Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 31/1. (2011)
Articles
112 D. V. Sana-I. Bejinariu- found on Magúra Hill, pieces that could be related to the settlement from the Early Iron Age (Fetzer 1898, 418). Due to scarce archaeological researches, for almost one hundred years, any mention about such finds is missing. Under the leading of M. Rusu, since 1994 H. Pop and I. Bejinariu (MJIA Zaläu) started the first systematic archaeological excavations at this site. During the first three seasons (1994-1996) there have been wholly or partially researched, 23 archaeological features, when the first metal objects were also discovered (Bejinariu-Pop 1997, 60; Pop-Bejinariu 1999, 118). In 2000, during the opening of an exhibition about the archaeological research related to §imleu Silvaniei-Observator, a catalogue summarizing the results of excavations was released, containing the first published image of a bronze arrowhead from this site (Pop-Bejinariu 2000). After 2000 the excavations were continued and other pieces have been discovered. In 2001 a structure interpreted at that time as a metallurgical workshop, which featured “three moulds of whole and fragmented, burnt sandstone tables, along with charcoal and pottery” and a meat offering, at first considered “a part of a human skeleton” (Pop EtAl. 2002,305).1 These data have been reported also in the annual chronicles (Pop EtAl. 2004, 333; Pop EtAl. 2009, 210) and in the paper dedicated to the history of archaeological research of §imleu Silvaniei (Sana 2006, 60). Metal pieces Metal pieces are the largest and most important category of artefacts from this site. Their importance lies both in the intrinsic value of the metal and in their chronological role or their connections with other cultural areas. Depending on the materials from which they were made, there are two main groups: a) iron objects; and b) bronze objects. Given the fragmentary state of items or their multiple roles we opted for covering the subject from the perspective of functional criteria. a) Iron objects The only piece that certainly1 2 belongs to this category is a fragmentarily preserved flat axe with wings and slim body (L. 7.5 cm). The piece, discovered in the feature Ll/1994, seems to have been broken from bending, preserving traces of fibre curvature (PI. 2/14). These parts probably had a double functionality, being used both as weapons (Vasiliev Et Al. 1991, 53) and as tools (Ursutiu 2001,11). Such discoveries are quite rare for the Gáva culture from Transylvania, findings being mentioned from Cernatu (Székely 1966, 24, pl. 9/6; Boroffka 1987, 62, fig. 3/4; Boroffka 1991, 4, fig. 3/4), Cetätuia (Boroffka 1987, 62, fig. 4/2; Boroffka 1991, 4, fig. 4/2), Coldäu (Boroffka 1987, 67, fig. 4/4; Boroffka 1991, 4, fig. 4/4) and Sebes (Vasiliev Et Al. 1991, 50, footnote 142; Ursutiu 2001, 9, fig. 2/4; Ursutiu 2002, 58, pl. CXXX/4), most of the pieces of these kinds coming from Teleac (László 1975,22, fig. 2/16; Boroffka 1987,70, fig. 8/5; Boroffka 1991,4, fig. 9/5; Vasiliev Et Al. 1991, 50, fig. 17/13-16). Similar finds also appeared in the settlements of the Gornea-Kalakaca group (Boroffka 1987, 67, fig. 4/7; Boroffka 1991, 4, fig. 4/9; Gumä 1993, 264) and in the Babadag cultural area, at Telita (Jugänaru 2005, 70, fig. 44/6). In addition, a series of discoveries from Moldavia can be mentioned, some of them 1 The preliminary analysis of bones showed that they belong to the species Canis familiaris. Identification was made by B. Kelemen and later confirmed, on the basis of detailed photos, by E. Berendi. We would like to thank for their help. 2 The layers from La Тёпе and medieval period from $imleu Silvaniei-Observator make difficult the chronological classification of fragmentary iron pieces coming from various archaeological levels.
