Marta, Liviu (szerk.): Satu Mare. Studii şi comunicări. Seria arheologie 29/1. (2013)
Laura Dietrich: Projectile weapons of the Late Bronze Age int he Easter Europe. The case of the Noua-Sabatinovka-Coslogeni cultural complex
Projectile weapons of the Late Bronze Age in Eastern Europe. The case of the Noua-Sabatinovka-Coslogeni cultural complex1 Laura Dietrich Abstract: The present paper aims to analyse projectile points of the Late Bronze Age Noua-Sabatinovka- Coslogeni cultural complex. They are produced mostly of bone and appear in large numbers in settlements, far less in hoards or graves. Metrical analysis points at their improved efficiency in comparison to earlier projectile points of flint; several groups with different grades of efficiency can be distinguished. Their utilisation in warfare in times with altered mobility can be presumed. Even if they are not part of the depositional process like other weapons of bronze, and are neither deposited in graves, they seem to constitute an important element in warfare. More mobile battle tactics, which may imply also the invention of new forms of lighter bows, seem to become visible behind this find group. Keywords: Bronze Age, Noua-Sabatinovka-Coslogeni, projectile points, warfare, metric analysis The celebrated has several times noticed a general preference of archaeologists towards the study of ‘interesting’ find categories, and a certain neglect towards others. He tried to avoid this bias by writing for example about Bronze Age spearheads of the Carpathian Basin (T. Bader, Lanzenspitzeneine vernachlässigte Fundgattung, 2006 and T. Bader, Die Lanzenspitzen in Rumänien- forthcoming). As projectile points can be seen - with a little imagination - as the smaller relatives of the spearheads and at the same time represent an even more neglected category of finds, the choice of the topic for the present study in honour of Tiberius Bader has not to be substantiated any more. A general overview The term ‘Noua-Sabatinovka-(Coslogeni)-Complex’ (NSC) refers to a Middle and Late Bronze Age archaeological phenomenon spread between Transylvania in the west, the Dniester and Dnepr in the east and the Black Sea in the south2 (fig. 1). Generally, the term ‘Sabatinovka Culture’ (SC) encompasses the finds in the steppe regions north of the Black Sea, the term ‘Coslogeni Culture’ is used for the Romanian finds in the Dobruja, while the term ‘Noua Culture’ (NC) defines the finds in the area from the forest-steppe between Prut and Dniester westwards to Transylvania3. The opinions on the genesis and unity of this cultural complex differ, and a very long and complicated research history has arisen4; however this will not be the subject of the present article. In fact, the study of the projectile points of the Noua, Sabatinovka and Coslogeni cultures in one place is mainly justified by their appearance in a special type of find context: the settlements with ‘ashmounds’5, which are common in all mentioned groups. ‘Ashmounds’ are known as isolated instances also in other cultural milieus, but certain forms are restricted to the NSC area. ‘Ashmounds’ are round to oval heaps with a diameter of 25-30 m formed of greyish sediments. They were believed to be burnt houses, barns, waste dumps or ritual burning places6. In the last few years an extensive discussion on the function of this mysterious find group was generated by extensive excavations in sites like Rotbav, southeast Transylvania7 or Odaia Miciurin, Moldavia8. Chemical analysis of the ‘ash’ has shown them to be formed in reality of earth and burnt lime9. Based on chemical analysis from Odaia Miciurin and 1 It would not have been possible to write this article without the help of many colleagues and friends, who provided information and read earlier versions of this paper. I would like to express my gratitude to: Adrian Adamescu, Sorin Ailincăi, Nico Becker, Corneliu Beldiman, István Botár, Dan Buzea, Valeriu Cavruc, Vasile Diaconu, Oliver Dietrich, Sebastian Matei, Tobias Mörtz, Anca Popescu, Rita Németh, Bogdan Niculică, Tudor Soroceanu, Sándor Sztáncsuj. 2Florescu 1964, Sava 1998 with further literature. 3f.e. Florescu 1991; Dergacev 1994, 54-71; Sava 1998, 2005, Gerskovic 1999. 4c.f. Sava 1998; 2002; 2005, with further literature. 5Dietrich 2011, 2012. 6 Sava 2005a with further literature. 7 Dietrich 2011, 2012. 8Sava/Kaiser 2011. 9 Kaiser/Sava 2006 Studii în onoarea lui Tiberiu Bader la 75 de ani. Satu Mare - Studii şi Comunicări, nr. XXIX/1, 2013 (181-197)
