THE BRONZE-AGE AXE-SHAPED SCEPTRE FROM PĂLATCA (TRANSYLVANIA) AND ITS EASTERN CONNECTIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24919/2519-058X.21.246900Abstract
In the Pălatca Commune (Cluj County) in Transylvania, a prehistoric (probably elk) antler axe was discovered accidentally and it later came into the possession of a collector. The item is extremely rare, which is why we subjected it to analysis in the present paper.
The axe has an arched, but very blunt, blade and a round edge. The shaft was made through an oval perforation, inside which there are numerous traces of a tool. The outer surface of the axe is polished, particularly the circular edge, with edges in the form of a border which was decorated with short, regular indentations. It can be seen that the item was used intensely, in a phase in which its function was probably that of a tool. Upon a closer look, two groups of markings were also identified: one above the blade, made of two “stirrups”, and another between the hole and the edge, consisting of oblique stirrups, a cross and several punctures.
The shape presents several antecedents until the Neolithic and the Eneolithic in the eastern part of Europe, both in items made of antler and those made of metal or stone. However, the best analogies found among the Bronze Age items from the current space of Ukraine and Russia. In the Ingul-catacomb culture, there were stone items that have similar edges, including some with notched decorations. However, we believe that the closest analogy is the famous sceptre-axe discovered in Dudarkov, which is particularly remarkable due to then numerous zoomorphic, phytoform and geometric motifs incised on its surface, attributed to the Mnogovalikovaja culture. In the same eastern area of Europe, the best analogies are given by stone axes from the Borodino hoard, or Suvorovskaja-type ones, dating from the first half of the 1st millennium BC. Based on these correspondences, our assessment is that the axe from Pălatca can be interpreted as a sceptre, similar to other antler items already discovered in the Mid- and Late Bronze Age in Transylvania or neighbouring regions.
Regarding the item’s dating and context, it is highly likely that it came from the site surveyed in Pălatca – “TogulluiMândruşcă”, where a settlement dated to the beginning of the Late Bronze Age was discovered and from which other eastern type items originated, such as a bronze needle with four protuberances and Noua culture ceramics.
Keywords: antler axe, sceptre, Bronze Age, Symbolism, Transylvania
References
Báró, N. A. (1909). A piliny-várhegy i óstelep [The old settlement on thePilinyCastle Hill]. Archaeologiai Értesítő [Archaeological Bulletin], XXIX, 415–432. [in Hungarian]
Benea, M., Săsăran, L. & Rotea, M. (2011). Pălatca–Togul lui Mândruşcă. Analysis of a part of thelithic material fromthebronze workshop. Acta Musei Napocensis, 45–46/I, 75–80. [in English]
Choyke, A. M. (2005). BronzeAge bone andantlerworking at theJászdózsa–Kápolnahalom tell. Ed. H. Luik – A. Choyke – C. Batey – L. Lõugas. From Hooves to Horns, from Molluscto Mammoth: Manufactureand Use of Bone Artifacts from Prehistoric Times to the Present: Proceedings of the 4th meeting of the (ICAZ) Worked Bone Research Group (pp. 129–156). Tallinn: OxbowBooks Ltd. [in English]
Diaconu, V. (2014). Simboluri sociale în epoca bronzului. Sceptre de corn şi os [Social symbols in theBronzeAge. Antlerand bone scepters]. Tyragetia, s.n., VIII, 173-184. [in Romanian]
Dergačev, V. A. (2002). Die neolithischen und bronzezeitlichen Metallfunde aus Moldavien [The Neolithic and bronze metal metals in Moldavia]. PBF, XX/9. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag. [in Germany]
Epoha bronzy. (1994). Epoha bronzy Kavkaza i Sredney Azii. Rannyaya i srednyaya bronza Kavkaza [The Bronze Age of the Caucasus and Central Asia. Early and Middle Bronze of the Caucasus]. Ed. K. H. Kushnareva – V. I. Markovin. Moskva: Nauka. [in Russian]
Fazecaş, G. T. (2005). Un sceptru de os recent descoperit la Oradea – Salca ,,Fabrica de bere” [One New Bone Sceptre from Oradea – Salca “Fabrica De Bere”]. Marmatia, 8/1, 71–80. [in Romanian]
Florescu, A. C. (1991), Repertoriul cultruii Noua-Coslogeni din România. Aşezărişi necropole [The repertoire of the Noua-Coslogeniculture in Romania. Settlements and Necropolises]. Călăraşi: Publirom S.A. [in Romanian]
Govedarica, B. (2004). Zepterträger – Herrscherder Steppen. Die frühenOckergräber des älteren Äneolithikums im karpatenbalkanischen Gebietund im Steppen raum Südost- und Osteuropas [Scepterbearer – Ruler of the Steppes. The Early Ochergraves of the Older Aeolithic in the Carpathian-Balkan Area and in the Steppe Region of South-east and Eastern Europe]. Mainz am Rhein: Philipp von Zabern. [in Germany]
Govedarica, B. & Manzura, I. (2011). GrundzügeeinerKulturgeschichte des nordwestlichenSchwarzmeergebietes im 5. und 4. Jahrtausend v. Chr. [Basics of a cultural history of thenorthwestern Black Seaarea in the 5thand 4thmillennium BC Chr.] Ed. E. Sava – B. Govedarica – B. Hänsel. Der Schwarzmeerraum vom Äneolithikum bis in die Früheisenzeit (5000-500 v.Chr.) Band 2: Globale Entwicklung versus Lokalgeschehen. InternationaleFachtagung von Humboldtianern für Humboldtianer im Humboldt-Kolleg in Chişinǎu, Moldavien (4–8. Oktober 2010) [The Black Sea Region from the Eneolithic to the Early Iron Age (5000-500 BC) Volume 2: Global development versus local events. International conference by Humboldtians for Humboldtians at the Humboldt Kolleg in Chişinǎu, Moldavia (October 4–8, 2010)]. Rahden/Westf., PAS, 27, Altheim: Verlag MarieLeidorfGmbH, 41–61. [in Germany]
Hansen, S. (2009). KupferzeitlicheÄxtezwischendem 5. und 3. Jahrtausend in Südosteuropa [Copper Age Axes between the 5thand 3rdmillennium in South-east Europe]. Analele Banatului [Annals of Banat], s.n., XVII, 129–158. [in Germany]
Hansen, S. (2011). TechnischeundsozialeInnovationen in derzweitenHälfte des 4. Jahrtausendsv. Chr. [Technicaland social innovations in thesecond half of the 4th millennium BC]. Ed. S. Hansen – J. Müller, SozialarchäologischePerspektiven: GesellschaftlicherWandel 5000–1500 v.Chr. zwischenAtlantikundKaukasus. InternationaleTagung 15–18. Oktober 2007 in Kiel [Social Archaeological Perspectives: Social Change 5000–1500 BC. between the Atlantic and the Caucasus. International conference 15.-18. October 2007 in Kiel] (pp. 153–191). Mainz: von Zabern. [in Germany]
Hansen, S. (2017). Phallomorphic Antler Tools. Ed. B. Helwing – T. Aliyev – B. Lyonnet – F. Guliyev – S. Hansen – G. Mirtskhulava. The KuraProjects New Research on the Later Prehistory of the Southern Caucasus (pp. 269–271). Berlin: Dietrich Reimer Verlag. [in English]
Hansen, S., Mirtskhulava, G., Bastert-Lamprichs, K., Benecke, N., Gatsov, I. & Nedelcheva, P. (2006). Aruchlo 2005–2006. Berichtüber die Ausgrabungen in einemneolithischen Siedlungshügel [Aruchlo 2005–2006. Report on theexcavations in a Neolithic settlement mound]. Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan [Archaeological Communications from Iran and Turan], 38, 1–34. [in Germany]
Homer, Iliad, transl. by Stanley Lombardo, Indianapolis/Cambridge: HackettPublishing Company, Inc., 1997. [in English]
Ilon G. (2011). SiedlungswesenundBestattungssitten in Gór. Zum Übergang von derUrnenfelder- zur Hallstattzeit [Settlementandburialcustoms in Gór. At thetransitionfromtheUrnfieldtotheHallstatt period]. Ed. A. Lippert, Die Drau-, Mur- undRaab-Region im 1. Vorchristlichen Jahrtausend. Akten d. Internat. u. Interdisziplinären Symposiums vom 26. bis 29. April 2000 in Bad Radkersburg [The Drava, Mur and Raabregions in the 1st millennium BC. Files d. Boarding School and Interdisciplinary Symposium from April 26th to 29th, 2000 in Bad Radkersburg]. UPA 78 (pp. 243–270). Bonn: Rudolf HabeltGmbH. [in Germany]
Irimia, M. (2007). Unele aspecte privind raporturile dintre spaţiulegeanşi regiunile istro-pontice în Bronzul târziu [Some Aspects of the Relationship between the Aegean Space and the Istro-Pontic Regions in the Late Bronze Age]. Revista română de studii eurasiatice [Romanian Journal of Eurasian Studies], 1–2, 7–56. [in Romanian]
Kaiser, E. (1997). Der Hort von Borodino. Kritische Anmerkungen zu einem berühmten bronzezeitlichen Schatzfund aus dem nordwestlichen Schwarzmeergebiet [Borodino’shoard. Critical Comments on a Famous Bronze Age Treasure Find from the North-western Black Sea Region]. UPA 44. Bonn: Rudolf HabeltGmbH [in Germany]
Kašuba, M. & Kaiser, E. (2009). EinRillenhammer mit Geritzten Darstellungenaus Şoldăneşti, nordwestliches Schwarzmeergebiet [A Grooved Hammer with Carved Depictions from Şoldăneşti, north-western Black Sea Region]. Analele Banatului [Annals of Banat], s.n., XVII, 159–196. [in Germany]
Lichardus, J. (2001). Die Geweihaxt von Dudarkov und die spätmykenischen Einflüsse im ukrainischen Raum [Dudarkov’santler ax andthe late Mycenaeaninfluences in the Ukrainian Region]. Eurasia Antiqua, 7, 75–94. [in Germany]
Lichardus, J. & Vladár, J. (1996). Karpatenbecken – Sintašta – Mykene. EinBeitrag zur Definitionder Bronzezeitalshistorischer Epoche [The Carpathian Basin – Sintašta – Mycenae: A Contribution to the Definition of the BronzeAge as a Historical Epoch]. Slovenská Archeológia [Slovak Archeology], XLIV(1), 25–93. [in Germany]
Manzura, I. & Sava, E. (1994). Interacţiuni “est-vest” reflectate în culturile eneoliticeşi ale epocii bronzului din zona de nord-vest a Mării Negre (schiţă cultural-istorică) [The “East-west” Interaction in the Mirror of the Encolithic and Bronze Cultures in the North-Pontic], în Memoria Antiquitatis, XIX, 143–192. [in Romanian]
Markevich, V. I. (1981). Pozdnetripol’skieplemenasevernoi Moldavii [Late Tripoliantribes of Northern Moldavia]. Chişinău: Shtiintsa. [in Russian]
Otte, M. (2001). La protohistoire [Protohistory]. Bruxelles: De BoeckUniversité. [in French]
Popa, C. I. (2015). Representation of a KeftiuTypeIngot on a Bronze Belt Plate from Transylvania and Its Connections. Ed. N. C. Rişcuţa – I. V. Ferencz – O. Tutilă Bărbat, Representations, Singsand Symbols. Cluj-Napoca: Mega, 187–214. [in English]
Popa, C. I. & Simina, N. M. (2004). Cercetări arheologice la Lancrăm-“Glod” [Archaeological Research at Lancrăm-“Glod”]. Alba Iulia: Ulise. [in Romanian]
Rezepkin, A. D. (2000). Das früh bronzez eitliche Gräberfeld von Klady und die Maikop-Kultur in Nordwestkaukasien [The Early Bronze Age Burial Ground of Klady and the Maikop Culture in the North-west Caucasus]. Rahden/Westf.: MarieLeidorf. [in Deutsch]
Rotaru, M. & Gheorghe, Gh. (2006). Unelte din os din aşezările Noua situate în partea de sud-est a judeţului Vaslui [Bona Tools from Noua Settlements Placed in the South Eastern Side of Vaslui District]. Acta Musei Tutovensis, I, 129–147. [in Romanian]
Rotea, M. (1997). Cercetări arheologice la Pălatca-“Togul lui Mândruşcă”. Observaţii preliminare [Archaeological Research at Pălatca-“Mândruşcă’s Togul”. Preliminary Remarks]. Revista Bistriţei, X–XI, 13–19. [in Romanian]
Rotea, M. (2001). Die mittlereBronzezeit im Karpaten-Donau-Raum (19–14 Jahrhundertv.Chr) [The Middle Bronze Age in the Carpathian-Danube Region (the 19th – the 14th centuries BC)]. Ed. M. Rotea – T. Bader, Thrakerund Keltenbeidseitsder Karpaten [Thracians and Celts on both Sides of the Carpathian Mountains] (pp. 22–30). Eberdingen: Keltenmuseum Hochdorf. [in Deutsch]
Rotea, M. (2004). Non-ferrous Metalurgy in Transylvania of Bronze Age. Acta Musei Napocensis, 39/1, 7–17. [in English]
Rotea, M. & Feneşan, O. (1994). Sondaj arheologic la Pălatca-“Poderei” [Archaeological Survey at Pălatca-“Poderei”]. Acta Musei Napocensis, 31, I, 351–355. [in Romanian]
Rotea, M., Wittenberger, M., Tecar, M. & Tecar, T. (2011a). Bronze Age Metallurgy in Transylvania: Craft, Artand Ritual/Mag. Acta Musei Napocensis, 45–46/I, 7–38. [in English]
Rotea, M., Wittenberger, M., Tecar, M. & Tecar, T. (2011b). Metalurgia epocii bronzului în Transilvania: magie [Bronze Age Metallurgy in Transylvania: Craft, Artand Ritual/Mag]. Revista Bistriţei [Bistriţa Journal], XXV, 9–34. [in Romanian]
Soroceanu, T. (1972). Aşezarea de tip Wietenberg de la Pălatca (jud. Cluj) [Wietenberg Settlement from Pălatca (Cluj county)]. Centenar Muzeal Orădean [Oradea Museum Centenary]. Oradea: Muzeul ŢăriiCrişurilor, 165–172. [in Romanian]
Wittenberger, M. & Rotea, M. (2011). Aspects of theBronzeMetallurgy in Transylvania. Ed. Berecki, S., Németh, R. E., Rezi, B., Bronze Age Rites and Rituals in the Carpathian Basin. Proceedings of the International Colloquiumfrom Târgu Mureş 8-10 October 2010 (pp. 261–267). Târgu Mureş: Mega. [in English]
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
