Fitz Jenő (szerk.): The Celts in Central Europe - István Király Múzeum közelményei. A. sorozat 20. A Pannon konferenciák aktái 2. (Székesfehérvár, 1975)

B. Jovanović: The Scordisci and their art

filigiee jewelry. Bracelets from Kupinovo and Osijek were worked in this technique, alien to the La Tène jewelryeraft work in the Danube-Pannonian plain area. The Kupinovo bracelet has three enlargements decorated with filigree spirals and interlacings, set on a heavy bronze ring(18), and the other bracelet (in fragments) (fig. 4) is composed of a silver rectangle with conical spiral figures in the center, set on a band of interwoven wire(19). A fragmented silver bracelet from Erdut is very similar to the bracelet from Osijek and one might believe they are from the same workshop)20). Judging from the other items in the grave, the Osijek bracelet would date from the second half of the fourth century BC or the first half of the third century BC. while the Kupinovo bracelet must be somewhat more recent.

The potters wheel came into use in the Balkan Danube region in the La Tène period, but this did not preclude the continued production of favorite local shapes. These of course underwent certain changes as a result of the new technique, but nevertheless remained close to their original form — a statement which above all applies to the twohandled drinking cup. Throughout the second and first centuries BC, two-handled cups remained the characteristic ceramic form on the Scordisci territory)21).

Furthermore, along with certain local types of bowls and cups, the two-handled cups were specially decorated with burnished designs (fig. 5—10). The polishing-burnishing technique is of the La Tène period of the Carpathian Basin, but the designs on this pottery were inspired by the geometric style of the Illyrian-Pannonian areas with understandable adaptations to changing tastes and uses. The excavations at Gomolava have revealed that this ornamental technique was used from the end of the second century BC to the middle of the first century BC (fig. 5—12). Yet in the early stage the rectilinear geometric designs prevailed, along with the use of horizontal rows of dots: the spiral is met much less frequently (fig. 5 — 6; 9—12). In the late stage of the Scordisci settlement, the ornamental compositions were more complex, using a combination of spirals with geometric designs (fig. 8)(2-). In spite of that there are some design samples (in a checkerboard design or a row double trailing spirals) revealing a style which finds no analogies in the art of the late La Tène in Central or Western Europe. What is more, the Eravisci, neighbors of the Scordisci to the North, did not have any similar ornamental system, nor did they make cups with one or two handles(23).

(IX) N. Majnarié-Pandzié, o. r., 27, Pl. IX, X.

(19) E. Spajic, Nalaziste mladjeg éeljeznog doha s teremi Ősijeim. Osjeöki Zbornik, IV, 1954, 12, Pl. IV, 28.

(20) N. Majna rí é-P andzic, o. c., 27, Pl. XXV, (i.

(21 ) Z. Marié, Donja Dolina i problem etncike pripadnosti predrimskog stanovniStva sjeverne Bonne. GZM, XIX, 1964, 46, Pl. XVIII, 3; 48, Pl. XIX, 6; B. Jovanovié, o. c., Rad Vojvodj. muz., XX, 1971, 135, Pl. II, 7, 9.

(22) B. Jovanovié, o. c., Rád Vojvodj. muz., XX, 1971, 131, Pl. I, I -2,6; Pl. IV, 5-8.

(23) É. Bonis, o. c., 181, Pl. XXXV, 2.

Dacian pottery was known in the Scordisci area even at the end of the second century BC, a is shown by the research at Gomolava and other Vojvodina settlements (Slankamen, Zidovar)(24). With respect to ornamentation and shape of handmade pots, there is no deviation from the standard models in Dacian areas except that here there was a more limited range of ceramic shapes and ornamental techniques (incision, comb decoration, application of sculptural friezes)(25).

Concerning metal artifacts, we must mention the silver fibulas with astragal decoration. Dating from the first century BC, a great many of these have been found on the territory of the Scordisci and are clearly based on a Dacian prototype)20). Likewise, the noted Dacian curved knife („sica") and certain types of bracelets appeared extensively^7). But the best illustration of the close relations between the Scordisci and the Dacians at the end of the second century and the beginning of the first century BC is presented by the grave findings at Vrsae-At (Southeastern Vojvodina))28). This grave reveals further evidence of Dacian influence on Scordisci art in the exceptional hollow silver bracelet with double zoomorphic masks (fig. 18).

Among the grave artifacts there were two pairs of fibulas of a late mid-La Tène type, highly arched from catch to head (f ig. 14—17), with molded hemispherical ornamentation. According to corresponding finds in other cemeteries in the Carpathian Basin, these can be dated as the second half of the second century BC. Two polished wire fibulas especially one made of iron date from the turn of the century or the beginning of the first century BC. The remains of a bronze and iron chain and fragments of a bronze beads, as the othere evidences of cremation burial, establish this grave as that of a woman. After cremation the bones were placed in a funerary urn which was made by hand and decorated with a molded band in the form of a garland (fig. 13). The shape and the design completely correspond to the Dacian ceramic ware from the second half of the second century or the first century BC(29).

(24) I). DimitrijEvn':, Spâtlatènezeitliche Oppida in Jugoslawien. ARoz, XXIII, 1971/5, 574; B. Gavela, o. c., 21.

(25) L. Sek erkS, Iskopavanju na Gomolavi u Hrtkovcima 1957. godine. Rad Vojvodj. muz., X, 1961, 79 — 85; B. Gavela, o. c., 21, fig. 18-19.

(26) R. RaSa.jski, Daika srebrna ostava iz Korina. Rad Vojvodj. muz., VII—X, 1961, 7, Pl. I, 1,4.

(27) Ibid., 16, Pl. II, 1 —4; N. Majnarié-Pandüié, o. r. 32, Pl. XIII, 13, Pl. XVI, I.

(28) B. Jovanovié, A Silver Bracelet from Yugoslavia. Archaeology, XXVII, 1974/1, 38 — 41. The author is grateful to R. R a ă a j s k i, the director of the National Museum in VrSac, for his help and possibility for publishing the important finds of this cremated grave.

(29) 1. Crişan, Ceramica daco-getică cu speciala privire la Transilvania. Bucureşti, 1969, 162, fig. 75,5, PI. XXXVIII, 4; Zs. VisY, Die Daker am Gebiet von Ungarn. MFMË, 1970/1, 17, Pl. V, 9.

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