Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 25. (1996)
I. Arheologie
THE ROMAN RURAL SETTLEMENT OF CRISTE$TI 25 frame) which complete the image upon the public utility activity and -as it could be an element of civilization- upon the Romanization process itself. Metallurgy Although there were not identified blacksmith workshops, the discovery of few iron slag pieces and also the great number of iron tools, enables us to presume the practice of this craft in the settlement of Criste§ti. The presence of blacksmiths is witnessed by a great number of tools and finished products. Bone Processing The bone objects20 are rather numerous at Criste§ti, and their local processing is certain. Among the jewelry one can remark the hair pins (acus crinalis, comatoria) with the end decorated with incised lines or concentric incised circles. The hair pins was used both by men and women in order to arrange and maintain the hairdo. Various common use objects, needles used in sewing, spoon handles, blades, also the dice and the gaming pieces (tesserae), were made of bone, too. 2. Agriculture and Breeding If the vicus of Criste§ti had a predominantly handicraft and commercial character, it is also true that a part of the inhabitans were occupied in agriculture and its annexes. During the Roman epoch, agriculture was greatly stimulated on a technological level by the adoption of new methods of land exploiting and the introduction of new species of plants. The agricultural tools from Criste§ti are few but neverthless related to essential works such as preparing the land for cultivation and harvesting. Thus, the two ploughshares of Roman type, and also other numerous agricultural tools -sickles, grape-cutting knives, etc.- prove the agricultural practice, as the discovery of an iron piece served to cattle stamping21 indicates that breeding had a certain weight in the economy of the settlement, as well. 3. Coinage and Currency The coins fortuitously or during systematic researches found in Criste§ti -more than 80 pieces come from isolated discoveries- are disposed from Trajan to Philippus Arabs22. From the Roman settlement 20 O.FIoca, op.cit., p.6-7. 21 A.Zrinyi, in Marisia, VII, 1977, p.95. 22 D.Popescu, op.cit., p.179-184; Z.Székely, in SCN, II, 1958, p.469-473; M.Peticä, in Marisia, VIII, 1978, p.757-759.
