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The paper considers the symbolic aspects of the figure of Hercules depicted on a terra sigillata bowl discovered in Górzyca, Słubice County, in the context of the Roman mythical hero cult. Hercules, a superhuman hero equal to the gods, played a very special role in Roman religion and Imperial ideology. The vessel is an example of exquisite tableware produced in specialized provincial workshops. The relief decoration of such dishes allows us not only to identify particular potters and workshops, but also to propose the dating in terms of absolute chronology. Terra sigillata vessels constitute one of the most important categories of Roman imports in the Barbaricum, a community of Wielbark culture being one of the recipients

The study is devoted to Casarius, representing the Central Gaulish potters from the late period of Antonine reign, whose terra sigillata vessels were recorded to the north of the middle Danube. The period of his activity coincides with the Marcomannic Wars. The case of Casurius is used for considering the question of time and circumstances of penetration of his pottery in the Barbaricum territory in the conditions of the ongoing conflict between barbarians and Romans. Casarius’s activity is placed in the years 160–180 (Rogers 1999) or 160–195 (Stanfield, Simpson 1958) and falls on the reign of Marcus Aurelius, or even Clodius Albinus. Activity after year 180 can be discussed. Among researchers there is lack of full compliance with regard to the location of the workshop; Lezoux and Lubié are mentioned. It is to be supposed that Casarius worked mainly in Lezoux, from where did the majority of the known vessels come. At the same time the branch of his workshop in Lubié was confirmed (Bet Delage‘s researches). Casarius was producing the considerable set of relief (bowls typeDrag. 37) and plain pottery (type Drag. 33, Drag. 18/31, and other). Casarius’s goods were distributed in areas of the Danubian provinces, especially often recorded on limes (among others Aquincum, Albertfalva, Brigetio, Carnuntum, Vindobona, Regensburg-Kumpfmül), finding recipients among the civilian population living in civitates and vicii and among the Roman crews stationed in castra and castella. Especially important are the discoveries of Casurius’s pottery in castellum in Mušov in Moravia (171–180 or rather 172–180 years) forming part of the soldier dishware. Based on the collected materials, the trading and use of Casarius’s vessels can be proven in the Danubian area, for years 175, 180, before years 170/178, 175 and after 171/172. As the start date can be accepted the period about 160/170 (163/170), as the final date – about 180 (and longer).There are few and far known finds from areas of the south – west of Slovakia (1 specimen) and Moravia (2 specimens). In this situation the number 5–6 (?) of Casurius’s relief bowls type Drag. 37 in the Przeworsk Culture surprises. These vessels were distributed on the course of the Moravian – Kuyavian section of the Amber Route (Piwonice, Zapowiednia, Jacewo, Lachmirowice) and the southern section of the upper course of the Vistula (Opatów, Zagórzyce?). Particularly interesting is the burial of a woman (No. 12) from Lachmirowice, containing a bowl type E. 77, a small chest elements, belt elements and bronze fibula type A. 129, dating back to the phase B2/C1 (vel B2/C1–C1a) (Zielonka 1993; Godłowski 1994; Tyszler 1999; 2012). Fibulae A.129, constituting a leading form of the phase B2/C1 of the Przeworsk Culture, are found among others in Roman camps layers in Mušov and Iža (Godłowski 1981; 1994; Hüssen, Rajtar 1994; Tejral 1999; 2006). Aforementioned bowl of type E.77 along with several other specimens from this cemetery creates a large collection, having no analogy in the Przeworsk Culture (bronze vessels, see below). Casurus’s bowl from Lezoux, a chronologically sensitive piece of equipment, entitles us to circumscribe the absolute chronology of the burial (No. 12). Having regard to the production (160–180 years), especially the trade and use in the Danubian provinces (proved to 175 year, and before 170/178, 175) and in the occupied Moravia (Mušov, in years 171 or 172–180), the burial in question can be placed in the time interval from about 170 to about 180/190, or 180/200. Taking into account the period of use/ storage of vessel before submitting it to the grave is very important. The presence of Casurius’s vessels on the Amber Route (Moravia, Great Poland, Kuyavia) shows the activity in the thoroughfare during the reign of late Antonine dynasty, i.e. in the period of the Marcomannic Wars. At the same time Casarius’s vessels are also the evidence of direct or indirect links of the population using the graveyard in Šitbořice (about 20 km from the center of Suebi in Mušov, then in the period 171 or 172–180 Roman castellum) with the population using the graveyard in Lachmirowice in Kuyavia. Both cemeteries provide the full content of information on these relationships and chronology of contacts, covering the period of the Marcomannic Wars and time after their completion. Inventories of men (warriors) and women graves (phases B2/C1–C1a) from the graveyards in question are the evidence of high social and material status of mercantile elites (?) achieved by lucrative business contacts. The accumulation of imports (of bronze, ceramic) of southern provenance is characteristic especially for Lachmirowice. Cemeteries striking feature is the presence of a large number of bronze vessels from which especially types E. 27–28, E.40, E. 44–49, E. 77 and E. 160–161 belong to the characteristic range of equipment of the Germanic elite graves in the Central European Barbaricum areas form the middle Danube to Scandinavia (Tejral 1970; 2004; 2006). Their distribution began in the late phase of Antonine reign and the culmination moment occurred after the end of the wars. Casurius’s bowls uniqueness is associated with the period of their production, trade and use (about 160/170–180; wherein the period of use after 180 year should also be taken into account), attributable to the period of the Marcomannic Wars (166/167–180). The presence of Casarius’s terra sigilata bowls recorded on Moravian – Kuyavia section of the Amber Route shows the trade activity on this thoroughfare during aforementioned wars.At the same time, we can assume that the inflow of Casurius’s vessels took place in the late phase of the wars in question (about 171/172–180). It should be stressed that the region Kuyavia, remaining in the far northern hinterland of the direct Roman enemies, i.e. Marcomanni and Quadi, was not yet free from the changeable fate of the ongoing wars and the impact of Roman politics.

This work presents the results of study of a human skeleton from the early Middle Ages recovered in Pecławice (province of Łódź), presenting signs of extensive cranial trauma suffered perimortem. The skeleton belonged to a 20-30 year-old male of sturdy build, with prominent bone processes, marked right-side asymmetry of the bones and joints of the upper extremities, and tallness (stature well above average for early medieval times). Except for the skull, the skeleton lacks any pathologic or traumatic lesions. The right side of the skull bears signs of three extensive injuries involving the frontal and parietal bones and the temporomandibular joint. Two of them penetrated deeply into the cranial cavity. The nature and location of the lesions suggests that the axe was used and that the victim was not confronted face-to-face. None of the lesions show any signs of healing. Fragmentation of the facial bones, which were mostly incomplete except for the well-preserved mandible, suggests additional blows to the face. These massive injuries must have been fatal due to damage to the brain and main blood vessels of the neck and thus they were recognized as the cause of death of the individual.

Die Arbeit stellt die Ergebnisse der zweiten Etappe von archäologischen Rettungsarbeiten auf dem frühmittelalterlichen Gräberfeld in Mroczków Slepy dar. Es Wurden 2 nächsten Gräber entdeckt, insgesamt die Zahl der geretteten Gräber gibt. Während der geführten Rettungsarbeiten wurden ans nährend das Gebiet der Gräberfelder und schäfzungsweise die Bestattungszahl bestimmt. Zur Ausstattung der Gräber gehören vor allem Schläferinge, die Gebrauchszeit des Gräberfeldes für die 2. Hälfte und eventueel den Anfang des XIII, Jahrhunderts bestimmen lassen. Der Charakter des Gräberfeldes und die Bestattunsart sind für nicht kirchliche Gräberfelder aus dem frühen Mittelalter typisch. Der auf dem Gräberfeld gefundene Schläfenring des pommerschen Typs wirft ein bestimmtes Licht auf die Strassenverbind düngen zwichen den ruthenischan Stadtzentren und Grosspolen und Masovien hin, in deren System sich bestimmt am Ende des XII Jhdt. auch das Gebiez des geforschten Gräberfeldes befang. Die nächsten günstigen und histirisch bestätigten Übergänge durch Pilica bei fanden sich in Inowłódz und Sulejów. Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 dofinansowane zostało ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę.

In all, ten skeleton burials were discovered in the cemetery at Mroczków Slepy. Bodies are placed in West-East direction with deviation to South, and with heads to West. These were two woimen graves and eight child graves in infant age I and II. In graves 9 and 10 there appeared stone „protection" which may be attributed to the idea the burial ritual in Mazowsze District, or more widely with the paganrhristian stone symbolism. The discovered burials form three rows along North-South line. The burial material represents a typical early-mediaeval inventory: temple bows of II and III types (including one Pomeranian bow), small knives, a ring. The cemetery can be dated back to the second half of 12th and early 13th centuries. It is not a churchyard cemetery with a typically mediaeval lay-out of graves in rows and it occupies a hill-top orea of 1,5 hectare. It is located at the border-point of Żarnów and Skrzynno castellanie s near a mediaeval Russian trade trail leading from Czersko-Grójeckie Mazowsze via Drzewica to Końskie. The studies in the cemetery were conducted during only one season and they were of salvage type. The'cemetery is partly destroyed. Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 dofinansowane zostało ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę.