their manifestations of social status, power and identity. A special category is represented by burials of wealthy men – metallurgists (clear predominance in the Bell Beaker Culture). In the earliest phase of the BBC we can even speak of burials of social elites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Ghost Children: Delayed Personhood and Culturally Specific Models of Childhood in Western Anatolia" examines the burial practices of infants and children in Anatolia during the seventh to third millennia BC. It is noted that infants and children were not considered fully human beings in most societies until a certain age. The authors argue for the construction of culturally specific models of infancy based on archaeological evidence in Anatolia and beyond. It is emphasized that the burial of children and infants in settlements during the Anatolian Chalcolithic and early Bronze Age is not "deviant burial," but rather a form of "delayed personhood." The burial practices of children and infants within settlements were widespread in Anatolia during the Chalcolithic and early Bronze Age. [Extracted from the article]

This paper looks at a specific aspect of burial customs in the context of cultural interactions in the late Early Middle Ages in the Baltic Sea region: The re-use of old burial mound fields by Scandinavian groups on the southern Baltic coast. During this period increased contact between Scandinavian groups and communities settling on the southern Baltic coast is testified. In this context, Scandinavian groups founded trading posts and colonies on the southern Baltic coast. At various sites, the associated burial sites occupy old burial mounds. Here, this re-use represents an appropriation with which, on the one hand, internal social aspects, such as the strengthening of group identity, are negotiated and a (fictitious) collective memory is created. On the other hand, it takes place in the context of intercultural contacts and therefor offers to investigate the use of the past in such a setting. The subsequent use and appropriation of the burial sites may have aided in legitimizing the presence also vis-à-vis with the native settlement groups, the genesis of a cultural memory related to the localities and the overcoming of foreignness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper "Elusive Goths in northern Poland: Initial isotopic insights of the pre-Roman and Roman period populations from the Wielbark Culture cemetery in Malbork-Wielbark" examines the origin of people buried in the cemetery of Malbork-Wielbark in northern Poland. Strontium isotope analysis of the molars of 19 individuals shows that the studied group was locally settled and provides insights into the ethnic structure of the Wielbark Culture. The cemetery spanned a period of approximately 300 years and was one of the largest necropolises of the Wielbark Culture. The study also raises questions about the emergence and development of the Wielbark Culture and discusses the number of Goths in this culture. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on archaeological findings in Husby, Sweden, which provide new insights into the manor house and its history. During a metal detector survey, copper alloys and a stamp for the production of waffle gold foil were found, which were part of the exclusive decoration technique of cloisonné. Hack silver and coins from the Viking Age were also found, indicating an initial phase of commemoration. The results of the investigation shed new light on the history of Husby in Glanshammar during the Viking Age. [Extracted from the article]

This paper deals with Georg ‚Gogo' Müller-Kuales (1905–1945), who was assistant professor at the newly established institute for prehistoric archaeology and Germanic archaeology at Hamburg University until his death in 1945. As research on the history of prehistoric archaeology in Germany has dealt with many different topics as well as biographies and careers of important archaeologists in the Third Reich it seems worthwhile, to investigate the scientific youth as well. This approach allows to draw a more complete picture of prehistoric archaeology in national socialist Germany and can therefor contribute to a better understanding of the history of prehistoric archaeology. Based on archival sources and publications by Georg Müller-Kuales this paper investigates his biography, his way of performing archaeology, his tasks at the institute, his research his political background, his work abroad in the context of the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg and therefor tries to generate an overall picture of a young scholar in the Third Reich. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatise "Gothic Migrations: In Search of the Truth" by Andrzej Kokowski discusses the various interpretations of the Goths as a multiethnic formation. Archaeology distinguishes four Gothic cultures: the Wielbark culture, the Masłomęcz group, the Chernyakhov culture, and the Sântana de Mureş culture. DNA tests can support the thesis of multiple multiplicity. However, the author criticizes a 2019 publication that is based on untrue materials and contradicts the current state of knowledge about the chronology of the analyzed materials. The conclusions of the publication contradict the scientific output of historians and archaeologists. The authors of the article made numerous mistakes in their research at the University of Poznań. They misinterpreted the numbering of the graves and spread false information. Additionally, they did not consider the previously published results of other researchers. The authors also had difficulties determining the gender of the skeletons and made false statements. Therefore, the research results of the article should be considered unreliable. The article discusses the problems with dating archaeological finds from the Roman period. It is pointed out that the authors of the article do not have sufficient knowledge in archaeological dating and that their datings are therefore unreliable. It is emphasized that radiocarbon-based dating is only valuable when compared with archaeological datings. It is also noted that the results of aDNA analysis and the migration theories based on them are only meaningful if the graves are accurately dated. The article criticizes the lack of precision and expertise of the authors in dating finds from the Hrubieszów Basin. The article discusses the results of aDNA analysis of skeletal remains from the Wielbark culture cemetery in Masłomęcz. The authors criticize the faulty identification of the materials and the inadequate historical argumentation in the article. They emphasize that aDNA analysis can contribute interesting insights to the historical debate, but that it contradicts historical and archaeological research. The authors call for a more careful consideration of the historical context and improved editorial review of such articles. The text contains a list of publications by archaeologist Andrzej Kokowski on various topics, including the Goths and the Masłomęcz group. Other authors and their works on similar topics are also mentioned. The focus of the text is on archaeological investigations and research on these ancient cultures. The text includes a list of publications and research papers on various topics related to archaeological finds and cultures in Poland. Various authors and their works on topics such as the Goths, Oksywie culture, Chernyakhov culture, and others are mentioned. The publications cover topics such as migration, anthropological investigations, and cultural interpretations. [Extracted from the article]

The paper describes archaeological excavations in the Bandkeramik settlement of Olteni in Transylvania. Remains of early Neolithic longhouses were discovered, which are the first evidence of such structures in Romania. The ceramic finds allow dating the site to the later Notenkopf phase of the Linearbandkeramik. In addition, Olteni yielded the most extensive collection of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic sculptures in the entire Eastern Bandkeramik milieu. The excavations also included traces of the Boian and Precucuteni I cultures, as well as an Iron Age cemetery. [Extracted from the article]

The paper deals with the distribution of painted ceramics in the Upper Silesian-Lesser Poland regional group of the Lusatian culture in the early Iron Age. The focus is on previously unpublished finds of polychrome vessels from the cemetery in Dobrzeń Mały, Opole District. The painted ceramics have been discovered in various archaeological sites in Poland, including Baborów, Kalinowice, Modlniczka, Opole-Groszowice, and Kietrz. The finds provide important information about the tradition of ceramic painting in the region and display various decorative patterns. It is presumed that the painted ceramics were imported from southern areas and often found in graves together with personal jewelry. The painted ceramics from Dobrzeń Mały were likely fired in an open hearth or under a clay dome. The study expands our knowledge about this category of finds and includes a list of sources and references to various archaeological studies and publications. [Extracted from the article]

Gold snake-head rings are a famous and much studied artefact group of the Late Roman Period in Scandinavia. But before and during their heyday, women in the same areas were occasionally buried with shield-head and snake-head rings made of silver or bronze. This paper surveys the material and traces the origin of these designs from the Wielbark Culture in coastal Poland about AD 100. The early shield-head rings probably arrived across the Baltic with the women who wore them. After the AD 210s, non-gold rings are a feature of the gold snake-head rings' core production and distribution area on the Baltic Islands and south-east mainland Sweden. The women who wore them were not tribal royalty, but enjoyed comfortable economic means and had the right to display this top-level symbol in more affordable materials. Goldene Schlangenkopfringe sind eine berühmte und häufig untersuchte Artefaktgruppe der spätrömischen Kaiserzeit in Skandinavien. Vor und während ihrer Blütezeit wurden Frauen in denselben Gebieten gelegentlich mit Schildkopf- und Schlangenkopfringen aus Silber oder Bronze bestattet. Dieser Beitrag untersucht das Fundmaterial und zeichnet den Ursprung dieser Formen aus der Wielbark-Kultur an der Küste Polens um 100 n. Chr. nach. Die frühen Schildkopfringe gelangten wahrscheinlich mit jenen Frauen, die sie trugen, über die Ostsee. Nach 210 n. Chr. sind aus anderen Materialien hergestellte Ringe ein Merkmal des Produktions- und Verbreitungsgebiets der Schlangenkopfringe auf den baltischen Inseln und auf dem südöstlichen schwedischen Festland. Die Frauen, die diese Armringe trugen, waren keine Stammesköniginnen, verfügten jedoch über komfortable wirtschaftliche Mittel und hatten das Recht, dieses Symbol der absolute Oberschicht in verfügbareren Materialien zu verwenden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chaîne opératoire of Neolithic Korenovo ceramics is poorly known, as hitherto potsherds from only three sites, Malo Korenovo, Tomašica in central Croatia, and Becsehely–Bukkaljai dűlő in Hungary have been analysed archaeometrically. Korenovo is considered the southernmost aspect of the Linearbandkeramik (LBK). In this paper, the ceramic assemblage from Kapelica-Solarevac and Kaniška Iva (Central Croatia) will be discussed. Kapelica-Solarevac and Kaniška Iva are the only two sites in which Starčevo and Korenovo ceramics have been found together in closed contexts. Twenty potsherds from the Kapelica-Solarevac and Kaniška Iva assemblages were analysed using polarised microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDX). In combination with equivalent data from 49 Korenovo ceramics from Tomašica and Malo Korenovo, the results offer an insight into the practices of Korenovo potters and show the lack of exchange of technological knowledge between Korenovo and LBK potters in Austria and central Transdanubia (Hungary). On the other hand, Korenovo potters seem to closely follow ceramic recipes typical of the neighbouring Vinča potters, suggesting Korenovo to be a hybrid group between the Vinča and the LBK pottery communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vrbjanska Čuka is a tell site in the region of Pelagonia (Macedonia) established 8000 years ago by the Neolithic communities. Later it was used as an agricultural unit during the Roman era and the Middle Ages when it was also employed as a burial area. The excavations performed in the 1980s and during the last five years indicate a Neolithic farming society that constructed large buildings made of daub in a settlement enclosed by a circular ditch. The buildings had many clay structures, such as ovens, granaries, bins and grinding areas for processing cereals and bread production. The Neolithic communities used sophisticated fine pottery and modeled figurines and altars, while the stone tools were mainly used for cutting trees, harvesting and grinding. Apart from the cereal-based food (einkorn wheat, emmer wheat or barley), the inhabitants of Vrbjanska Čuka consumed lentils, peas and a variety of gathered wild fruits, while cattle, caprovine, mussels, fish and wild game meat was also part of a diet, as well as the dairy products. This paper will be a summary of a variety of data provided from the current international and multidisciplinary research of the site that involves excavation, prospection, geomagnetic survey, study of material culture, examination of architecture, radiocarbon dating, geoarchaeological, archaeobotanical, archaeozoological, lipid and use-wear analyses, as well as the topographic and 3D modeling. The recent knowledge on Vrbjanska Čuka provides novel understanding of the Early Neolithic in Pelagonia and contributes to the more extensive research of first farming societies in the Balkans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the provenance of Mycenaean pottery found in the palace of Ayios Vasileios in Laconia. It focusses on painted and plain fine wares and reports the results of neutron activation analysis (NAA). The analyzed ceramics cover all of the habitation phases of the palace as well as the short, post-palatial use of the site, i. e. LH IIB to LH IIIC Early 1 (ca. 1450–1180 BCE). A large part of these fine ware pots represents a compositional pattern, which probably relates to local or regional production during the palatial periods LH IIIA and IIIB. Very similar patterns are known from other sites in the Eurotas valley as well as on the southeastern Laconian coast. The diachronic analysis shows that a reduction of paste variability towards the use of a more homogeneous clay recipe occurred after LH II, i. e. approximately contemporaneously with the establishment of the palace at Ayios Vasileios. Relatively few samples of the painted fine wares are imports and can be assigned to the wider region of Mycenae. Interestingly, these imports are restricted to the earlier phases up to LH IIB/IIIA1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a hoard from the Final Bronze Age found in 2005 in the cadastre of Dolany-Nové Sady ‒ "Sádek", Olomouc District (CZ). It consists of 2 bronze axes, 3 bronze cheek-pieces of a horse's bit, 2 bronze phalerae, decorated bronze belt sheet, 6 fragments of 3 different plano-convex ingots and a ceramic vessel. The paper deals with the chronological-typological evaluation of the hoard and especially the motivations for its deposition in connection with supra-regional long-distance roads. Authors discuss the model of social organization of the landscape in the Low Jeseník Mountains area and selected adjacent regions. Der Artikel präsentiert einen Hortfund der späten Bronzezeit, 2005 im Kataster von Dolany-Nové Sady ‒ „Sádek", Bezirk Olomouc (CZ) entdeckt. Der Hort besteht aus zwei Bronzeäxten, drei bronzenen Wangenstücke einer Pferdetrense, zwei Bronzephaleren, verzierten Gürtelblechenbronzen, sechs Fragmenten von drei verschiedenen plankonvexen Barren und ein Keramikgefäß. Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der chronologisch-typologischen Bewertung des Hortes sowie den Motiven für seine Deponierung im Zusammenhang mit überregionalen Fernhandelswegen. Die Autoren diskutieren ein Modell der sozialen Organisation der Landschaft im Gebiet des Nieder-Jeseník-Gebirges und in ausgewählten angrenzenden Regionen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les sépultures en grotte sont généralement absentes après le changement d'ère en Europe. C'est pourquoi l'inhumation moderne d'un enfant enterré avec au moins une tête d'oiseau placée dans la bouche, qui a été mise au jour dans la grotte de Tunel Wielki (sud de la Pologne), apparaît comme une découverte exceptionnelle. L'objectif de cet article est de présenter les interprétations possibles à cette sépulture unique. Ces interprétations sont basées sur des analyses pluridisciplinaires menées sur les restes humains et fauniques, dont des analyses génétiques et isotopiques, ainsi que de la tomodensitométrie, des datations au radiocarbone et des mesures anthropologiques et paléontologiques. Les résultats indiquent qu'il s'agit d'une fille d'environ 10 à 12 ans d'ascendance vraisemblablement fennoscandienne ou balte qui est décédée durant la période moderne et a été enterrée dans une grotte avec des restes d'oiseaux. Les caractéristiques de la sépulture, combinées aux analyses génétiques et aux datations au radiocarbone, tendent à créer un lien entre cette enfant et les troupes finno-caréliennes de la garnison suédoise situées dans le proche château d'Ojców durant l'invasion de la Pologne par le roi Charles X Gustav en 1655–1657. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La culture de la céramique perforée (Pitted Ware culture, PWC) continue d'attirer l'attention des scientifiques. Appartenant à la période néolithique définie par l'avènement de l'agriculture, le phénomène PWC rompt avec notre conception traditionnelle de l'évolution culturelle et sociale, en incarnant le retour ou la continuation du mode de vie des chasseurs-cueilleurs. Pour comprendre cette apparente anomalie, il est essentiel de pouvoir restituer la chronologie de la PWC: Quand et où ce phénomène a-t-il émergé pour la première fois? Comment s'est-il répandu? Quand et pourquoi s'est-il éteint? Afin de clarifier ces questions, le présent article décrit le plus grand échantillonnage jamais assemblé de sites PWC, localisés à travers toute la Scandinavie et bénéficiant de datations radiocarbones recalibrées et corrigées. Sur plus de 900 datations 14C collectées, nous fument en mesure de surmonter les nombreux obstacles engendrés par la limitation de dates individuelles obtenues sur des sites uniques, qui entravent bien trop souvent l'interprétation et empêchent toute vision d'ensemble. En conséquence, nous sommes maintenant en mesure de présenter un modèle montrant la propagation rapide de la PWC, depuis une origine supposée située dans le centre-est de la Suède (env. 3400 av. J.-C.) vers les vastes zones essentiellement côtières de la péninsule scandinave et du nord-est du Danemark. Cette propagation rapide peut être expliquée par l'intégration de la PWC dans les réseaux d'échange de silex à longue distance. La fin du phénomène PWC, datée aux environs de 2200 cal av. J.-C.) peut être considérée comme une conséquence de l'intensification de l'agriculture et de son expansion vers le nord durant le néolithique tardif. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond archaeological research, the subject child has attracted a lot of attention for some time. This culminated in the interdisciplinary research area of 'children and childhood studies'. Within archaeology the subject child was not discussed for a long time arguing that the prehistoric child is intangible with aid of existent sources. During the last years this perspective has changed, and the potential of this topic for the archaeological research has been identified. This paper enlarges upon the subject child by staying as closely as possible on source material. Precisely, as for the late Bronze Age there are almost no statements about children, the starting point is the cremation remains of the cemetery Zuchering- Ost (city of Ingolstadt), which are addressed in a doctoral thesis. Other cemeteries with known child burials are also discussed. For purposes of comparison, this paper approaches the child of the late Bronze Age (urnfield period) also by settlement material. In addition, the continuity and change in the treatment of children in the Hallstatt period is shortly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the traditional mining district Schwaz-Brixlegg in North-Tyrol a large amount of archaeological remains from an extensive Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age copper ore mining is still visible in the landscape. In 1993 the University of Innsbruck started with mining archaeological investigations in this area in the frame of several research projects, supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and the Tyrolian Science Fund TWF. The aim of the research program is to identify and to date prehistoric mining activities and to reconstruct the metallurgical production chain including mining, beneficiation and smelting of copper ores. Also the working and living environment of the prehistoric miners and smelters is studied. So far evidence for mining activities from the 12th to the 8th century BC could be provided. In the frame of archaeological excavations in 1997 at the Late Bronze Age smelting site Mauk A near Radfeld a few well preserved textile fragments could be recovered in the context of a washing installation, where crushed slag had been processed in order to obtain concentrates of copper rich inclusions. In this paper the textile finds will be presented in their archaeological context together with analysis on textile techniques, seam materials and dyestuffs. Furthermore, their functional interpretation and positioning in a larger historical context will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the traditional mining district Schwaz-Brixlegg in North-Tyrol a large amount of archaeological remains from an extensive Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age copper ore mining is still visible in the landscape. In 1993 the University of Innsbruck started with mining archaeological investigations in this area in the frame of several research projects, supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and the Tyrolian Science Fund TWF. The aim of the research program is to identify and to date prehistoric mining activities and to reconstruct the metallurgical production chain including mining, beneficiation and smelting of copper ores. Also the working and living environment of the prehistoric miners and smelters is studied. So far evidence for mining activities from the 12th to the 8th century BC could be provided. In the frame of archaeological excavations in 1997 at the Late Bronze Age smelting site Mauk A near Radfeld a few well preserved textile fragments could be recovered in the context of a washing installation, where crushed slag had been processed in order to obtain concentrates of copper rich inclusions. In this paper the textile finds will be presented in their archaeological context together with analysis on textile techniques, seam materials and dyestuffs. Furthermore, their functional interpretation and positioning in a larger historical context will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]